Ella Mai Pours Out “Heart on My Sleeve”

Ella Mai shares it all on “Heart on My Sleeve.”

The R&B singer will release her sophomore album “Heart on My Sleeve” on May 6. Her self-titled debut album went gold in two weeks, featuring tracks like “Trip” and “Boo’d Up.” Listeners sneak into the album with her single “DFMU,” which reveals an elevated version of Ella Mai’s love songs.

Recently, the English artist dropped the cover art for the album stating, “i poured my whole heart into this album, more so than ever before. i am overly excited for this sophomore journey. let’s do it all over again!”

In an interview with Billboard, Ella Mai shares that the sophomore album reflects her growth as a woman. She touches on the difference between her current headspace based on her experiences at 27-years-old as opposed to 23-years-old when she released her debut album. When asked what the sophomore album contains, Ella Mai shares a newfound perspective. 

“More R&B! It’s still me, and it’s elevated,” Mai says. “Just in life, I’m a different woman. I’m more mature, and I’ve experienced different things than I did when I was a 23-year-old. I’m more sure of myself as an artist. I’ve been able to tour the world, and I think that opens your eyes up a lot more. It’s me still, and it’s just an elevated version.”

There are few public details regarding “Heart on My Sleeve.” However, she talks about her time in the studio with record producer Pharrell Williams and rapper J. Cole. 

Ella Mai describes this time as “one of the best weeks.” First, Pharrell gets her out of her comfort zone with his unique beats. Then, she and J. Cole share a thoughtful discussion after making music. Therefore, listeners can expect production by Pharrell Williams, Mustard, and a potential feature by J. Cole. 

Listen to Ella Mai’s “DFMU” single from her sophomore album “Heart on My Sleeve” here.

Samaria Fuqua