‘I’m an ever-changing vessel’: Erykah Badu on defying definition, life as a birth and death doula and her first album in 11 years
Singer and doula Erykah Badu discusses her creative process and her first album in 11 years, created in collaboration with producer the Alchemist. She reflects on the importance of living and gathering life experiences to fuel her artistic output.
Why it matters
As a highly influential figure in neo-soul, Badu's return to music after a decade-long hiatus is a significant cultural event for the music industry.
‘I denounced my throne’ … Erykah Badu. Photograph: Adraint Bereal ‘I denounced my throne’ … Erykah Badu. Photograph: Adraint Bereal Soul Interview ‘I’m an ever-changing vessel’: Erykah Badu on defying definition, life as a birth and death doula and her first album in 11 years Shaad D'Souza Why do the Texan innovator’s records take so long to make? ‘It’s important to gather the data,’ she says: the death, dating and dopamine behind her exquisite comeback alongside the Alchemist
Fri 28 Aug 2026 00.00 EDT Last modified on Fri 28 Aug 2026 06.24 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google E rykah Badu needs the lights down low . The singer, producer, actor and registered doula shuffles into a private room at London’s Soho hotel and quietly asks for some changes to the atmosphere: lights dimmed, soft seat. A green juice would be great.
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