The wait for SZA’s highly anticipated SOS Deluxe album, now officially titled Lana, might finally be over—maybe. The Grammy-winning artist has set the internet ablaze with a cryptic Instagram teaser, declaring that “the clock starts now.” After years of delays, teasers, and heartbreak, fans are cautiously hopeful.
🚨 SZA teases ‘LANA’:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 9, 2024
“Clock starts now” https://t.co/cqLKWBcLu6
The teaser, which SZA dropped in true SZA fashion, features her in the woods (yes, squatting to pee—iconic) with a dreamy new song in the background. The track, sampling The Isley Brothers’ Voyage to Atlantis, appears to be unreleased, further fueling speculation about the project. As the clip ends, the ethereal font spelling out “Lana” above SOS Deluxe confirms that the long-awaited deluxe edition has transformed into an entirely new era.
sza is coming to save the music industry
— ✩ (@isismunch) December 10, 2024
Fans, who’ve been strung along since SZA first mentioned a deluxe edition of SOS in 2022, are equal parts skeptical and excited. Social media erupted with reactions, from “She’s actually gonna drop it, holy s***!” to “I’ll believe it when I hear it.” Despite the hype, the teaser didn’t include a release date, leaving everyone guessing.
The road to Lana has been anything but smooth. Initially pitched as a simple deluxe edition, SZA revealed earlier this year that it had grown into ten brand-new tracks, blurring the lines between a deluxe project and a standalone album. She even hinted at Lana being a completely separate album—before scrapping everything in March after a few tracks leaked online. Cue fan chaos.
WELL YES 💿| SZA confirms to Kai Cenat that her new album will be out before the end of the year🔥
— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) November 24, 2024
Y’all ready for this? pic.twitter.com/eTgFEubwKc
Now, the two-year anniversary of SOS has reignited hope, with SZA promising Lana will drop before the year’s end. A livestream with Kai Cenat and Lizzo, plus a photo of a whiteboard “tracklist” featuring the previously released song Saturn, have further teased what’s to come.
Unlike her previous works, Lana appears to mark a departure from heartbreak-fueled narratives. Speaking to British Vogue, SZA described this project as being created from “a more beautiful place” rather than “angst and brokenness.” She said, “I’m not identifying with my brokenness… Piece by piece, my music is shifting because of that, the lighter I get.”
Fans who’ve followed SZA through emotional anthems like Kill Bill are ready for this next chapter, whatever it might sound like—if it actually arrives. Will Lana really drop by December’s end? With the clock officially ticking, we’ll just have to wait and see.
