The 21-year-old singer got candid about the pressures of working on individual projects and opened up about who she's collaborating with on her upcoming solo album.
One week after Fifth Harmony announced that they would be going on hiatus from the band to "pursue solo endeavors," Normani Kordei is opening up about what is in store for her musical future.
On Monday, the 21-year-old singer opened up to Beats 1 on Apple Music about her new hit single "Love Lies" with Khalid and her upcoming debut solo album.
"It’s always kind of scary, especially because for the past six years, Fifth Harmony's all we’ve ever known," Kordei said of the pressure of releasing a solo track. "So, every time we put something out individually, it’s like, 'Oh shoot! All eyes are on me!'"
As for "Love Lies," the 21-year-old singer said the song, and her collaboration with Khalid, came about "really organically."
"It’s cool, because Khalid and I have been friends for a minute now. It’s not necessarily an A&R [executive] or somebody saying, 'Hey, you! I'm sticking you in a room. Go make a dope record,'" she shared. "It’s just two genuine friends making music for the sake of the art."
"I remember him telling me, he was like, 'Yo, I want this to be my favorite song. Let's not even go into it trying to create a hit. If it's gonna be, it's gonna be.' But it's genuinely my favorite song at the moment right now," she added. "And that’s like, my proudest moment. When I can listen to a record over and over again."
As for Kordei's debut solo album, the former Dancing With the Stars finalist said her experiences in the music industry, and as part of a massively successful girl group, will play a role in what her songs are going to be about.
"Honestly, I feel like I’ve experienced a lot in the last six years, so I feel like just getting all of that out. Whatever comes to mind, whatever I’m going through at the moment," she explained. "I just want this to be an album that completely represents who Normani is. And for some people, it may be the first time."
Kordei said that she's still in "the beginning stages" but that she's so far gotten a chance to collaborate and record with The Stereotypes, The Monsters and the Strangerz, and Victoria Monét, among others.
Fifth Harmony -- comprised of Kordei, Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane and Ally Brooke -- was first formed in 2012, during season two of the U.S. version of The X Factor. They went on to release the chart-topping singles "Worth It" and "Work From Home." In December 2016, rumors of an impending split first surfaced after founding member Camila Cabello quit the band to go solo.
The group released a statement on March 19, letting their fans know that they would be going their separate ways, at least for a while.
"After six years going hard,non-stop, we also realized that in order to stay authentic to ourselves and to you, we do need to take some time for now to go on hiatus from Fifth Harmony in order to pursue solo endeavors,” the statement read. “We are all very excited and grateful to be able to take this time to learn and grow creatively and really find our footing as individuals."
Just two days after Fifth Harmony broke the news, ET caught up with Kordei, who shared some sweet words with her heartbroken fans.
"Oh, I love you guys so much and you made it the best time of my life," she marveled. "I'll never forget it." Check out the video below to hear more.
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