2 weeks Ago By People
Renée Elise Goldsberry is ready to reintroduce herself to fans with the soundtrack of her life. The Tony winner announced exclusively to PEOPLE on Friday, April 25, that she’s releasing her first debut studio album, Who I Really Am — which will drop on Friday, June 6. Ahead of her new album, she released the first single, " Staring ," on April 25, which gives listeners a taste of the genre-crossing album that blends soul, funk, blues, pop, and her gospel roots.
The new single is "a modern proclamation of a belty blues song, brimming with passion, humor, and the thrill of instant connection," according to the official press release. The Grammy winner, 54, tells PEOPLE that although "Staring" is the first single, it is "a proud outlier" on the album. "That’s why it beautifully represents me and an album this unapologetically diverse.
Early on, I tried to dial the stylization back to make it play nicer with others, and discovered that what makes the song different is what makes it great," she says. "It emboldened me to make the exception the rule," she notes. "I wrote a lot of songs for this album, and the ones that made it on are the ones that aren’t afraid to be who they really are.
" She reveals that creating original music for herself "allows [her] to share more personally." Though fans may know her from Hamilton, Rent, The Color Purple, and The Lion King or Girls5Eva , the Emmy nominee still wanted to introduce her personhood to audiences in her own words, starting with the album’s title track, "Who I Really Am." "The first word I sing on this album is ‘Introducing!’ If you don’t know me, ‘Hello!’ If you do, this is an exciting leap, but not a big one.
I'm grateful to be known for singing brilliantly beloved songs by great composers," she tells PEOPLE. She notes that before being a Broadway sensation, she was a singer/songwriter, "so recording my own music isn’t new to me." Additionally, the actress-singer was motivated to create this album after hearing someone read aloud a bio about her.
“I didn’t know who they were talking about,” she recalled in the press release. “Because it didn’t contain any challenge I faced: only the good stuff. But the trials and errors play just as big a role in who I am, and the lessons learned inspire me to pick up the pen.
" Related: Hamilton 's Phillipa Soo Says Her Favorite Memories Happened Backstage as Show Celebrates 10th Anniversary (Exclusive) "My joy is in this body of work...
and pain, shame, lessons learned," she says. "Passion for my husband, encouragement for my children, tricks for my friends..
." "It’s the soundtrack of my life," she states. "My prayers are answered when people take from it whatever feels right to narrate theirs.
" Goldsberry infused her church background and affinity for different genres, including R&B/soul, funk, pop, and singer-songwriter ballads, into the album, as well as inspiration from Sarah Vaughan, Roberta Flack , Tina Turner and late '90s festival Lilith Fair. The album also includes a track from Goldberry's Girls5Eva costar Sara Bareilles , called "Don't Want to Love You." "My good friend Sara gifted me a song that she wrote to record and include," she tells PEOPLE.
"It’s so good! And it fits into this body of work seamlessly. I want people to take that too." While fans can expect her original music, fans of the theater star can look forward to her new rendition of “Satisfied” from Hamilton .
"This new arrangement of 'Satisfied' was created so I could perform the song as a solo artist in concert," she reveals to PEOPLE. "I decided to record it and put it on the album because I love it too!" She also confirms that Hamilton playwright-composer Lin-Manuel Miranda loved her rendition, noting that when he gave his stamp of approval, she "literally started dancing!" "We decided to feature it in a surprise performance for fans to launch a series of events celebrating Hamilton ’s 10th Anniversary. It went viral," she continues.
"Having immeasurable support is one of the ways Hamilton has changed my life. As a member of this family, I have the honor of being an ambassador of Lin’s masterpiece, and the inspiration to create my own!" Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Who I Really Am will be released on Friday, June 6.
"Staring" is available now. Read the original article on People.
