Nelly Furtado is a name everybody reading surely remembers, but one which the masses haven’t heard for a while. The Canadian pop singer rose to prominence in the early aughts with songs like “I’m Like A Bird” and “Turn Off The Light,” and then a few years later she truly struck gold with her album Loose, which spun off the No. 1 smashes “Promiscuous” and “Say It Right.” Since the promotion of that Earth-shattering record died down, not much has been heard from Furtado, even though she has been releasing music (her 2012 album The Spirit Indestructible was a commercial flop almost everywhere).

Now, the singer is back, and this time, she’s doing things her way. Furtado’s sixth full-length The Ride comes out this Friday (March 31), and while its songs didn’t hit the charting highs she’s experienced before, the newly-independent pop star seems happier than ever, because she’s making the music she wants to make with the people she wants to work with and entirely on her own terms. 

We spoke with the singer about her new beginnings. Hop to the next page to read the full interview.