Doja Cat’s new album Vie will “fully encapsulate” the ’70s and ’80s — with some “modern twists.” The highly anticipated release marks a significant shift in the artist’s sonic direction, drawing inspiration from several decades of musical innovation.
The “Say So” hitmaker is expected to release the follow-up to 2023’s Scarlet sometime this year and she has shared snippets of what fans can expect. This retro-inspired approach represents a bold artistic evolution for the Grammy-winning performer.
Speaking on Los Angeles’ 102.7 KIIS FM radio station recently, she said: “I’m really punching my foot through the wall into that situation. I want to really fully encapsulate that time and still give it some modern twists here and there.” The interview generated considerable excitement among her fan base, who have been eagerly awaiting details about her next creative chapter.
In November, the “Paint The Town Red” hitmaker took to X to share the names of 13 songs from the album. The track listing offered fans their first glimpse into the project’s scope and direction, showcasing what appears to be an ambitious collection of material.
Doja Cat’s ‘favorite’ songs
She highlighted five of the songs — “Cards,” “Acts Of Service,” “Make It Up,” “Did I Lie” and “Crack” — as her “favorite.” These selections might indicate the creative direction and stylistic range of the forthcoming release, suggesting a diverse musical landscape.
Doja later noted: “Songs are in no particular order. Starred my favorites.” This casual reveal demonstrates her characteristic approach to connecting with fans through social media, giving them behind-the-scenes insights into her creative process.
However, she later deleted the post. The removal sparked speculation among fans about potential changes to the album or its release strategy, a common occurrence in the lead-up to major music releases.
In September, the 29-year-old rapper and singer declared that she doesn’t want to write hits just to “protect my pockets.” This statement reflects a growing artistic confidence and willingness to take creative risks, regardless of commercial implications.
Doja admitted she has done songs in the past just to be popular, and said she wanted to experiment with the eclectic mix of genres that she loves, including jazz, neo soul, indie and rock music. This candid acknowledgment shows her artistic maturity and desire to create more authentic and personally meaningful work.
“I really love jazz music, and I love neo soul, and different kinds of rock music and indie and experimental music. That stuff tends to get pushed to the side by the general populace, and I didn’t see it in the past for me, so I did the thing that I knew would stick. Now, I feel like I can take those elements that I have from the music that sticks and put it into this soup of different genres that I really love and enjoy and respect, and make something new with it.
‘A different direction sonically’
“That’s what I’ve always loved to do, is swirl a lot of different sounds together, but really in the future, I want to start going in a different direction sonically that isn’t supposed to just protect my pockets necessarily, and isn’t just supposed to woo the younger fans or the people who only want to hear sexual themes or self-medication or stuff like that. There’s so much to life and it’s been a pattern of writing about those things for me, but now I want to stretch the canvas,” in an interview conducted by singer Jack Harlow for Present Space, Doja said. Her detailed explanation reveals a thoughtful approach to her artistic development and a desire to transcend the constraints of mainstream pop formulas.
The star stepped away from her conventional pop style on Scarlet, focusing on hip-hop and R&B. This previous evolution demonstrated her versatility as an artist and laid the groundwork for her current exploration of retro sounds combined with contemporary production techniques.
Industry observers note that Vie could represent her most ambitious artistic statement to date, potentially reshaping her position in the music landscape. The album’s title, meaning “life” in French, suggests themes of renewal and vitality that might permeate the project’s lyrical content and overall aesthetic direction.
dont ask me where crack is rn pic.twitter.com/To4lmOEsts
— DOJA CAT (@DojaCat) April 13, 2025
