In the new issue of music weekglobal superstar Shania Twain reveals all about her long-awaited sixth album, Queen of Me.
Republic Records co-president Wendy Goldstein called it “everything you could expect from a Shania record”, while EMI co-president Joe Charrington called it “one of her best work to date.” Acclaimed as “some”, Queen of Me marks an incredibly enthusiastic return to being one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Indeed, the title alone demonstrates the remarkable self-determination Twain has displayed as an artist throughout his career.
“For years I’ve been called the ‘Queen’ of something,” she said. music week“It was the ‘Queen of the Crossover’, the ‘Queen of Country’, the ‘Queen of Country Pop’ and some friends in the industry started calling me ‘Queen Shania’ and other artists called me ‘Queen.’ ’ I called. [laughs]I have decided that if I am the ‘queen’ of something, I am the ‘queen’ of mine. I’m just that. I have always been my boss. I accept the good and the bad. And that is what it means to be your own queen. I feel pretty triumphant, at least in my career. It feels really good to celebrate it and say, “I took the reins, ran with it, and made it.” am. “
Queen of Me is Twain’s first album of many. For one thing, her new track Pretty Liar is the first time she’s sworn to a song (“Listen, I’m a lumberjack girl,” Twain said music week“It’s all the way from Timmins, Ontario”. But the biggest difference of all is in the sleeve notes.The album is her own, with her former producer/husband Matt Lang. Agomber, Mark Crewe, Dan Priddy, Wayne Hector, Tom Mann, Adam Messinger, Mark Ralph, Ian Archer, Jack Savoretti, Dave Cobb, Georgia Burns, Tyler Joseph. For the first time, Twain embraced Mass.Collaboration.
In an era of ever-growing number of hit writers, one thing Twain was quick to point out was what co-writing really meant, at least for her.
“Only those who are contributing to the song and not just being in the room should be considered writers,” argued Twain. I’m more of a purist than that. Since this is my album, I feel it’s my responsibility to walk into the room with ideas, so I plan to share the songs I want to write. Then I expect them to contribute as writers and help me make songs. It never happened. “
I have no interest in going out and pretending to be 25. As my 57 year old self, I want to live in the best and most beautiful way possible.
Shania Twain
Another thing that’s evident in Queen of Me is how strong Twain’s voice is. Twain suffered from a condition called dysphonia after she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2003. “I couldn’t make sounds or control the quality of my voice,” she said. . music week 2017. She was able to navigate this for now in 2017, but in 2018 she opted for invasive throat surgery to help the situation.
“I can rely on my voice now,” she reflected. “If you want to take certain notes, I know it doesn’t work. Because this voice doesn’t last forever and with age it can start to come back in. You can have another surgery or another surgery to fix it and stabilize it. You can get implants, but it depends on when you need them.
In a wide-ranging interview, Twain also talked about winning battles with critics and those who overlooked her songwriting legacy. was somehow only inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2022.
“Better than never being late…” she laughed. “It means a lot to be recognized, which means you look back and wonder, ‘Well, who was in office before me?’ How many hits have they had? What must be done to get there more timely? I don’t know… all I know is that I’m among the songwriters of many real real classics. It’s an honor. “
Besides the music, the key to Queen Of Me’s message is to be comfortable in your own skin. In her cover feature, Twain opened up about her body confidence.
“Now that I am an older woman, menopausal women’s bodies are changing,” she observed. It’s all made for people in their teens and twenties. I’m starting to feel comfortable.”
That’s why we’re seeing a powerful self-curated press shot by Twain around Queen Of Me. There is a message behind it.
“I did a nude photo shoot, and it took a lot of courage,” she said. but it gives a very similar answer: they prefer to have the lights dimmed when they bathe and have sex in the dark, which is a very common mentality that women fall into. I’m an old woman who doesn’t need to cover herself and I don’t want fashion or society to dictate what I should or shouldn’t wear I own this now, I own this, I’m happy with my own skin, I’m taking off all my clothes and doing a photo shoot. I look at these pictures and face these fears, and I’m going to find this beauty.”
Twain believes that women still have a long way to go before they can be themselves in old age without pretending to be young. The pressure to conform is real.
“I’m a performing artist, so I’m going out and pretending to be 25, pretending…” she sighs. “I’m not even interested in that. I just want to be my menopausal 57-year-old self. Whether you’re a woman or a man, you have to hide behind a facade just because you’re real.” It doesn’t matter if you feel… I’m not that person I should quit my job I can’t hide behind anything, it’s too stressful More perfect To look like I’m 40, I have to literally rebuild my face, my body, everything, and it’s like, ‘No, no, no, I’m doing it the best way I can, the most beautiful way I can. So, I just want to be my 57-year-old self.
What’s next for Twain? Layla Hebden – part of the Maverick Management triumvirate that runs Twain alongside Scott Rogers and James Adams – is certainly mindful that Twain’s illustrious past still has a lot to do, We are undertaking the reissue of Twain’s “Diamonds”. [selling] Trilogy’ The Woman In Me, Come On Over and Up! This, she argues, is not always the case with female artists.
Over the years I have been called the “Queen” of something, but if the “Queen” of anything, I am the “Queen” of mine.I was the one who steered me, I am the “Queen” of my success
Shania Twain
“You asked for examples of other kinds of catalog box sets, didn’t you?” Hebden said. “And you’re like, ‘Okay, here’s Elton John, The Beatles, Neil Young, Bob Dylan,’ and it’s a beautiful celebration package. Go buy a Reba McEntire reissue and she With a bow painted on the piece and in a jewel case, women absolutely have to fight and fight and fight to be recognized in their time.
To this end, Hebden has promised an all-singing-all-dancing reissue of Twain’s blockbuster Come On Over, enhanced with “lots of interesting bits”.
“We want the industry, as well as the audience, to pay Shania a dues while she’s still alive,” Hebden said. “That’s my goal. And I want to retire and make pottery in the countryside. [laughs]”
What about Shania Twain? She’s already longing to get back in the studio, and she’s also thinking about what she wants to do next.
“I love listening to 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s music,” she reveals. “A lot of really great stuff was written and I want to re-record those songs and bring them back to the forefront. They’re so timeless. I really want to make that album. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
Subscribers can read the full Shania Twain cover feature here.