NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Nearly two decades ago, released her debut album, 2006's eponymous 鈥淧aris,鈥� at one height of her powers 鈥� an album of breezy pop music that offered a soundtrack to her cheery and decadent public-facing lifestyle, anchored by the reggae-lite sugar rush of
Not that she's abandoned music in the time since. Atop of her endless parade of projects 鈥� most recently including , a forthcoming reboot of 鈥淭he Simple Life鈥� for Peacock called 鈥淧aris and Nicole: The Encore,鈥� and activism centered on fixing Utah's after opening up about the abuses she faced at Provo Canyon School 鈥� she's a DJ, and her long-awaited sophomore album 鈥淚nfinite Icon鈥� reflects her long-held interest in dance music and club culture.
鈥淢usic has always been such a huge passion for me,鈥� she told The Associated Press over Zoom. 鈥淪omeone needed to come and save pop music. So I鈥檓 here."
But those expecting a cut-and-paste repeat of 鈥淧aris鈥� should look elsewhere.
鈥淢y first album was very much on just how my life was at that point. It was my Party Girl-era. The songs are just very carefree and fun and all about going out looking hot and having a great time,鈥� she continued. 鈥淭his album definitely has a lot more deeper meaning to it, and I just wanted the songs to really reflect on my life and my journey and be introspective.鈥�
There's 鈥淎DHD,鈥� a song that reframes the diagnosis as a kind of superpower; 鈥淟egacy,鈥� which she describes as an ode to her husband, children and fans all in one 鈥� an energetic electro-pop-punky track that sounds like it could've been cut from 鈥淧aris鈥� and contemporized for a 2024 audience.
And the lead single 鈥淚'm Free,鈥� featuring a disco-pop celebration of autonomy. For Hilton, the sentiment takes on a few different meanings.
鈥淕oing through what I went through at Provo Canyon school, it was just so traumatizing and so painful. And I remember the first song that I heard, when I got out of there, when I got out was she says. The song became her anthem, and when it came time to write her lead single, she wanted to pay homage to the track that resonated with her in that time.
To make 鈥淚nfinite Icon,鈥� Hilton teamed up with who executive produced the record. The pair connected after performing 鈥淪tars Are Blind鈥� with at Miley鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 Eve Party on Dec. 1, 2022. Sia told Hilton she was 鈥渂orn to be a popstar,鈥� and so they got to work, bring in an all-star team of women to collaborate with: Sawayama, and Maria Becerra.
鈥淚t was really important to me to really do this album with all women,鈥� she says.
鈥淚 just wanted to have this album really be about empowering women,鈥� she adds. 鈥淛ust songs for my girls, my gays, and songs for people to feel alive to. I want everyone who listens to this album to feel like their own unapologetic icon.鈥�
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
