Bebe Rexha will release her new album, Dirty Blonde, the follow-up to her album ‘Bebe’ (2023), on June 12th.
Rexha announced the titles of all the songs on the album in an Instagram post, along with a list of dates when she plans to release them. Rexha also is introducing the album with a 4-minute supercut of all 13 songs, paired with visual elements. The supercut features Bebe playing a variety of characters. Bebe says in a statement, “This next chapter is about creative freedom — trusting my instincts, trusting my voice, and finally doing things the way I’ve always wanted to. I’ve learned a lot, I’ve lived a lot, and I’m fully tuned into myself now.”
Speaking to Billboard, Bebe says, “I worked so hard on this album. It’s been three years now, and every song is so important me. They’re like your babies, you know? I don’t want to be conformed by a certain sound or certain boundaries. Following my gut has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career. This era is fearless, loud, and unapologetic — no filters, no limits. ‘Dirty Blonde’ is me owning exactly who I am.”
Thus far, Rexha has released three songs to preview the album. She most recently unveiled the track “New Religion,” and says of the song: “‘New Religion’ is really my salvation on the dance floor. It’s about letting go and getting lost in the music. I was in a dark place when I wrote it, and I realized music had always been the one thing that never left me — it’s always had my back, even in a tough industry and a heavy world. I wanted to write a love letter to music itself. When the bass hits, you feel it in your chest, and suddenly you feel alive again. That’s what this song is about for me — feeling safe in the music and remembering that spark. I hope when people hear it, it makes them want to get up and dance, but more than that, I hope it makes them feel alive.” See the video for New Religion: HERE.
Bebe says of the previously-released song “I Like You Better Than Me” -“I wrote this song because I know what it’s like to feel trapped by comparison and impossible expectations. This album is about transparency, being real and raw – that’s why I felt it was important to drop this one first. Through it, I hope to connect with anyone who’s ever felt less than enough and remind them they’re not alone. Struggling with these feelings doesn’t make you weak – it makes you human.” See the video for I Like You Better Than Me: HERE.
Rexha’s song ‘Çike Çike’ serves as an ode to her Albanian roots with bilingual Albanian-English lyrics (Bebe’s parents are Albanian; her birth name, Bleta, means “bee” in Albanian.). She shares of Çike Çike: “My culture is incredibly important to me. When DJ Snake sent over this beat with that incredible 808 bassline, the second I heard it, it made me want to dance. I knew I wanted to weave something from my heritage into the track, and I immediately thought of this Albanian phrase, ‘çike çike,’ which roughly translates to ‘hey girl, hey girl.’ It felt like the perfect way to pay homage to my roots while creating a powerful fusion of the EDM sound I love.” Check out the video for “Çike Çike”- HERE.
Dirty Blonde will drop June 12th; pre-order HERE.
Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com
