"They bout to take my phone in 7 hours."
SZA has embarked on a transformative journey, taking a 10-day vow of silence in India after a whirlwind of work and promotion for her first feature film, One of Them Dayz.
The film, an R-rated comedy, stars SZA alongside Keke Palmer and follows the antics of two friends struggling to pay their rent while trying to preserve their friendship after one of their boyfriends steals their money.
Balancing the film’s promotion with a busy touring schedule, SZA decided to take a much-needed sabbatical to reflect and recharge.
SZA shared on Instagram: “I’m in India and they bout to take my phone in 7 hours for a 10-day vow of silence, but I COULD NOT MISS RELEASE DAY !!
“I swear to God this was the most unique experience of my entire life!”
The sabbatical comes after the release of her critically acclaimed album SOS, which she had expressed uncertainty about prior to its success.
In 2022, SZA revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that if the album had flopped, she planned to move to India and live in an ashram, a spiritual retreat.
“I never thought in a million years that people would like it,” she admitted.
Reflecting on the album’s success, SZA said: “My dad’s visiting right now, with my mom.”
“Everybody came down to make sure I didn’t lose my mind if the album went bad once it came out. And now we’re just hanging out, ’cause it didn’t go badly!”
For the singer, who was born Solána Imani Rowe, this sabbatical represents both a personal retreat and an extension of her spiritual journey.
In April 2024, the Isha Foundation took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate her participation in the Bhava Spandana program at their Isha Institute of Inner-sciences, where she immersed herself in an advanced meditation course designed by Sadhguru.
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“Fun fact: SZA won a Grammy Award for her ‘Ghost in the Machine’ & ‘Far’ songs, which actually feature Sadhguru’s voice,” the Isha Foundation shared in their post.
Bhava Spandana, which is offered at Isha Yoga Centers in Coimbatore, Tennessee, and Los Angeles, is an advanced meditation program aimed at transcending the limitations of the body and mind.
As SZA continues her journey in India, fans eagerly await what comes next for the Grammy-winning artist.