Alessia Cara shares her insights on crafting her fourth LP, ‘Love & Hyperbole,’ reflecting on her ten-year journey in the music scene and how her balance of vulnerability and strength has culminated in her most deeply personal and transformative album yet. This work addresses themes of self-doubt, healing, and the joy of rediscovery, all while innovatively blending genres and expanding creative horizons, ultimately producing a sound that mirrors her emotional evolution.
A decade after her breakthrough single “Here,” Alessia Cara stands at a new crossroad. Her fourth album, Love & Hyperbole, embodies the emotional highs and lows that characterize the human experience—detailing the journey of finding joy, embracing love, and acknowledging that the past, no matter how burdensome, is integral to our identities. Released on Valentine’s Day through Def Jam, Love & Hyperbole represents Alessia Cara’s most daring project to date. Following her introspective 2021 album, In the Meantime, which investigated transitional phases in life, this new work delves deeper into the emotional landscape, merging fragile moments with resilience as Cara navigates self-doubt and the healing process. This has resulted in her most honest and unguarded album yet.
For Cara, Love & Hyperbole transcended being a mere album; it embodied a journey toward reclaiming joy and recognizing the often chaotic fabric of life. "There were times I felt I wasn’t entitled to happiness,” she confesses. “I thought I had to be this distressed artist, and I struggled to move past that. Eventually, I recognized that joy is just as vital to my art as the sorrow."
This transformation was not instant, and the album’s creation was fraught with uncertainty, particularly in its early stages. “I didn’t know if I had anything left to express. I questioned if I even wanted to continue making music,” she reveals. “But I let my feelings surface, and once I stopped resisting, the music began to flow."
The album itself reflects her journey, alternating between energetic anthems and poignant ballads that encapsulate her emotional evolution. In “Go Outside!,” the opening song, Cara confronts existential questions with the lyric, “Is it worse or is it me?” This line resonates with listeners navigating self-doubt and anxiety in 2025, illustrating Cara’s own battles with feeling adrift while striving to find clarity in chaos. "I was overwhelmed and questioning whether I was the issue. Or was the world genuinely flawed?" she reflects. She believes “Go Outside!” serves as an ideal opener, capturing the essence of where she began—filled with confusion and inquiry.
As the album unfolds, Cara learns to accept her vulnerability along with her fortitude. Tracks such as “Obvious” and “Slow Motion” articulate moments of self-empowerment, signifying a shift from insecurity to self-acceptance. “It’s about making peace with oneself, releasing fear, and allowing life to unfold,” she explains. “The journey wasn't straightforward. It was chaotic, but that's where its beauty lies.”
The album concludes with “Clearly,” a moment of release and healing, where Cara conveys the clarity that emerges from processing pain. “I feel the ocean between us closing in,” she sings, reflecting on the emotional distance now bridged with a loved one. The imagery of “fences mending slowly” symbolizes the effort of rebuilding trust, paralleling Cara’s path towards reconciliation and personal growth. “For the first time, I can see you clearly,” she claims—not only in regard to the romantic relationship depicted in the song but also in her own development. It serves as an optimistic closure to the album—a testament to the possibility of healing following turmoil and self-doubt. Amidst the chaos, Cara has identified light, with “Clearly” marking her acceptance of this newfound perspective.
Across Love & Hyperbole, Cara opens her heart to listeners, honoring the joyful moments while acknowledging the painful ones. The album boldly embraces the complexity of emotions—whether it be joy or sorrow, love or heartbreak. For Cara, this project signifies a moment of personal reconciliation, transforming the unpredictable nature of human experience into a universal narrative.
In her conversation with Atwood Magazine, Alessia Cara reflects on her decade-long transformation, from a teenage newcomer to an established songwriter. She discusses the exhilarating highs and disheartening lows encountered while creating Love & Hyperbole, the self-doubt that nearly derailed her music career, and her journey toward embracing happiness. In a candid dialogue, she unravels the profound feelings that shaped the album and her newfound willingness to fully experience those emotions.
Join us for the complete interview below, and immerse yourself in the emotional richness of Alessia Cara’s evolving story—then listen to Love & Hyperbole to experience it all for yourself.
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:: Stream/Purchase Love & Hyperbole here ::
:: Connect with Alessia Cara here ::
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Watch: “Slow Motion”
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Alessia Cara discusses the creation of her fourth album, ‘Love & Hyperbole,’ reflecting on her ten-year journey in the music industry. She shares how embracing vulnerability and strength influenced this deeply personal and transformative record, which explores the intricacies of self-doubt, healing, and finding joy again. The album mixes various genres, stretches creative limits, and achieves a sound that mirrors the breadth and subtlety of her emotional experience.