Normani expressed her eagerness for a potential collaboration with legendary artist Janet Jackson, citing their complementary tones as a key factor. In an interview with Galore published on January 8, the “Lights On” singer shared her admiration for Jackson and the influence she has had on her musical journey.
The idea of working with Janet Jackson, a musical icon known for her innovative style and powerful performances, has long been a dream for Normani. Reflecting on her mother’s own admiration for Jackson, Normani revealed, “One of the greatest inspirations and representation for me has always been my mom. She has always been like ‘Girl, Janet was my Beyoncé, like you don’t even know!'”
Recalling a memorable experience attending Janet Jackson’s Velvet Rope Tour at a young age, Normani expressed her desire to collaborate with the multi-talented artist. “I saw the Velvet Rope Tour at a young age and I probably wasn’t supposed to lol, so Janet’s definitely on my wish list,” she shared, referring to the tour that took place in 1998-1999.
Normani, who released her debut studio album Dopamine in February 2024, emphasized the impact Janet Jackson has had on her career, describing the veteran artist as “tremendously encouraging.” The Fifth Harmony member also hinted at the possibility of a collaborative project extending beyond just a single song, suggesting, “Honestly, we could do a whole album! She’s so multifaceted I can’t even tell you specifically what that one song would be, because I feel like between the two of us, we could do so much.”
Speaking about her admiration for Janet Jackson’s influence on her journey as a Black woman in the music industry, Normani highlighted the importance of representation. “It was so important for me to have a Janet [Jackson] and have a [Beyoncé] with curves to find my place and to also know that, ‘OK, she looks like me. And she’s successful. She’s beautiful and I can do the same thing.’ Little Black me needed to see that,” she shared.
Addressing the challenges faced by Black women in the industry, Normani acknowledged the additional efforts required to be recognized and appreciated. “Being a Black woman, just to be seen or noticed, we have to do a lot more and work 10 times as hard,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of representation and diversity in the music world.
Normani also delved into the creative process behind her album Dopamine, describing it as a reflection of her diverse experiences and identity. “Over the duration of time that it took to put together this body of work, I’m a human being who is multifaceted, Black and a woman and this project is a combination of all that I am. I really wanted the listener to feel like they knew a bit more about me,” she explained.
Normani’s enthusiasm for a potential collaboration with Janet Jackson exemplifies her respect
