ShefaniAFRICA

Bouquet Deluxe & my new song “Still Gonna Love You” out everywhere now 💐✨ gx  🔗 gwenstefani.lnk.to/BouquetDe… #BouquetDeluxe #StillGonnaLoveYou

On a midsummer night’s dream in 2016, over saké, I found myself in a deep conversation with Gwen. As she processed her then-recent heartache, she kept telling me things I already knew. She was a bit perplexed, and I was a bit drunk, so I started reading some of her own lyrics aloud to her—the overlooked red flags. But this is exactly why she’s my favorite. She has given voice to the experiences I couldn’t fully understand while I was living them. Like Gwen, my parents have been happily married for over 50 years. My youngest sister is married to her high school sweetheart. It sets a high bar. And me, being the eternal optimist I am, would focus on my partner’s potential—clinging to the belief that people really can change, that things can improve if I just try harder. I would make excuses for inexcusable behavior, especially if the person I was with had a difficult childhood. I would feel a subtle guilt for having had an easier life. But this, I’ve learned in large part through Gwen, ultimately makes you vulnerable prey to narcissists who will exploit your empathy, leave you emotionally exhausted, and keep you living in a constant state of uncertainty. She might not sit around listening to her old albums, but I do—her fans do—and we can see the bigger picture: how she has blossomed her previous struggles, heartbreak, and grief into something so powerful and transformative—not just for herself, but for all of us who have needed this map, this guidance toward real love. And right when I needed it the most, all of this wisdom has been gorgeously captured on her new album, 'Bouquet.' With her music as my compass, I am capable of growth, I can rid myself of toxicity, and I can emerge stronger. I just need a few reminders. 🧡 @gwenstefani