Here’s Why Beyoncé Didn’t Release Any Music Videos For ‘Renaissance’ Or ‘Cowboy Carter’

Beyoncé covered GQ‘s October issue where she opened up about her latest album, Cowboy Carter, and not subscribing to what’s expected of her as a highly respected R&B/Pop singer.

As the revered music icon has shown time and time again that she can dominate any genre of music (which she believes are “boxes” made to separate artists), Bey has shifted the musical landscape of how artists release music, promote their albums, and more.

While speaking on how she chose to roll out her last two albums — which didn’t include any music videos like she’s done for previous projects — Bey admitted that she wanted the “world to focus on the voice.”

“I thought it was important that during a time where all we see is visuals, that the world can focus on the voice,” she explained. “The music is so rich in history and instrumentation. It takes months to digest, research, and understand. The music needed space to breathe on its own.”

She continued, “Sometimes a visual can be a distraction from the quality of the voice and the music. The years of hard work and detail put into an album that takes over four years! The music is enough. The fans from all over the world became the visual. We all got the visual on tour. We then got more visuals from my film.”

Although the busy mother-of-three hasn’t released any of her own music videos since her 2016 masterpiece Lemonade, Bey has gotten more creative with specials like Homecoming: The Live Album and Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé.

The 43-year-old also touched on being dubbed “a perfectionist” to which she she says she doesn’t focus on. She also explained how sometimes “fame” can feel like “prison,” hence why she does her own thing her own way.

“I create at my own pace, on things that I hope will touch other people. I hope my work encourages people to look within themselves and come to terms with their own creativity, strength, and resilience,” she said. “I focus on storytelling, growth, and quality. I’m not focused on perfectionism. I focus on evolution, innovation, and shifting perception.”

“Working on the music for Cowboy Carter and launching this exciting new project feel nothing like prison, nor a burden. In fact, I only work on what liberates me,” Bey added. “It is fame that can at times feel like prison. So, when you don’t see me on red carpets, and when I disappear until I have art to share, that’s why.”

Since the release of Cowboy Carter Bey has broken barriers in the Country space as the first woman to top both the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Charts, per Billboard. Thanks to her single “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Bey also became the first Black woman to debut atop the Country chart.

Take a listen to Cowboy Carter below and read Beyoncé’s full cover with GQ here.