Lovato turns page with 'It's Not That Deep'

Singer's latest album marks love, laughter and self-assurance with unapologetic return to pop

After years of baring her soul through raw rock anthems and introspective ballads, Demi Lovato is finally letting loose.

Her ninth studio album, 'It's Not That Deep', released via DLG Recordings and Island Records, marks a liberating pivot into pure dance-pop - a vibrant reflection of where she stands today: in love, joyful and ready to celebrate.

For an artist whose career has often mirrored her emotional battles, this record feels like sunlight after a storm. Lovato, now 33, described the shift as organic rather than calculated. "With my past eras I often wrote cathartic music about heavy topics," she explained.

"When I got back in the studio this time, those songs just weren't resonating. I'm happy, I'm in love, and I just want to enjoy life and have fun. I realised 'It's Not That Deep' anymore."

That revelation became both the title and ethos of the album - a spirited invitation to dance, to live, and to stop overthinking. Executive produced by Zhone, who has worked with Charli XCX and Kylie Minogue, the record brims with club-ready energy and sleek production. It features 11 tracks, including the singles 'Fast' and 'Here All Night', each soaked in glossy synths and late-night euphoria. Lovato credits fellow pop rebel Kesha for connecting her with Zhone. "She texted me saying, 'You have to get in the studio with this guy,'" Lovato told Vogue.

\"If it has Kesha's cosign, I'm totally gonna do that." The collaboration sparked instant chemistry. "We laughed so hard every day," she recalled. "He's not only so talented, but such a great person too. The vibes were just right."

The partnership also brought a playfulness back to Lovato's process. During recording, Zhone produced one of the early beats for 'Frequency' in an Uber - a moment Lovato calls pivotal. "It was so new for me, so different. I thought, 'Wait, this is really fun.' Everything I've written since then has reflected where I'm at today."

That place, by her own admission, is lighter and filled with love. Earlier this year, Lovato married songwriter Jordan 'Jutes' Lutes that symbolised the calm she's found after years of turbulence. "The tone of my life is lighter," she told PAPER magazine. "I wanted a project that reflected that."

And it does. From the title track's breezy hook to the glimmering beat of 'Kiss, 'It's Not That Deep' unfolds like a night out that never loses its spark. Even the album's artwork signals freedom - Lovato stands covered only by a dry-cleaning bag amid chaotic party-goers, symbolising self-reclamation and the shedding of old narratives.

"This music is a perfect reflection of where I'm at today," she said in a statement. "I'm proud of all the work I've done. Now it's time to celebrate." It's a sentiment echoed by long-time fans, affectionately known as 'Lovatics', who have watched her journey from Disney prodigy to pop powerhouse to rock experimentalist.

The album also completes a creative circle. Variety's Steven J. Horowitz and Thania Garcia noted that Lovato has always been "a creature of reinvention", seamlessly moving through genres while remaining vocally fearless.

From 'Don't Forget's rock energy to the sultry 'Cool for the Summer' and the explosive 'Heart Attack', she's proven her ability to adapt without losing authenticity. Now, with 'It's Not That Deep', she leans into a truth often forgotten in pop - joy can be just as powerful as pain. When Lovato first teased the project, she cheekily hinted at another documentary - a nod to her past films chronicling addiction and recovery - before revealing the twist: "It's Not That Deep." This time, the message is less about struggle and more about surrender.

Tracks like 'Fast', 'Here All Night', and 'Kiss' pulse with self-assurance. "This album isn't about looking back," she told Vogue. "It's about living in the moment. I've had the tendency to get stuck in the past when writing, but this one is forward-looking. It's sassy, cheeky, and not that deep."

For Lovato, who has spent much of her public life dissected and scrutinised, the simplicity of that statement feels revolutionary. It's the sound of someone choosing to breathe again - to dance instead of dwell. And as the beats of 'It's Not That Deep' fill dancefloors, they also signal something deeper beneath the surface irony of its title: that joy, too, can be profound. In a pop landscape that often rewards angst, Demi Lovato's latest work is a reminder that liberation can come from laughter as much as from tears.

She's done the heavy lifting, fought the public battles, written the cathartic songs. Now, as she reclaims her narrative, she does so with glitter, rhythm, and a knowing smile. It's not just a musical comeback - it's a personal one. And as Lovato herself puts it, "It's time to celebrate and have some fun."