**SZA Shares Gratitude for Doja Cat’s Musical Influence**
During a cover story interview in V magazine, SZA expressed her admiration for Doja Cat’s versatile musical style. The Grammy-nominated artist praised Doja for her ability to create music that transcends genres, a talent that has earned her recognition as one of this year’s Best New Artist nominees.
SZA, a self-proclaimed superfan of Doja Cat, commended her for breaking boundaries in the music industry. She shared, “I really feel like I relate the most to you because between the pre-TDE era and crossing that path, I always felt like I couldn’t fit into anything. That my music isn’t ‘Black enough’ with ‘Drew Barrymore.’ I never felt that as a Black girl, I could make music and be in these realms. You make music in all these other realms and make it sound like it touched my inner mind and spirit.”
Reflecting on her high school and college years, SZA revealed, “You’re exactly who I needed when I was in high school [and] college. I just wanted to feel like it’s OK to be an individual that isn’t really planted but is highly mutable and superfluid. Working with you was literally my dream.”
She also asked Doja about the pressure to conform to specific music genres like rap or pop. Doja confessed, “I wanted to be a rapper before I was a singer at all. And I always wanted to sing because singing is amazing when you hit a note and you’re like, ‘Wow.’ They’ve just melded together, and I’ve just been able to make those two come together. … I definitely get pushback for making pop music and then rapping with it.”
Doja teased an exciting collaboration titled “Kiss Me More” with SZA for her upcoming album Planet Her. She expressed her enthusiasm for having SZA on board and described the collaboration as a full-circle moment that aligns perfectly with her artistic vision.
The interview, moderated by V’s digital editor Dania Curvy, was described as a transformative experience filled with divine feminine and black girl magic. The bond between SZA and Doja Cat extends beyond music, showcasing a powerful connection between two talented artists.
