Nearly six years separate fans of Ciara (affectionately called the #CSquad) from her last album ‘Beauty Marks‘ (2019), but the wait for a new studio effort is set to come to a close this Summer.

Serving as the cover girl for the newest edition of ‘L’Officiel USA,’ Ciara confirmed her new album ‘CiCi‘ will storm digital shelves on July 11.

“With this project, I want to say thank you to my fans. I’ve been doing things independently, running my own label, and it has not been the easiest journey by far. But I’m so grateful that my fans have stayed on this journey with me,” she says of the project she promised will be “very R&B focused.”

Evidence of that sonic direction has certainly come via the string of singles that precede the LP’s announcement including ‘Run It Up,’ ‘Wassup,’ and the April 4-released ‘Ecstasy.’

“‘Ecstasy’ is a super feel-good song. There is something beautiful and empowering about tapping into the sensual side of yourself. I look back on my evolution as a woman, and there are things you start to become more comfortable with,” she told the mag about the new song. “The video [for the song] is like the big sister to “Ride” [2010] and “Promise” [2006]. I actually shot it with [director] Diane Martel, who did ‘Ride’ and ‘Like a Boy’ [2006]. We’re probably like 19 years deep, and I felt like only she could do this thing how I wanted to do it.”

Another nod to her previous work comes courtesy of a surprise reunion with Jazze Pha – the producer who helmed her debut (and) best-selling album to date: 2004’s ‘Goodies.’

“There are some amazing moments [on the ‘Cici’ album]—I’ve always wanted to work with Tyga; the way he rides the beat is so special. Jazze Pha produced a song for me, and we hadn’t done a song together since my second album. And then, to have Latto join us, it’s super A-Town love,” Ciara relayed.

The July-due ‘CiCi’ is not to be confused with her 2023-released EP of the same name (home to the R&B smash ‘How We Roll‘ with Chris Brown).

[photo courtesy: Emman Montalvan for L’Officiel USA]

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