Roy Woods Enters a New Chapter With New Album X

Ten years after first making his mark with emotionally driven R&B, Roy Woods is entering a new stage of his career with the release of his latest project, X.

The 10-track album finds the Canadian singer reflecting on love, vulnerability, desire and personal growth while staying connected to the atmospheric sound that has become synonymous with his music. Rather than presenting himself as a completely different artist, Woods uses X to show how much he has evolved through a decade of experiences.

The project begins with “How You Say My Name,” immediately establishing the uncertainty and emotional tension that run throughout the album. Woods explores the attraction that comes with a new connection while questioning where that relationship could ultimately lead.

That emotional honesty continues on “Beautiful,” the album’s focus single. Built around a nostalgic R&B and retro-pop feel, the record finds Woods offering reassurance to someone struggling with their own self-worth. It is one of the album’s more intimate moments and highlights his ability to turn personal conversations about relationships into music that feels relatable.

Elsewhere, X moves through several different sides of intimacy. “Trust and Believe” brings a Caribbean influence into Woods’ R&B style, with production from Caribbean hitmaker Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor. “For Me” and “I Wanna Know” explore the curiosity and chemistry that come with getting to know someone, while “Brunch” gives Woods room to have a little fun with the subject of romance.

Woods reconnects with Caribbean-inspired sounds on “Set Fire,” also produced by Di Genius, while “Down In Your Ways” features Grammy-winning songwriter Jozzy. The project takes a heavier emotional turn on “Break Ties,” where Woods confronts the difficult reality that walking away can sometimes be the healthiest decision in a relationship.

By the time listeners reach “Do You Get Angry,” Woods has taken them through attraction, confidence, insecurity, desire, conflict and ultimately release.

That emotional range has been a defining part of Woods’ career since the release of Exis in 2015. Over the years, he has built a reputation for creating music around feelings that aren’t always easy to put into words. Loneliness, heartbreak, self-doubt and complicated relationships have consistently found their way into his songwriting.

A decade into that journey, X feels less like a reinvention and more like an artist becoming comfortable with the person he has grown into.

There is still vulnerability, but it comes with a stronger sense of confidence. There is heartbreak, but there is also acceptance. And instead of trying to present love as simple, Woods embraces all of its contradictions.

With X, Roy Woods proves that sometimes growth isn’t about leaving the past behind. It’s about understanding it and using those experiences to figure out where you’re going next.

X is available now on all major streaming platforms. ovo-roywoods.ffm.to/x.