Alessia Cara first made waves in 2015 with her breakout hit "Here," instantly becoming the go-to voice for introverts and those who don’t quite fit in. She followed up with empowering anthems like “Scars to Your Beautiful,” “Stay” with Zedd, and the unforgettable “How Far I’ll Go” from Disney’s Moana. With albums like The Pains of Growing, This Summer, and In the Meantime, she’s seamlessly blended pop, R&B, and folk influences.
Now, she’s back with Love & Hyperbole, her latest album— which she calls “my best work to date—or at least my personal favorite.” Thanks to UMG Music’s 1824 Collective, we had the chance to join writers from across the industry for an exclusive conversation with her, diving into the details of the album and her writing process.
Love & Hyperbole marks a new era for Alessia—not just as an artist, but as a person. She’s lived, she’s grown, and she’s embracing her softer, more open, and unapologetic self. That evolution is especially clear in her response when asked which song feels the most personal to her on the album.
"I think there's one song on the album called 'Fire' that to me is like the first time I've ever written a love song without any sort of fear attached to it or any sort of negativity or stubbornness around it. I always feel like when I go to write love songs, there's always an angle of melancholy or fear." Cara continues, " I think this song feels super personal to me because it's the first time that I've just written about love in a happy, free way without inhibitions or fear of anything. It's just like a love letter and that feels very open."
The title Love & Hyperbole instantly hints at big emotions, and we couldn’t wait to hear Alessia’s take on its meaning. She explained:
"I was definitely using hyperbole in a humorous way and kind of allowing it to sort of pacify some of the heavier emotions, like on songs like 'Run Run,' which is about me fearing that I'm going to sabotage something really great and potentially beautiful. Love can be sometimes, like, super dramatic."
A big part of this conversation centered around the journey of self-discovery that comes with stepping into adulthood. It’s about shedding the anxiety and fear of adolescence, growing into a more confident version of yourself, and finding a lighter, more forgiving perspective on life. Ideally, it’s also a time for working on your mental health and allowing yourself more grace. This album beautifully reflects that growth in Alessia, and hopefully, it will resonate with those who have been through it, are going through it, or just need a reminder that things do get better.
The production of this album is a true standout, heavily influenced by the ’60s and ’70s. Alessia shared one of the most exciting aspects of the process, giving us a glimpse into how the album came to life saying "I had the chance to record, I want to say 90% of this album live with live musicians in the room. We had, you know, like an orchestra, we had like string players and a horn section and a bunch of musicians that came in, and we got to like to feed off of each other's energy. And that just felt really cool and different because I love live music so much, and so much of the music I love is like, you know, music from like the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s that was all made predominantly live." Her passion for that era’s music shines through, making this album feel both timeless and deeply personal.
With the album dropping on Valentine’s Day, Alessia is fully in the spirit—wearing a gorgeous red sweater as we chat. Love is a central theme throughout the record, but does she consider herself a romantic at heart? "I definitely would say I'm a romantic, even in the times where I sort of didn't want to be or was like shamefully one because of just the outcome of some of the romance that I've experienced in my life. It wasn't always the best. And so I begrudgingly was one, but nonetheless, I was one and still am one," said Cara. "I think now my view of love has definitely changed now that I've had the chance to experience, to me, you know, something that is like a real love that, I don't know, it's like the love that I want and the love that I have always kind of strived for."
We wrapped up our conversation by diving into the meaning behind the album cover, which features Alessia holding two versions of herself, each supporting the other to prevent them from falling backward. She explained, "The specific position that I'm in is one that is rooted in trust and kind of having your own back, but also trusting yourself. Because if one person lets go, the other is falling. So I think the sentiment that I wanted to get across on the album is that sometimes when we look at love, we so badly want it to work out and we base how we're going to feel after on if it works or if it doesn't. But I think that so much of love is actually, and life in general, is like not so much even trusting that the thing is going to work out, but rather trusting that you'll be okay if it doesn't. If that makes sense? Trusting yourself that you can get through anything. And whether the thing works out or not, that's the irrelevant part. It's like trusting that you're going to be okay. So I wanted to kind of convey that on the cover too. Just this like self-trust."
Love & Hyperbole is finally here, and we’re fully embracing this new chapter in Alessia’s journey. From her personal growth to her evolving sound, the album feels like a fresh start—one that showcases her authenticity and vulnerability. With its mix of emotional depth, powerful vocals, and classic influences, it’s clear Alessia has entered a bold new era. We’re excited to see how this album resonates with fans, and we can’t wait to watch her continue to evolve as both an artist and a person.
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