At just 22 years old, Alessia Cara has a profoundly relatable grasp on the growing pains that are life.
The Canadian singer showcased her second studio album, The Pains of Growing, during an intimate and emotional iHeartRadio Album Release Party in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Cara shed tears while premiering the personal songs on the new album to a group of lucky fans at iHeartRadio’s Theater in Burbank.
“I’m already crying,” she admitted after stepping on stage. “I’m sorry — it’s really emotional all of this. … As a lot of you guys know, it’s been three years since I put out an album … and my life has changed completely.”
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Cara explained the meaning behind the album title. “Anybody’s life kind of changes in three years no matter what … and I just needed to write about it and this album, the whole process, has felt like something I needed to do for myself.
“You never stop growing and that whole concept is always going to be relevant.”
The Pains of Growing, out Friday, also comes on the heels of a breakup, which Cara revealed also heavily influenced her writing. But, while most artists bare their souls unapologetically in their music, she always includes her subjects.
“If I’m ever writing about somebody in any way, I always show the person before I release it,” Cara said. “It's a good thing to be open. I don’t think you can ever be too open.”
A bevy of tracks on The Pains of Growing hint at her split, including heart-heavy jams “Comfortable,” “I Don’t Want To,” “Out of Love,” and “Not Today.”
MORE: Alessia Cara Vows To Take Social Media Break
There’s also the politically charged track “7 Days,” which Cara explained was inspired by her faith.
“I wrote this song during a time which I feel like is still going on when you could not turn on social media or the news without seeing something frustrating.
“I was raised in a Catholic household … and I wanted to have a conversation with whoever is up there … like, ‘Are you mad at us? What is the purpose? We need some help’ … [I took] that concept that God created the earth in seven days and … I wanted to ask God if we we’re worth those seven days. So this is for anyone out there that has any questions because I certainly do.“
After performing the track live for the first time, Cara got emotional again. “This is too much,” she said. “I’m also on my period so…”
The Brampton, Ont. native (who still lives in her family home) described “Comfortable” as one of her favourites.
Will @alessiacara EVER release a bad song !?... #NotToday ♀️ #iHeartAlessiaCara https://t.co/B6km2NpXwt pic.twitter.com/nFLJ2xjoaW
— iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) November 29, 2018
“It sounds very Motown-y,” she said. "It’s a song about the comfortable phase in a relationship … and I think it’s pretty enviable in any relationship ... and me being a very insecure person I’m like, ‘What happens when this person knows everything about me? … And my tricks don’t work anymore?’
"At first I thought it was a negative thing, … and I realized that if you’re both still there after acknowledging the quirky parts and flaws, then that’s the most romantic thing.”
“Not Today” is important to the singer as well because it reiterates that it’s OK to be sad.
“It’s a song about a breakup which we know sucks and a bunch of poorly timed things,” she explained. “When you’re in those periods, people will tell you, 'One day this won’t matter anymore,' and time does heal everything, but I think we forget to give ourselves time, and, for me, that was this song.”
Will @alessiacara EVER release a bad song !?... #NotToday ♀️ #iHeartAlessiaCara https://t.co/B6km2NpXwt pic.twitter.com/nFLJ2xjoaW
— iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) November 29, 2018
Cara ended the show singing her hit “Scars to Your Beautiful” through tears.
The singer will tape a performance for an episode of Ellen and then head home to join the fun at this weekend's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Toronto.
Original article by Sierra Marquina at iHeartRadio