Gwen Stefani drops first new album in eight years: 'The only way I feel I have a purpose'

In the eight years since Gwen Stefani’s last studio album, the No Doubt alum was hardly idle.

A seasonal album (“You Make it Feel Like Christmas”), a celebratory Las Vegas residency, a recurring gig as a vivacious judge on “The Voice” and, of course, her marriage to country music veteran Blake Shelton in 2021 resulted in recurring inspiration.

Stefani, 55, returns Nov. 15 with “Bouquet,” her fourth original album, which includes “Purple Irises,” her country-pop duet with Shelton, as well as singles “Somebody Else’s” and “Swallow My Tears,” which mingle Stefani’s pop smarts with subtle country flourishes.

It isn’t exactly a rebirth, because the stylish Stefani never disappeared. Just witness her triumphant reunion with No Doubt at this year’s Coachella if there is any skepticism about her captivating live presence.

But Stefani has new valentines for Shelton (“I got the faith and you got the patience/I drive you crazy, you drive the truck” she sings on the title track) and reminders of their unlikely collision of hearts (“I thought the garden died/but I guess those tears we cried helped bring us back to life,” goes “Marigolds”) to express in song.

In a recent conversation, the charmingly chatty Stefani shared how the roots of “Bouquet” are faith and hope, why she loves the “energy” of “The Voice” and which No Doubt album gives her PTSD.

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Question: There is an obvious flower motif on the record since you have “Empty Vase” and “Marigolds” along with “Bouquet.” What was it about the metaphors of blossoming and growth that spoke to you while writing?

Stefani: I think as I’ve matured in my life, I’ve realized we all have to suffer and we all have our gifts that we’re given. When my life fell apart and the family broke up ... that’s the point when (spirituality) started to be the real centerpiece of my life. It was the first time I could admit to myself that God gave me a gift. I’m not really good at many things, but I was able to do these songs and for whatever reason they were able to make an impact. I need to exercise that gift as much as possible; it’s the only way I feel l have a purpose.

I think studying my faith I realized there is a seed of hope in everything and in this creative part of my life, that hope was to create new music. That was the metaphor, having this seed blossom.

Were you constantly writing through the years since the last album?

I was in a bunch of cul-de-sacs – musically ? before this. I just kept circling. It wasn’t until I wrote “Purple Irises” when I knew I had landed. That’s the song that put me in the right direction.

Did you have any particular musical influences?

The music I listened to while being in the station wagon going to church. My mom would turn around and go, “How do you know every word?” I was 12 years old and listening to anything from Crosby, Stills & Nash to a million other artists. That ‘70s soft rock was the backdrop to my childhood.

The title track – and many songs on the album – sound like love letters to Blake. Is he your primary inspiration?

It would be weird if he wasn’t! I got married three years ago and engaged the year before that and have been writing (the album) for four years, so yeah, for sure. Everyone will think it’s been so long since you put new music out, but I don’t have a lot of music out there considering how old I am. It’s always taken me so long. It took nine years for No Doubt to put “Tragic Kingdom” out! And “Return of Saturn” was coming off this huge worldly success and coming back after being on tour for 2? years. That was a different pressure. I can’t listen to that album.  There is so much truth in that record as to what I was going through. It’s like PTSD for me to listen to it and people come to me and say that’s their (favorite) album, which is weird to me.

It's been 20 years since “Love Angel Music Baby.” You’ve had quite a musical evolution from “Hollaback Girl” to "Make Me Like You” to now. Do you think genres matter as much as they did a couple of decades ago?

I look at my kids and see them discovering music and I’m like, "How did you find ‘80s music?" Of course they would have heard it in the house or the car, but the “you might also like” (algorithm) is out there a lot. When I was in high school we discovered underground ska. There would be scooter rallies and all these like-minded music people would show up and we would all dress the same but you were finding your identity through the music. To me a song isn’t about the genre or tempo as much as, what is it going to say and make you feel?

So with this new album, will we see you on tour next year?

I love playing live and have played a lot of shows this year, whether privates or festivals. The Coachella show (with No Doubt) was mind-blowing, and I did the Vegas residency (2018-2021), which was amazing. But I have to be honest, with being a mom and having teenagers and my littlest is only 10, there’s a lot of, how much do I want to be home for dinner? But I also don’t see myself not playing these songs live. That’s part of the fulfillment.

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And let’s talk about “The Voice.” You’ve been on and off the show since 2019, and you’re leaving again next year. What do you enjoy the most and what do you miss the most when you’re not there?

It’s not like when I’m not there I go, “Why am I not on 'The Voice' today?” (Laughs). Being that me and Blake have a life together and he retired from the show to have more (family) time, there was a lot of tension on Fourth of July because I had to work. But I love doing it. This season I was like, "I’m not going to do it." And then it’s (fellow judges) Snoop (Dogg) and Michael Bublé and Reba (McEntire). I said, "I’ve got to do it." And I’m so grateful that I did. The energy of the coaches, it’s like there’s a rebirth. We all stand in a prayer circle before we go on.

It probably makes you feel less jaded about the industry, too.

I’m, like, the veteran this season. It’s so fun to be a coach and it’s so emotional because we’ve all had these incredibly blessed careers and we can look back at them and share what we’ve learned along the way. You feel so inspired. You get to see music interpreted through these dreams. It never gets old.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gwen Stefani talks 'Bouquet' album, Blake Shelton