Music

Listen to Rihanna's "Diamonds," the first single from her upcoming seventh studio album

by Aaron Zorgel

Despite recent struggles with exhaustion, Rihanna’s career is steamrolling along at a breakneck pace, as she readies her yet-to-be-titled seventh studio album. Has it really been almost a year since Talk That Talk was released? Six singles later, and the pride and joy of Barbados already has some new music for us to sink our fangs into.

Written by Sia, and co-produced by Benny Blanco and StarGate, “Diamonds” is a subtle and understated mid-tempo ballad, with a strong melodic hook, and a massive synth arrangement to support it. Rihanna sounds vulnerable and self-aware, positioning this single as 2012’s anthemic sequel to the bouncy house-inspired hit “We Found Love.” “Diamonds” is far more emotionally provocative than anything on Talk That Talk, and all evidence seems to suggest that this song will be huge for RiRi.

Rihanna is nothing if not industrious, so she’s got a matching set of tour dates to go along with her new single. Stream “Diamonds,” check out the tour dates below, and commit the lyrics to memory for when she makes a stop in your city. There’s no official title or release date for the new album, but we’re hearing it’s set to drop in November, and it’ll probably be called 7 World Wonders.

Rihanna Diamonds World Tour

3/8 – Buffalo, N.Y. | First Niagara Center
3/10 – Boston, Mass. | TD Garden
3/12 – Baltimore, Md. | 1st Mariner Arena
3/14 – Philadephia, Pa. | Wells Fargo Center
3/15 – Hartford, Conn. | XL Center
3/17 – Montreal, QC | Bell Centre
3/18 – Toronto, ONT | Air Canada Centre
3/21 – Detroit, Mich. | Joe Louis Arena
3/22 – Chicago, Ill. | United Center
3/24 – St. Paul, Minn. | Xcel Energy Center
3/25 – Winnipeg, M.B. | MTS Centre
3/27 – Edmonton, A.B. | Rexall Centre
3/30 – Calgary, A.B. | ScotiaBank Saddledome
4/1 – Vancouver, B.C. | Rogers Arena
4/3 – Seattle, Wash. | Key Arena
4/6 – San Jose, Calif. | HP Pavilion
4/8 – Los Angeles, Calif. | Staples Center
4/11 – San Diego, Calif. | Valley View Casino Center
4/12 – Las Vegas, Nev. | Mandalay Bay
4/15 – Houston, Texas | Toyota Center
4/16 – Dallas, Texas | American Airlines Center
4/19 – Tampa, Fla. | Tampa Bay Times Forum
4/20 – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | Bank Atlantic Center
4/22 – Atlanta, Ga. | Philips Arena
4/29 – Washington, D.C. | Verizon Center
5/2 – Ottawa, O.N. | ScotiaBank Place
5/4 – Brooklyn, N.Y. | Barclays Center

[via Rihanna]