Demi Lovato on her new album, tour and life as a newlywed

Key Concepts

• Resilience and Vulnerability in Music: Demi Lovato's career trajectory, marked by personal struggles and public sharing.
• Evolution of Musical Style: Transition from early Disney fame to pop recording artist, influenced by personal growth and relationships.
• "It's Not That Deep" Album Philosophy: A shift towards celebratory and fun music, reflecting a current state of happiness and peace.
• Camp Rock Legacy and Future: Reunion with Jonas Brothers and confirmation of "Camp Rock 3" in development, with Lovato as an executive producer.
• Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy: Openness about battles with addiction, recovery, and near-fatal overdose, serving as a catalyst for life change.
• Creative Freedom and Artistic Growth: Exploring new songwriting approaches, including stepping into characters, to foster creative liberation.
• Impact of Personal Relationships: Influence of marriage to Jordan Loots on musical direction, moving towards pop and dance genres.

Demi Lovato's Journey: From Camp Rock to "It's Not That Deep"

This summary details the career and personal evolution of artist Demi Lovato, focusing on their latest album, "It's Not That Deep," and their journey through fame, addiction, recovery, and artistic reinvention.

Early Career and Public Persona

Demi Lovato's career began at a young age, with early roles on Disney Channel, including "Camp Rock" (2008). This led to a pop recording career built on a foundation of resilience. Lovato has consistently been vulnerable with their fans, sharing deeply personal songs about their past experiences, including battles with addiction and recovery. A notable example is the 2018 single "Sober," written shortly before a near-fatal fentanyl overdose.

"It's Not That Deep": A New Chapter

At 33 years old, Lovato's latest album, "It's Not That Deep," represents a significant shift in their artistic and personal outlook. Lovato describes the album as "more celebratory" and intended for listeners to "have fun," reflecting their current state of happiness. This contrasts with previous work, which often drew from more emotionally challenging experiences.

Camp Rock Reunion and Future

The past year saw a highly anticipated "Camp Rock" reunion with the Jonas Brothers, which Lovato described as "really fun" and "rewarding" due to the joy it brought fans. Further exciting fans, Disney has announced that "Camp Rock 3" is in development. Lovato will serve as an executive producer for the project, though their on-screen appearance remains a surprise.

Creative Process and Artistic Evolution

Lovato's career spans over two decades, marked by a survivor's spirit, recent marriage, and a new tour. The lead single from the new album, "I Want to Go Anywhere," embodies this forward-looking energy. Lovato explains that the creative process for "It's Not That Deep" involved a conscious effort to move away from drawing solely from deeply emotional places. For instance, the song "Here All Night" was written by stepping into a character and imagining a breakup, a creatively freeing experience. Lovato has been in the entertainment industry since booking "Barney and Friends" at seven years old, consistently seeking ways to push creative boundaries.

Musical Milestones and Personal Struggles

Lovato became a household name in 2008 with their debut album "Don't Forget," recorded while filming "As the Bell Rings." The following decade saw significant radio success, including the five-time platinum hit "Heart Attack." Lovato has always aimed to create music that is both reflective of their emotional state and creative direction at the time.

However, behind the success, Lovato struggled with mental and physical health. This led to pausing their world tour with the Jonas Brothers to check into a mental health treatment center. Lovato has spoken about coping with depression through their eating disorder and has undergone multiple stints in rehab for substance abuse throughout their twenties. These experiences were shared on podcasts like "Call Her Daddy," where Lovato stated, "If you're going to work me like an adult, I'm going to party like an adult."

The Fentanyl Overdose and its Aftermath

Lovato's battles with addiction were further explored in "Dancing with the Devil" and their latest documentary, which detailed a near-fatal fentanyl overdose in 2018. Lovato recounted the overdose, stating, "No, I'm not injecting it. I can't overdose on it. At the end of the day, if you do too much of anything, it's going to kill you." This near-death experience resulted in three strokes, a heart attack, and temporary blindness, profoundly changing their life and perspective. Lovato emphasizes that they are "not writing from deeply emotional places right now because I'm not living in the past anymore." The album title, "It's Not That Deep," serves as a reminder to not take oneself too seriously.

The "It's Not That Deep" Album Experience

The stage for the album's promotion is designed to be a "carbon copy" of the album cover, allowing fans to "step into my album." Lovato's new tour will feature more dancing, with the music being described as "dance tracks" designed for enjoyment. The focus of this music is "peace," not "pain."

Personal Growth and Relationships

Lovato's personal growth is also evident in their song "Sorry to Myself," where they apologize to themselves, acknowledging that "we all owe ourselves an apology" for putting ourselves through difficult times. Lovato believes in evolving as a human and an artist, stating, "If I'm in therapy all the time, you know, working on myself as a human, what can I be doing to evolve as an artist?" The emphasis remains on "having fun."

Earlier this year, Lovato married fellow musician Jordan Loots. Lovato describes the feeling of falling in love as "unbelievable" and states that it "changed my sound." Initially intending to make another rock album, Lovato found themselves happy and explored different genres, ultimately landing on pop music and a "dance vibe." This contagious dance vibe was showcased at a sold-out event at the Hollywood Palladium, where Lovato reiterated the message, "I just want people to have fun. Don't take yourself too seriously. One day you're going to wake up and you're going to be like, I could have had more fun, right? Like life is about enjoying the moment."

Lovato is set to embark on a tour beginning next.