After a five-year recording hiatus, Teyana Taylor is heralding her return with Escape Room. The singer-songwriter, dancer-choreographer and actress-director’s anticipated fourth studio album (out Aug. 22) is being released via Taylormade Enterprises, Inc./Def Jam Recordings. And in further celebration of her next musical chapter, Taylor has partnered with Amazon Music for an exclusive livestream of her new short film, also titled Escape Room, on the album’s release date (8 p.m. PT).
Prefaced by the previously issued singles “Long Time” and “Bed of Roses,” the 22-track Escape Room finds Taylor expressing the raw emotions she experienced in finding her escape route from life’s turmoils to a stronger sense of self and healing. Underscoring that journey are empowering narratives from a diverse female chorus featuring Taraji P. Henson, Sarah Paulson, La La Anthony, Niecy Nash and Kerry Washington, among others. In addition to the aforementioned singles, other notable tracks include “Pum Pum” featuring Jill Scott and Tyla, “Hard Part” featuring Lucky Daye and “Open Invite” with Kaytranada. Taylor’s daughters Junie Shumpert and Rue Rose Shumpert appear on the album’s moving closing track “Always.”
While speaking with Billboard about ending her musical retirement, Taylor — who recently underwent emergency vocal cord surgery — described herself as a “Glade plug-in: I’m going to plug in wherever I see a socket, wherever I see an outlet … Coming back to music and being able to do it on my terms was a big turn-on for me.”
One of those creative outlets was the opportunity to write, direct, produce and star in the album’s accompanying, same-titled short film. Done under the banner of her all-female production company, The Aunties, this visual representation also features key songs from the project. Following the livestream on both Amazon Music’s app and Twitch channel, actress-producer Lena Waithe will moderate a Q&A with Taylor. Viewers can watch post-livestream on Prime Video here. A trailer is also available now.
In the press release announcing Amazon Music’s livestream, Taylor says, “Escape Room isn’t just a film or an album; it’s a world I built to live in, bleed in and heal in. I poured my heart into every layer, from the story to the sound, to capture that journey we all take through the shadows of heartbreak, whether that’s love lost, friendships broken, dreams deferred and guide you toward the lightness of healing. It’s the visual representation of my scars, the picture of my healing and a mirror for anyone ready to face their own truth. This is more than a story… it’s a place to break free.”
Listen to Escape Room below.
