Rihanna on R9: "Honestly, it'd be ridiculous if it's not this year"

"I realised that if I keep waiting until this feels right and perfect and better, maybe it’s going to keep taking forever"

Rihanna has hinted that her long-awaited follow-up to 2016's 'Anti' could arrive this year.

In a new feature for British Vogue, the singer opened up about her plans for the record. "I want it to be this year. Like, honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year," she said. "But I just want to have fun. I just want to make music and make videos. And I need the right background music with the visuals."

Reflecting on the success of 'Anti', Rihanna said, "In hindsight, it really is my most brilliant album. I say that because in the moment, I didn’t realise it. But it always felt like the most cohesive album I’ve ever made. When you break it down and you realise this album goes from 'Work' to 'Kiss It Better' to 'Needed Me' to 'Love on the Brain' to 'Sex with Me' to 'Desperado'."

"So I realised that if I keep waiting until this feels right and perfect and better, maybe it’s going to keep taking forever and maybe it’ll never come out and no, I’m not down to that. So I want to play," Rihanna added. "And by play, I mean I have my ideas in my head, but I can’t say them out loud yet."

Read the full piece now at vogue.co.uk.