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'''''Ctrl''''' (կարդացվոււմ է «control») ամերիկացի երգչուհի [[SZA]]-ի դեբյուտային ստուդիական ալբոմը, այն թողարկվել է 2017 թվականի հունիսի 9-ին [[Top Dawg Entertainment]] և [[RCA Records]] լեյբլներում<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2017/06/08/sza-ctrl-album-stream|title=STREAM SZA'S DEBUT ALBUM 'CTRL'|magazine=[[Rap-Up]]}}</ref>։ Ալբոմի ձայնագրությանը մասնակցել են [[Թրևիս Սքոթ]]<nowiki/>ը, [[Քենդրիկ Լամար]]<nowiki/>ը, Ջեյմս Ֆանթլերոյը և [[Այզեա Ռեշադ]]<nowiki/>ը։ Սկզբնականապես ալբոմը պետք է թողարկվեր 2015 թվականի վերջերին, սակայն SZA-ի մի տեսակ անհանգստությունը որը հանգցնում էր կուրացնող կաթվածահարության փորձի պատճառով հետաձգվեց մինչև ձայնագրական ընկերությունը վերցրեց նրա կոշտ սկավառակը 2017 թվականի գարնանը<ref name="guardian record company took hard drive">{{cite news|last1=Nicholson|first1=Rebecca|title=SZA: ‘The record company took my hard drive from me’|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/29/sza-record-company-took-my-hard-drive-beyonce-kendrick-lamar|accessdate=5 January 2018|work=The Guardian|date=July 29, 2017}}</ref>։
Speaking on the conception of the album, SZA stated that she had spent four years just doing music: "I’ve been burying friends, burying family members, burying weight, the way I feel about myself, the way I feel about God, the way I process information."<ref name="rap-up.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2017/06/08/sza-breakfast-club-interview/|title=SZA Talks 'Ctrl' Concept, TDE Support on 'The Breakfast Club'|publisher=}}</ref>
The album was also inspired by SZA's view of control in her life. Speaking on this she stated "''Ctrl'' is a concept. I’ve lacked control my whole life and I think I’ve craved it my whole life."<ref name="rap-up.com" />
==Writing and recording==
The album's sessions began in 2014 and took place at the TDE Red Room in [[Carson, California]]. The album's recording process was described as being analog and featured the unplugging and re-plugging of wires in order to create the desired sound.
During the album's studio sessions, SZA and the album's producers would go into the studio, and filter through the recorded songs and beats to decide if the songs were good or worth experimenting with in order to make better. SZA would search songs that were in the top forty charts during various years including the 1940s and 1980s, she would then listen to their style, beats and synths to gain some inspiration.<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/sza-breakout-rb-star-conquers-self-doubt-and-takes-ctrl-w487994|title=SZA: How the Breakout R&B Star Conquered Self-Doubt and Took 'Ctrl'|publisher=}}</ref> Throughout the album's recording process, record producer [[Rick Rubin]] helped SZA's creative process. "I had this mentality that 'more is more' -- more reverb, more background [vocals]," stating "I played him a bunch of songs, and he would tell me, 'The more you take away from any piece, the more room you create for everything else to be beautiful and grow.' I never felt that before, the editing urge. Once you strip everything down, you're forced to say something."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7775679/sza-love-galore-travis-scott-new-song-listen|title=SZA Refuses to Get Played on 'Love Galore' Featuring Travis Scott|publisher=}}</ref>
In 2015, SZA was introduced to Carter Lang, by Peter Cottontale in Chicago. After performing together at Lollapalooza that same year, SZA and Lang along with producer Tyron "Scum" Donaldson began to develop a rapport on the road to creating her debut album. The three held studio sessions across the country from Los Angeles to Chicago and even setting up shop in Carter's Michigan home in 2016, where they constructed the Travis Scott-assisted, "Love Galore", in Lang's Mom's office using studio equipment he brought there. Lang, Tyron Donaldson, ThankGod4Cody and other producers would challenge each other and send each other different music to work on. SZA would then hear the music and want to create off of that. During the producers' competition of who could create the better song, they collectively created "Broken Clocks". "Drew Barrymore" was conceived at Lang's studio in Chicago in 2016, while SZA was sleeping. Lang ended up notching production credits on eight tracks from the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8078602/carter-lang-interview-ctrl-sza-vic-mensa|title=Carter Lang Talks Crafting 'CTRL' With SZA, Working With Vic Mensa & Why Chicago Keeps Winning|website=billboard.com}}</ref>
[[File:Carson California.jpg|thumb|The album was recorded in [[Carson, California]].]]
SZA contributed heavily to the album's lyrics co-writing all fourteen tracks. SZA would freestyle the songs in a hope to "let the moments happen in the studio."<ref name="mtv_3019491"/> Initially she tried to record phone notes and write down ideas in journals in order to help her write.<ref name="mtv_3019491"/> SZA's record label TDE confiscated her hard drive during the album's recording, because SZA could not decide on the songs she wanted on the finished album, from the 150 – 200 she recorded.<ref name="hnhh">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/sza-record-company-took-my-hard-drive-from-me-news.35652.html|title=SZA: Record Company "Took My Hard Drive From Me"|publisher=}}</ref> She also detailed how her [[anxiety]] issues affected her songwriting process: "I [[Freestyle rap|freestyle]] everything, all the way down. And I listen back and think, what’s shitty? And if something’s too shitty and I can’t put my finger on it, and I think, wow this sucks to me, then I get way frustrated, and usually scrap the song."<ref name="hnhh" />
When recording the album, SZA would record from drafts of paper, recording one draft all the way down, before listening back and rephrasing it.
However, with the album's opening track "Supermodel", SZA took on a different approach stating. With other songs from the album SZA would often hear the beat and see "an idea unfold", however when SZA heard 'Supermodel', she couldn't even imagine what the song would sound stating "I just wanted. I just wanted to sing. I wanted to think."<ref name="rollingstone.com" /> SZA recorded "Drew Barrymore" after hearing a production that reminded her of the film ''[[Poison Ivy (1992 film)|Poison Ivy]]'', noting the emotion Ivy felt in film was something SZA connected with stating her character was "lashing out because she was lonely and pissed that her life was like this".<ref name="rollingstone.com" />
"The Weekend" was produced by ThankGod4Cody who was given the idea to sample "Set the Mood (Prelude)/[[Until the End of Time (Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé song)|Until the End of Time]]" from a member of his team. After being handed the sample he added chords, a "glittery layer" and bass. After some experimentation with the vocals from the sample, the drums, and some additions in the reverb, he placed the song's [[Snare drum|snares]] and [[hi-hat]]s, and rounded it all out with a [[cymbal]], as he told the website [[Genius (website)|Genius]]. The production was made with SZA in mind.<ref name="genius"/> SZA said about the sample in an interview with [[Associated Press]], "I didn't even think about anything I was saying. I was just happy to be singing over that Justin Timberlake sample... I was just like, ‘This is for fun. This is crazy."<ref name="AP">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/outtakes-sza-on-writing-for-beyonce-and-sampling-timberlake/2017/12/20/ebb46138-e5b0-11e7-927a-e72eac1e73b6_story.html |title=Outtakes: SZA on writing for Beyonce and sampling Timberlake |last=Fekadu |first=Mesfin |date=December 20, 2017 |work=The Washington Post |access-date=December 20, 2017}}</ref>
==Composition==
''Ctrl'' is a fourteen track set that departs from traditional R&B leanings. ''Ctrl's'' songs are predominantly alternative R&B, [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref name="Chow">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/06/14/532856441/taking-ctrl-why-szas-new-album-means-so-much|title=Taking 'Ctrl': Why SZA's New Album Means So Much|work=[[NPR]]|date=November 13, 2017|accessdate=June 16, 2017|last=Chow|first=Kat}}</ref><ref name="Voynovskaya">{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/06/sza-ctrl-review.html|title=SZA: CTRL Review|work=[[Paste Magazine]]|date=June 13, 2017|accessdate=June 16, 2017|last=Voynovskaya|first=Nastia}}</ref> and [[neo soul]].<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/sza-ctrl/|title=SZA: CTRL|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=July 20, 2017|accessdate=August 30, 2017|last=Rindner|first=Grant}}</ref><ref name="Patrick">{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sza-ctrl|title=SZA – CTRL|work=[[Exclaim]]|date=June 13, 2017|accessdate=June 16, 2017|last=Patrick|first=Ryan}}</ref> The album tests the borders of traditional R&B, drawing influences from trap and [[indie rock]].<ref name="Voynovskaya" /><ref name="Pitchfork" /><ref name="Huskell">{{cite web |url=http://vogue.com/article/sza-new-album-ctrl-interview|title=How SZA Gained Control By Losing It – and Made the Debut Album of the Year |work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|date=June 16, 2017|accessdate=July 15, 2017|last=Rob|first=Huskell}}</ref> The album contains a precise sonic methodology, with a fluent production, containing influences from pop, hip-hop and electronic genres. These influences were compared to a mixture of different artists work including Sade, [[Lauryn Hill]], Purity Ring, Yuki, Björk and Billie Holiday.<ref name="Patrick" />
The production was characterised as predominantly hip-hop-influenced with hints of soul and pop.<ref name="Patrick" /> The album has a confessional theme, which touch upon SZA's personal experiences of love. The album's lyrical content was seen as being "frank" and was noted as an insight into the complexities of modern love; of how desire, competition, jealousy, sexual politics, social media and low self-esteem can derail a relationship.<ref name="bbc_42427212"/> A reviewer from Pitchfork described the album's lyrics as being "honest" and "often comically blunt".<ref name="Pitchfork" /> SZA's vocals were noted for containing echoes that were achieved by turning down the reverb; this was done to give the album an "intimate, confessional tone".<ref name="bbc_42427212"/>
The album opens with "Supermodel" which is built over an electric guitar riff, and reads as an "exposed diary entry" that lyrically talks about relationship betrayal and fallout. The song talks about SZA's ex-partner who left her on Valentine's Day.<ref name="Patrick" /><ref name="Pitchfork" />
"Love Galore" is a trap-ballad that features American rapper [[Travis Scott]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/07/sza-travis-scott-love-galore-tonight-show-video/|title=Watch SZA & Travis Scott Perform "Love Galore" on The Tonight Show|date=July 21, 2017|website=spin.com}}</ref> Speaking on their collaboration SZA stated "I think he merges that super-fine line between melody and syncopation and pocket. And I love his pockets, and I love his note choice. He’s just gnarly. He’s perfect."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5V6muCJR8|title=SZA "Love Galore" Official Lyrics & Meaning - Verified|date=June 15, 2017|accessdate=June 20, 2017}}</ref> "Doves in the Wind" features rapper [[Kendrick Lamar]] and is built over a "woozy" production. The songs themes revolves around sexual freedom, yet still having a hunger for intimacy. "Doves in the Wind," makes reference to Forrest Gump, describing the character as the kind of male who sees women as more than sexual objects.<ref name="Pitchfork" />
"Drew Barrymore" is a "sluggish" R&B song with introspective lyrics, whilst "Prom" is a pop song, that was noted for being built over muted guitars which were compared to those of the Police, whilst the lyrics discuss teen angst.<ref name="nme" /> "[[The Weekend (SZA song)|The Weekend]]", features writing from [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Timbaland]], and [[Danja (record producer)|Danja]] who were credited as the song samples "Set the Mood (Prelude)/[[Until the End of Time (Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé song)|Until the End of Time]]" from the 2006 album ''[[FutureSex/LoveSounds]]''.<ref name="genius"/> "The Weekend" is an [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2017/06/sza-ctrl-album-review |title=On 'Ctrl,' SZA Reveals Who She Really Is |date=June 13, 2017 |work=Complex}}</ref> and [[neo soul]]<ref name="exclaimca"/> track. Although some online publications called the song's narrator a "[[Mistress (lover)|side chick]]", SZA sings from the perspective of a woman who only sees her partner on the weekend, while other girls have him during the week.<ref name="AP"/>
"Go Gina" is a reference to [[Tisha Campbell]]’s role of Gina on the ’90s sitcom [[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]. Lyrically, the song reflects on an environment that dislikes determined women, the song goes on to discuss how people try to simplify her problems in a self-serving.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3022286/sza-ctrl-review/|title=SZA Comes Into Her Power On Ctrl|website=mtv.com}}</ref>
"Broken Clocks" enfolds SZA amid blurry keyboard tones and a watery sample of men's voices as she ponders memories of an old romance that still haunts her."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jon Pareles|date=June 7, 2017|title=SZA's Songs Face Desire in All Its Complications|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/arts/music/sza-ctrl-review.html|work=New York Times|access-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref> Joshua Espinoza of ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' magazine regarded the song as "a mid-tempo cut about optimism and perseverance".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Joshua Espinoza|date=June 2, 2017|title=Listen to SZA's Latest Single, "Broken Clocks"|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2017/06/sza-releases-new-single-broken-clocks|work=Complex|access-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==Release and promotion==
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