Jhené Aiko has announced her new album, "Westside Whimsy," surprising fans by revealing it will arrive on Friday, 12 September, just days after the announcement and more than six years since her last full-length release. The Grammy-nominated R&B singer shared the news on social media alongside cover art depicting her crying crystal tears, prompting a wave of excitement from fellow artists including Kehlani, Ella Mai, H.E.R., Amine, Blxst and Chloe Bailey.

The 38-year-old previously hinted at the project's West Coast-inspired themes, citing 1990s influences and California's car, surfing and beach culture as key inspirations, and had already used the "Westside Whimsy" name for an Erewhon smoothie collaboration in January. Her last album, "Chilombo," was released in March 2020 just before pandemic lockdowns began, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and earning a Grammy nomination for album of the year.