SZA’s long-awaited Lana album has taken yet another twist. Initially envisioned as a deluxe edition of her Grammy-winning sophomore album SOS, Lana later became a standalone project with a fluid and evolving tracklist. However, the artist announced via social media that the recent leak of three songs has prompted her to shift plans once again. Now, the leaked songs, along with additional tracks, will be released as a deluxe edition of SOS, while SZA will restart work on Lana from scratch.

Addressing the Leak

In a now-deleted tweet on Tuesday, SZA expressed frustration over the leaks, stating, “Y’all leaked three songs from the deluxe. At this point, y’all can keep the throwaways and leaks. I’ll be starting Lana from scratch. Do not ask me about it again.” Shortly after, she added, “I’ll round up the leaks y’all already got and you can have those. Seems like a fair deal. ENJOY.”

By early Wednesday morning, SZA elaborated on her plans in a series of tweets, confirming that the deluxe edition of SOS will include the leaked tracks and other outtakes. She emphasized that Lana deserves more time and completely original material, stating, “Lana deserves more time and music no one’s ever heard before.”

Confronting the Source

SZA also called out a person named Janessa, accusing them of leaking unreleased audio and photos. In a pointed statement, she explained her reasoning for consolidating the leaks into the SOS deluxe edition. “With all the leaks and me not knowing what someone has or doesn’t have, it’s too complicated,” she wrote. “So I should just consolidate the leaks and outtakes, drop that, and focus on my next project. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

She didn’t hold back in addressing the ethics of those defending the leaks, saying, “Anybody defending a thief is weird. I don’t come to your job and mess up your work. Why would that be okay? Where’s the home training? Nobody wants to prosecute a young woman. We’ve all asked very nicely for some time now.”

While SZA’s team has not provided further information about Janessa’s identity, the singer has a history of dealing with leaks, which she discussed extensively in an interview last year.

A History of Struggles with Leaks

SZA’s frustration with leaked material is not new. In an interview with Variety, she explained how these incidents negatively affect her creative process. “When people leak my songs, they ruin them,” she said. “It’s something unfinished that you decided was ready to be shared. It’s not mine anymore; it’s yours. You’ve sent me into a weird space creatively when you could have just waited for me, but you’re selfish.”

The ongoing challenges with leaks have significantly shaped her approach to releasing music. In the same interview, she made it clear that leaks often lead to her abandoning certain songs altogether, saying, “Play your leak, but you’re not gonna bully me into dropping music. I’m now embarrassed by this less-than-perfect version that you put out.”

The Evolution of SOS and Lana

The deluxe edition of SOS has been an evolving concept since the original album’s release in December 2022. Initially, SZA hinted that the expanded version would feature outtakes and new material, including a tribute song called “Joni.” However, she later revealed that leaks of certain tracks, such as “Joni,” had complicated the project.

In August 2023, SZA spoke about the project’s transformation into Lana. She explained the inspiration behind the name, saying, “Lana is really just the B-side of SOS. It’s the first tattoo I got when I was 13, and it became my nickname for no reason.” At the time, she described the album as a combination of SOS outtakes and entirely new material.

Live Performances and Fan Speculation

Fans have speculated about the tracks on Lana ever since SZA performed three unreleased songs—dubbed “Boy From South Detroit,” “Saturn,” and “DTM” (also known as “Diamond Boy”)—during a free concert at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in September. While the official titles of these tracks remain unclear, SZA described Lana as a standalone project of seven to ten songs, expected to release in the fall.

With the leaks influencing her decisions, SZA’s fans will now see those tracks incorporated into the deluxe edition of SOS, while Lana moves forward as a fresh, reimagined endeavor.

Moving Forward

Despite the setbacks, SZA remains committed to delivering high-quality music. By turning the leaks into an opportunity for her fans to hear the unfinished material as part of SOS‘s expanded version, she can now focus on creating a completely original body of work with Lana. This decision reflects her resilience and dedication to maintaining her artistic vision.