According to a recent conversation with the singer-turned-entrepreneur in the latest edition of Interview magazine, fans of Rihanna’s music may need to exercise patience for her ninth album, as it appears there are no immediate plans for its release.

The pop icon, who hasn’t dropped an album since Anti in 2016, discussed various topics with Interview editor Mel Ottenberg, including her marriage, Fenty Beauty, and music. However, when it comes to new music, Rihanna had little to share, which may disappoint eager fans. “I have a lot of visual ideas,” she mentioned to the outlet. “It’s strange. My thought process seems to be working in reverse at the moment. Normally, I start with the music, and it inspires various visual concepts. But now, I’m experiencing the visuals first.”

“I don’t have the songs for them yet,” she elaborated. “But perhaps that’s the breakthrough this time. Perhaps the visual concepts are guiding me towards the songs I need to create.”

When Ottenberg inquired whether this could signify a new beginning for Rihanna, she hinted at uncertainty: “I mean, I can’t say. The opportunities are being closely watched.”

Rihanna stepped away from the music scene in 2017 to launch Fenty Beauty, followed by the introduction of Savage X Fenty, her lingerie brand, in 2018. As she established herself as a successful businesswoman and juggled motherhood, the release of a new Rihanna album became a distant prospect, with nearly a decade having passed since her last one.

Reflecting on her journey, Rihanna acknowledged that she couldn’t have predicted her current path 15 years ago when “Umbrella” dominated the airwaves and more music was on the horizon. “The only thing I knew I wanted, or could envision, was motherhood,” she shared. “I didn’t know how it would happen, but it’s been the most fulfilling part of my journey thus far. Everything else has been a surprise.”