Def Jam RecordingsAlessia Cara‘s new album The Pains of Growing is out on Friday. In all the album’s artwork and in all her promotional appearances, she’s been wearing an oversized grey suit, to serve as a metaphor for how you may not feel “grown up,” even if you technically are. She’s been criticized for doing so on social media, but as she explains, that’s nothing new for her…unfortunately.
“I always find that I’m constantly having to defend the way that I dress and look, which has been a common theme in my whole career,” Alessia tells ABC Radio. “[But] as long as I’m happy with what I’m doing, I don’t think it matters what anyone else says, anyway.”
The Grammy-winning singer feels strongly that the suit is a great way of communicating what The Pains of Growing is all about.
“I think it definitely makes it hit home and…provides a common thread for all the songs,” she explains.
“The songs stand alone and go together regardless, but it’s just, for me, a nice visual aspect and ties everything together. And I think kind of visualizing it in a way that’s more…of a narrative just make it a little bit easier for people to understand.”
And Alessia isn’t shy at all about hitting back at trolls who don’t understand, and who attack her instead.
“I feel like saying something back to them and almost like messing with them in a humorous way is the way that I cope,” she tells ABC Radio.
She laughs, “[It’s] just, to me, a classier way of saying ‘screw you’!” And also…I do want people to understand what I’m trying to do and so if I have to do that through putting people in their place, I will.”
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