#SZA wants more respect for Creed and Nickelback

SZA spoke to Variety for a new cover story published on Thursday and talk turned to the music she likes to listen to. SZA reeled off an eclectic list of her favorite artists, naming everyone from Stevie Wonder to King Krule via Fever Ray. She told the publication about building playlists with names like “Ultra Songs” and “Study Boys” and evidently has pretty great taste.

However, one nook in her catalog raised eyebrows from writer Jem Aswad; a love of stadium grunge bands.

“The other day, you know what I pulled up?” SZA asked. “Creed, Nickelback, Train ‘Drops of Jupiter,’ just a whole bunch of that.” When Aswad laughed at her answer, SZA responded, “I know, I know! Wait, you know what’s crazy? Do white people hate Creed and Nickelback? Black people love them! They rock! That shit is bomb! Why do you all hate it so much?”

She continued, “I like Creed so much — ‘Higher’? Why are you hating on it? Have you ever felt more inspired and uplifted in your life? I’m in the car and I’m blasting ‘Higher,’ I feel like it’s a gospel song, the vocals are going crazy and it’s also somehow slightly romantic, it just feels so fun. Because even if it’s cliche, he’s so fucking dead ass!”

SZA added, “I will be a Creed fan forever. Like, it started just on a whim in the shower, ‘Oh, let’s play this,’ and then it became a week of Creed and Nickelback.”

S.O.S., SZA’s latest album, was released in December 2022. She recently collaborated with Drake on “Slime You Out” and appeared on Jean Dawson’s “No SZNs.” She is set to headline Primavera 2024 in Spain next summer.