Prince Details Funky New Solo Album, Including Apollonia-Inspired Song

Prince | Photo Credit: Jessica Watkins DeWinter

Prince recently revealed that he has another complete full-length album ”“ separate from Plectrum Electrum, which he recorded with 3rd Eye Girl ”“ that he hopes to release sometime in the near future. The as-yet-untitled record contains two particularly notable songs: One is an “aggressive and menacing” rap song, according to a Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter, featuring British pop singer and actress Rita Ora. The other is a joyful ballad, “This Could Be Us,” that Prince said was inspired by a meme of him riding on a motorcycle with his Purple Rain costar and pop-star expat Apollonia Kotero. The Star Tribune reporter described that song as “joyful” and praised its “ecstatic Prince vocalizing.”

The reporter wrote that the album began with an electro-funk number called “The Gold Standard” with the lyrics “wild and rude.” The second track, whose title was not revealed, was a “complex electronic discourse.” The album will also feature what the writer described as a “funkier and nastier” remix of “Funk ‘n’ Roll,” a track he recorded with 3rd Eye Girl for Plectrum Electrum.

Prince spoke to the reporter via speakerphone at the listening session, saying that he has arrived at an album he felt like releasing, as opposed to a series of singles. “I’ve finally got something that is a cohesive statement,” the artist said. He also complained about how difficult it is getting ahold of executives at his record label Warner Bros., echoing his previous comment to Essence that label heads are “always at the beach with their kids.” The musician recently reached an agreement with the label to release music, including a 30th anniversary edition of the Purple Rain soundtrack.

He also bemoaned the slow speed with which the music industry releases music. “Every No. 1 song, every Top 10 song, every song in the Top 40 is at least six months old,” Prince told Star Tribune. “We should be able to make music and put it out now.” In particular, he said he wanted to put out the Ora song as soon as possible, since “time is money.”

Regarding Plectrum Electrum, which Rolling Stone previewed in February, Prince has praised the work of his backing band 3rd Eye Girl. “No one can play like this band,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “People are going to try, but they won’t be able to.”