Rebecca Black is no longer the 13-year-old who went viral with “Friday.” Now, at 27, the queer pop artist is confidently embracing her identity and celebrating her growth with the release of SALVATION, her first new music since 2023’s Let Her Burn. The seven-song dance-pop project marks a bold step forward for Black, showcasing her evolution both as an artist and an individual.
Black has long been a champion of queer pop, and she’s thrilled to see more queer artists like Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, and Doechii reaching mainstream success. In an interview with Out Magazine, “I definitely have a gay superiority complex myself, so I’ve always known there was so much potential in these artists,” Black says. “It would be really depressing if you were only digestible to other gay people because gay people have digested so much hetero content over the years and found so much resonance within it.”
With SALVATION, Black aims to create the kind of party music any 27-year-old would dream of. The tracks are brash, cocky, fun, and full of energy—perfect for listeners looking for an escape in a world that can often feel joyless. Yet, there’s a maturity to the project as well, with introspective songs like “Salvation” and “Do You Even Think About Me” reflecting on Black’s personal journey.
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For Black, this project represents a new chapter in her career, one where she can unapologetically own who she is. “I actually felt like I knew so many people so well because of whatever imperfections they allowed me to see,” she shares. “I realized how little I was allowing everybody else to see [me]. So, really it’s just a matter of taking the leash off of myself… and allowing myself to act like a 27-year-old for the first time in my life.”
After years of dealing with public scrutiny over her body and sexuality, Black now fully embraces her identity. Early in her career, as a teenager, she was forced to navigate online body-shaming and unrealistic expectations. But now, with SALVATION, Black has found a new level of comfort in her body and sexuality. “Once I started doing it on my terms in a way that I felt really beautiful and in a way that was sometimes even outlandishly sexy or campy, that was where I started to find a comfortability in my body that I’d never had before,” she says. “That has become such a source of power for me.”
This newfound confidence shines through on tracks like “TRUST!” and “Sugar Water Cyanide,” which exude a sense of empowerment. Black’s journey to self-acceptance also informs the emotional depth of SALVATION, as she reflects on her past while looking toward the future.
Having spent over a decade in the music industry, Black is no longer constrained by other people’s expectations. She cherishes the opportunity to experiment with her music and lyrics, relishing the feeling of starting anew. “I really cherish the feeling of starting over, or learning again,” she says. “There’s a whole new book to this that I haven’t really come across yet.”
This new chapter is not just about the music, but about Black’s personal evolution. She’s no longer prioritizing others’ opinions over her own. “I’ve, for so long, felt so comfortable in prioritizing other people’s opinions of me above my own,” she admits. “This album really was me… starting to confront that and allow myself the freedom to fail and flail.”
Despite her transformation, Black isn’t ready to let go of the song that made her famous. When asked about whether she’ll retire “Friday” from her live shows, she teases, “This year I have plans for it that I think will be a little bit different from what people might expect.”
With SALVATION and her continued personal growth, Black is poised to leave her viral past behind and embrace a future that is unapologetically her own.
