Doechii says SZA’s ‘Ctrl’ album gave her “the courage” to break up with an ex. This revelation highlights the profound impact that music can have on personal relationships and life decisions.
The ‘Anxiety’ hitmaker has revealed the ‘Kill Bill’ singer “inspired” her to be “vulnerable” with her music in ways she doubts she could have, while her 2017 debut studio album enabled her to leave a relationship that was stifling her music career. ‘Ctrl’ received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, earning multiple Grammy nominations and achieving platinum status.
“I only felt that way once. I was 18, and I was dating a guy who just wasn’t very supportive of my music, and it really stifled me. I stopped writing because he was just like, ‘That’s not cool’,” Doechii told Cosmopolitan when asked if a partner has ever negatively impacted her creativity. Creative suppression in relationships can have lasting impacts on artists, with many reporting similar experiences of having their artistic expression stifled.
Doechii admitted: “I took his opinion way too seriously when really he just didn’t get it.” This recognition of valuing one’s own creative vision is something many artists struggle with, especially early in their careers when confidence may be developing.
“I remember listening to SZA’s ‘Ctrl’ for the first time and it literally gave me the courage to break up with him. I only bring that up because she inspired me to be vulnerable through my music in a way that I didn’t think I could be,” she went on. ‘Ctrl‘ is known for its raw emotional honesty, with themes of insecurity, femininity, and relationship struggles that resonated with listeners worldwide.
Doechii penned a breakup song about the ex and he told her “this sucks” when she let him hear it. This dismissive reaction further confirmed the pattern of unsupportiveness that had characterized their relationship.
“‘Girls’ [2021], the first song I dropped that went viral, was 100 per cent about that ex,” Doechii revealed. The track has since amassed millions of streams across platforms, demonstrating how artistic authenticity often resonates more strongly with audiences than trying to conform to others’ expectations.
Doechii recounted: “I had been working on it for a year and I played it for him, and he was like, ‘This sucks. What are you even talking about?’ And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I got to fix this’. And the girls loved it because they felt me.” This contrast between her ex’s reaction and the public’s enthusiastic response illustrates the disconnect that can occur when artists allow non-supportive voices to influence their creative decisions.
Anyone Doechii calls out in her lyrics is already “blocked” so they can’t react. This boundary-setting approach represents an important aspect of artistic freedom and personal protection that many musicians adopt when creating autobiographical content.
“If I’m writing about you in the negative, you can’t reach out – you’re blocked,” she said. Mental health experts often emphasize the importance of such boundaries for creative professionals, particularly when processing difficult emotional experiences through their art.
Doechii‘s experience represents a common struggle among artists who must navigate personal relationships alongside professional growth. Many creative professionals report having experienced relationship conflicts directly related to their artistic pursuits at some point in their careers.
The influence of SZA’s ‘Ctrl’ on Doechii’s personal and professional life demonstrates the powerful connection between artistic works and real-world decision-making. Listeners often report making significant life changes after connecting deeply with an album or song that articulated feelings they struggled to express themselves.
Since her breakup and subsequent musical freedom, Doechii has continued to rise in the music industry, signing with Top Dawg Entertainment and releasing several successful singles. Her willingness to embrace vulnerability in her music, inspired by SZA‘s example, has contributed significantly to her authentic sound and growing fanbase.
The relationship between female artists supporting each other through their work represents an important aspect of the contemporary music landscape. Such inspiration networks are increasingly vital in helping emerging artists find their voice and build successful careers, particularly in genres historically dominated by male perspectives.
