SZA Says Songs Are ‘Ruined’ When They’re Leaked

SZA is Variety‘s Hitmaker of the Year, and the “Snooze” singer sat down with the publication for a wide-ranging interview about her career as one of 2023’s most prominent songwriters and artists.

The Grammy-winning superstar is one of many artists that have fallen victim to a recent rising trend of fans leaking unfinished music, something she is particularly upset about. “When people leak my songs, they ruin them,” she tells the publication. “Then it’s not mine anymore; it’s actually yours. It’s something unfinished that you decided was ready to be shared. And it’s like, ‘F— you. Now I’m not releasing it.’ Play your leak, but you’re not gonna bully me into dropping music. I’m now embarrassed by this less-than-correct version that you put out. You’ve sent me into a weird space creatively when you could have just waited for me, but you’re selfish.”

On a happier note, SZA’s released songs have taken over the music scene in the last year due to her sophomore album SOS. The singer leads the pack of Grammy nominees for the 2024 ceremony with nine nominations — including record and song of the year nods for her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Kill Bill” and an album of the year nod for her 10-week Billboard 200 chart-topper SOS.

SZA previously won a Grammy in 2022 when her collaboration with Doja Cat, “Kiss Me More,” took home the award for best pop duo/group performance.