Looking back over the last three years, what were your experiences that led to the creation of “Worthy”? I’m getting prepared and still learning a lot. It’s funny, this era of recording “Worthy” is not the first time that I’ve been through a lot of hard lessons.

When I was younger-in my early 20s-I came out with my first album. I didn’t really know what the rhythms of life were. And so, I just took it as I was learning these hard lessons. Most of the time writing and recording this album, I was in a relationship, long term for me. That brings this whole set of lessons, as any adult knows. The songs on this album, anyone listening to them can hear the things I’ve been thinking about. Outside of the subject matter of the songs, I have also learned a lot about writing and producing albums for myself. When I started working on this album, “Worthy,” I didn’t actually know that I was going to make another album. I wasn’t chomping at the bit like I had been in the past to make an album, and I didn’t have this whole stack of songs and saying, ‘Let’s get it popping and get this album done.’ But I knew that I wanted to make another album because that’s what I do, but that’s all I knew.

I didn’t know if it was going to be completed or start gaining momentum. What “lesson” did you learn in the process of producing this album that has changed your overall state of being? You did complete the album, but it is unlike any of your previous albums.

I made an album much different than anything I thought I was going to make. I learned what it means to surrender, I guess. Maybe that’s the overall lesson of these last three years. I learned how to surrender love when it’s time for it to be over. I surrendered to the music, and to the songs. I moved to another state, and I surrendered to that. Ten years ago, I would’ve been under the bed, afraid of what’s going to happen and all that. But now, I just feel like it’s life and I’m ready to deal with whatever’s coming.

India arie songs rich