Album Review | ‘7’ by Nelly Furtado
Furtado returns after a 7-year break between albums
Nelly Furtado took a long break after the independent release of her indie-pop album The Ride. That record saw a more carefree side of Furtado, allowing herself to explore subject matters that felt authentic to her at the time without the fear of making another pop hit. She took some time to focus on motherhood in the interim between albums.
With the onset of TikTok, a new generation was introduced to Nelly’s music, seeming to set a new fire underneath her. She teased new music with her energetic single “Eat Your Man” back in 2023. This would just be an aperitif for the creative forces culminating in her aptly titled seventh album, 7.
Furtado gathered a bevy of producers and artists to create a dance-pop experience that displays Nelly’s genius. She confessed to NME that it felt like the right time to get back in the studio and make something that felt energized:
“I hadn’t set foot in a studio in about three years, but something told me I needed to get back in… I knew I wanted to make an album that reminded me of the vibes and energy you get at a soundcheck when you hear your voice coming back at you loud from the speakers.” — Nelly Furtado via NME (2024)
