Demi Lovato is back.

The singer who famously suffered an overdose in 2018 that had family, friends and fans worried about the future of both her life and career, has made a remarkable recovery and is now ready to share her story in the best way she knows how: a brand new album.

Announced under a month ago, Lovato’s seventh studio album titled Dancing With The Devil… The Art of Starting Over released this Friday and features 19 tracks- all of which explore Lovato’s relationships to both family, romantic partners and sobriety.

Opening on the previously released “Anyone,” which Lovato famously performed at the 2020 Grammy awards and subsequently broke the hearts of millions of fans worldwide, the album starts off somber. 

A piano ballad that shares the singer’s internal struggles of trying to find a way to vocalize her pain, the song is a cry for help. Repeating the line “nobody is listening to me,” the song emphasizes the fact that Lovato felt alone in her battle with addiction- hitting fans extra hard after learning the song was written prior to that night in 2018.

And as the first single to be released following Lovato’s overdose, as well as her first release to follow the 2018 single “Sober” in which Lovato revealed she had relapsed, “Anyone” is a reminder that nobody truly knows what is going on behind the scenes in anyone’s life- regardless of what they portray online or even in person.

“Anyone” also helps set the tone as the album moves into “Dancing With The Devil,” the album’s third and most recent single, as well as one half of the title tracks.

A high powered anthem that explores Lovato’s addiction- specifically sharing how she ended up in the hospital in 2018, “Dancing With The Devil” holds no details back. Lyrically referencing all of the vices Lovato has experienced, including her first sips of red wine that broke her sobriety, the song explores how quickly those few drinks escalated to heroin use.

And though the track had been out for a week prior to the album’s release, Lovato broke hearts once more with the accompanying music video, which dropped alongside the album on Friday.

Showcasing a step by step representation of Lovato’s overdose- starting with sips of red wine and escalating to calling her drug dealer, being abandoned at home and even her former assistant Jordan finding her and calling 911, the video is extremely candid. And though it is hard to watch at times, Lovato does a great job not glamorizing any aspects of her experience- reminding fans just how dangerous addiction can be.

The album’s third track then continues on this theme and serves as an emotional dedication to Lovato’s younger sister, Madison De La Garza. 

Titled “ICU (Madison’s Lullabye),” the song is a soft but optimistic piano ballad that explores Lovato’s relationship with De La Garza, and her fears of letting her down following her battles with addiction and mental health. 

A true representation of an older/younger sister relationship, the song shares how Lovato wants to be her sister’s protector, while also acknowledging that despite the mistakes she has made she will always be there for her.

And though the song seems relatively straight forward, Lovato has hidden a double meaning in the lyrics- referencing the recovery process of her overdose in which she found herself being legally blind and being unable to see De La Garza during a hospital visit. Using the title as a double meaning, meaning both intensive care unit- where the incident occured- and “I see you,” a reference to Lovato’s ability to now both see her sister and the realities of their relationship following all of the trauma they have both experienced, the song is a promise that things will only get better from here.

And if the track wasn’t emotional enough, it closes on an audio recording of De La Garza saying “I love you, Demi” and Lovato replying “I love you too.”

It is here that the album then takes a turn and the process of “starting over” begins. 

Starting with a spoken word track titled “Intro,” in which Lovato introduces listener’s to what the rest of the album will be about, fans are prepped for “the art of starting over,” and instantly launched into the track of the same name.

Featuring a groovy jazz fused with 70s rock style, “The Art of Starting Over” is a very smooth song with a relaxed vibe. 

Lyrically about being your own person and becoming comfortable with being alone, the track makes a few references to the previous Lovato single “I Love Me,” and the process of being there for yourself.

It’s never easy to start over- especially after facing so many trials and tribulations- but this song truly feels like a fresh start both sonically and lyrically and opens the door for the rest of the album to bring a sort of nostalgic sunshine vibe- varying drastically from Lovato’s previous albums.

“Lonely People” then follows similar themes, serving as another song about trying to find your way while accepting loneliness.

Calling back to the message of Lovato’s hit single “Sorry Not Sorry,” the track is an unapologetic anthem of trying to find comfort in being alone and not needing to rely on someone else’s love to make you happy. 

And though some may say this track is pessimistic in nature, it serves as such a juxtaposition to Lovato’s Tell Me You Love Me, and showcases a sense of artistic and personal growth or maturity. Lovoato doesn’t need someone else to make her happy, and neither do you.

But, that all being said, if you are looking for a sad song that relates to romantic relationships, the album’s seventh track “The Way You Don’t Look At Me,” comes at the perfect time to hit you in the heart. 

Opening with an acoustic guitar and maintaining an almost country inspired instrumental track, the song follows the experience of feeling insecure in your body and worrying that a partner is losing interest in you. Sharing the fears that come in intimate moments, the song follows the impact that little actions or words can have on one’s self esteem. 

And though Lovato has been open about her process of loving herself and accepting her body as it is and for what it does for her- this song reveals that self love is not an easy process and it takes constant practice and reassurance to achieve.

“Melon Cake” is a fun song that is a reclamation of power and a goodbye to past restrictive and harmful behaviors.

With the title referencing the watermelon birthday cakes Lovato’s team used to give her for her birthday or holidays- the song explores the varying tactics her past management team would use to control every aspect of the singer’s life. Referencing not only the cakes but also the restrictions placed on those around Lovato, including how team members were fired for eating chocolate around her, required to put barricades up that prevented her from being around certain foods, and general strict routines that would keep her “Barbie sized,” the song announces Lovato’s newfound ability to control her own life and the decision to not let these harmful behaviors impact her from now on, which she confirms with the powerful lyric “dear little me, I’m sorry it took so long but baby you’re free.”

And though Lovato could create an entire album on her own and be perfectly powerful as is, she surprised fans with her album announcement with the news that The Art of Starting Over would feature not one, not two but three other powerful women on some of the new tracks. Subsequently sending fans spinning into a frenzy as they tried to guess who would be featured- one artist kept popping up in Lovato’s mentions, and that was none other than fellow management partner- Ariana Grande. 

And though Lovato remained tight-lipped on the features until about a week ago, fans were delighted to find out that track nine, “Met Him Last Night,” did in fact feature Grande.

A song about knowing someone isn’t right for you, “Met Him Last Night” navigates the fine line between finding someone suspicious but also being completely drawn in by their presence.

With an R&B vibe to it, the song is an almost cautionary tale about getting involved with people who may not have the best intentions for you. 

And through referring to the person in question as “the devil,” fans are left wondering who this track may be about- especially considering the album’s other references to the devil. Could this be about a partner who has taken advantage or a thinly veiled reference to addiction? Open to interpretation, this song is one of the vaguest on the album and allows listeners to find themselves within the lyrics and draw their own conclusions. 

Track ten then also features another great artist, as Lovato’s previous collaboration “What Other People Say,” featuring Sam Fischer comes in and shares a message about putting yourself first.

A cautionary tale about how life often throws you for a loop- regardless of what your plans for yourself are at a young age- the song reminds listeners that it is never too late to start treating yourself with kindness and getting back on a path of self love, safe living, and being happy.

Switching up the vibe once more, the next few tracks show a little bit of an indie pop or rock sound, beginning with the soft spoken “Carefully” and flowing into the following “The Kind of Lover I am.”

Both tracks explore relationships and realizing your value both as an individual and as a partner- each stressing the importance of mutually beneficial relationships and taking time to be kind to yourself and any future romantic partners.

But as Lovato has shared in her previous singles as well as in many interviews over the past few years, she is not currently looking for love and just trying to express herself and own her sexuality.

“I don’t care if you have a dick. I don’t care if you have a WAP- I just wanna love,” she shares at the end of “The Kind of Lover I Am.” “I just wanna share my life with somebody at some point. I’m good right now though.”

The next song then gives listener’s a look into the third and one of the most emotional features on the album byway of “Easy” featuring Noah Cyrus.

Another ballad, “Easy” features prominent string instrumentals and shares a story about leaving hard situations while asking for forgiveness and putting on a brave face.

Using the metaphor of leaving through a “gift shop,” and lines such as “I’m keeping all my souvenirs,” the song echoes the idea that not all relationships come to a close in the best way- but that they often keep a hold on us long after their conclusion. And, just because something seems easy to leave from an outside perspective- doesn’t mean it was actually easy to walk away from.

Putting both Lovato and Cyrus’ softer vocals on full display, this song is truly one of the best on the album and helps to remind fans of Lovato’s delicate side- despite being known as a powerhouse. 

One of the most badass tracks on The Art of Starting Over comes fourteen tracks in with the absolutely iconic “15 Minutes.”

This track holds absolutely nothing back and makes direct references to Lovato’s short lived engagement to actor Max Elrich, who post-breakup had his photo taken while praying and crying on a beach in Malibu- later making a statement that the breakup took him by surprise. Singing about that exact interaction and leaving no questions about who the track is about, Lovato croons “praying in Malibu, praying in Malibu, how could you? Crying in Malibu while you were looking for 15 minutes.” 

Nobody is going to use Demi Lovato, and this song is a warning for anyone else who may try.

True friends are the best medicine, best relationship experts, and truly the best parts of being alive- which Lovato makes clear with her final feature on the album. 

Tilted “My Girlfriend’s Are My Boyfriend,” this R&B meets pop inspired track features rap icon Saweetie, who helps bring the song to the next level as the two share the importance of female friendship and allowing yourself to be vulnerable with those around you. And as a great dance track, this song is the perfect way to work off any residual anger from “15 minutes.”

“California Sober” is a song about trying to find a new path of self discovery and recovery. Acknowledging Lovato’s battles with sobriety and her recent decision to begin drinking and smoking weed again, the song navigates walking the fine line between being okay and over indulgence- something that isn’t as clear cut as the rest of the world may think.

With verses such as “it ain’t black or white, it’s all of the colors I’ve only just discovered,” the singer shares the process of establishing boundaries and learning how to live with triggers and concerns- reminding listeners that “living for perfection isn’t living.”

And though the track title, and Lovato’s claims that she is “California sober” have sparked criticism from fellow sober artists, this song sheds a bit of light on her decision and why that title feels fitting for her experience.

The album’s next track, “Mad World” is a cover of the well known Tears For Fears single, originally released in 1983. 

Staying relatively true to the original version by keeping the lyrics the same, Lovato slows down the Tears For Fears version to add an additional sense of sadness and hurt to the lyrics- helping to fit the overall vibe of the album as a whole.

Another deeply emotional track on the album- not so much in sound but certainly in lyrics is the ode to Lovato’s father titled “Butterfly.”

One of many singles Lovato has released referencing her strained relationship with her now deceased biological father, Patrick Lovato, “Butterfly” acknowledges the connection she shares with her father and how despite him being moved on, she still feels his presence and is still working towards forgiveness.

The final track on the album is “Good Place,” a song about trying to reach a good place in life.

Talkings about choosing drugs over love and money over trust, the song is an acoustic track with a light beat that discusses recovery and working to get into a good place from the dark times before. 

And while the rest of the album does a great job of showcasing Lovato’s vocal range, this track is perhaps the best example of both her singing capabilities and strength. She has been through a lot in the past three years, but she is now here to say that she is working on recovery and she won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. 

The most raw and honest collection of songs the singer has released to date, each new track on The Art of Starting Over gives fans an insight into Lovato’s personal struggles, mental health and battles to stay sober even following her overdose. And though the topics discussed are heavy, the singer does an incredible job at making each track feel as though she is being fully open and allows fans to see that this is who Demi Lovato is. No padding, no curtains, and no making things seem better than they are. For the first time, the singer is giving listener’s a true insight into the world behind her brand. This is real, this is her, and it’s exactly where she’s supposed to be. 

You can stream Dancing With The Devil… The Art of Starting Over out now, wherever you stream music. And for more in depth info on Demi Lovato’s life, her documentary Dancing With The Devil is available now, on YouTube.