Hilary Duff is trying to listen to the healthy part of her brain

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Hilary Duff’s new album was recorded in a comfortable, equipment-filled studio near the Van Nuys Airport – it actually belongs to her husband, Matthew Koma, who also produced the record, titled “Luck… or Something.” This album is Duff’s first in over ten years. Hanging on the studio wall is a sparkly pink electric guitar, and Duff is quick to point out that it’s hers.

She explained that she received it as a sweet sixteenth birthday present directly from Fender. She’d rediscovered it while cleaning out a storage unit, and her friend Matt immediately insisted they display it prominently.

Hilary Duff rose to fame in the early 2000s as a young star on Disney Channel, hoping to become a pop singer. She first became popular playing the relatable and sometimes clumsy character in “Lizzie McGuire,” and then appeared in movies the whole family could enjoy, like “Agent Cody Banks” and “Cheaper by the Dozen.” By the time she started learning guitar, she had already achieved major success with her album “Metamorphosis,” which sold 4 million copies and included popular songs like “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean.”

After spending most of her twenties pursuing acting and raising a family, Duff is back with new music. Her previous attempt at a comeback in 2015 didn’t gain much traction, but this latest album is a refreshingly honest look at her life as a wife, sister, and mother of four.

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Duff’s songs are honest and detailed, blending guitars and synthesizers with upbeat rhythms. She explores themes of breaking bad habits and worrying that her prime years are over. The song “We Don’t Talk” seems to be about her strained relationship with her sister, Haylie, and “Weather for Tennis” reflects her childhood habit of avoiding conflict as a child of divorced parents. In “Holiday Party,” she shares a recurring dream about her partner, Koma, being unfaithful with her friends.

She describes waking up feeling incredibly angry, and her husband would immediately protest his innocence, which she found amusing. She explains that a lot of her strong emotions stemmed from the hormonal changes after having a baby and while breastfeeding, as she tried to regain a sense of normalcy. Hilary Duff and her husband have three daughters – ages 7, 4, and 1 – and she also has a 13-year-old son from a previous relationship with Mike Comrie.

When asked about the album’s potential success, Koma was blunt: he doesn’t care about sales or public opinion. He explains that those things are secondary to the reason they created the album, which was to make something Hilary Duff could be proud of. Koma, who has previously worked with artists like Zedd and Shania Twain, emphasizes that the project’s primary goal was Hilary’s artistic satisfaction.

A wave of early 2000s nostalgia has recently fueled sold-out shows for Hilary Duff, and this summer she’s taking her tour to arenas worldwide, including two nights at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on July 8th and 9th. However, this resurgence also brought unwanted attention to an essay in the Cut by Ashley Tisdale, who wrote about leaving a difficult “toxic mom group” that reportedly included Duff and Mandy Moore.

Duff shared that she’s reached a point of complete self-acceptance, no longer feeling embarrassed by anything from her past. This newfound confidence led her to kick off her recent concert at the Wiltern with two of her most popular songs, ‘Wake Up’ and ‘So Yesterday.’

Following those songs is “Roommates,” arguably the most emotionally open track on Duff’s latest album. It explores the difficulties in a marriage when things slow down, and the lyrics are both striking and honest. She sings about wanting to recapture the early stages of a relationship, stating, “I only want the beginning / I don’t want the end,” and expresses a longing for simpler times, like being together in “the back of a dive bar.”

The lyrics include an unexpected word, and I wondered how else it could have been phrased. Sometimes you have to prioritize rhyme and rhythm. [Laughs] The song is deliberately provocative because it expresses a really intense and vulnerable feeling. I’m not claiming to have had that experience in a dive bar, but the lyrics aim to capture the feeling of being truly alive and present in a moment.

Growing up in the public eye meant navigating conversations about sex, just like any young celebrity. Now, there’s a trend of leaving those discussions to younger people. I feel like I’ve finally gained a strong understanding of sexuality. My twenties were often a period of figuring things out, and sex wasn’t always pleasurable. Now I finally feel confident in that area. Maybe it’s something many women experience. I’m still quite young, though! People often comment on how well I’ve aged, but I’m only 38. They’ve known me since I was a child, so it’s easy for them to see a long span of time.

It’s great to see you’re embracing getting older! I’m curious, when do senior discounts typically kick in? It’s funny, 38 doesn’t feel old, but I remember thinking my parents looked much older at that age – we definitely seem to stay younger longer these days.

I’m always fascinated by TikToks showing what life was like when people were 35 years old in 1982. It seems like nobody drank water back then – everyone just looked really weathered and worn out.

I used the chorus from Blink-182’s “Dammit” in my song “Growing Up” because Blink is one of my all-time favorite bands. I specifically remember getting my driver’s license while listening to them on my iPod. “Growing Up” is a very personal song about sharing life’s struggles with a close friend, over wine in the backyard. It also feels like a way to connect with my fans, who I’ve been lucky enough to have for 25 years. Seeing them now, as adults, is something I never expected, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

I’m not comfortable with people calling me a ‘fan’ because it feels like they’re putting me on a pedestal. Those close to me, like Matt, would probably say I don’t realize how much I mean to some people, and I think they’re right. I don’t see myself as a glamorous pop star; I feel more like an ordinary person who connects with others.

Can I even say I’m a down-to-earth person? [Laughs] I hope that doesn’t offend anyone. Every morning is a rush – I have so much to do, sometimes while my baby is still asleep, and we’re always waiting for my teenager to get ready for school.

Why do you have four children?
I know — we’re sick.

I was surprised when we ended up with four kids! I was hoping for at least three, because I grew up in a very small family and always wished I had more siblings. We already had Luca before Matt and Banks before we were married. Then came the pandemic, and like many others, we had a baby during that time. The decision to have a fourth was a bit impulsive. Matt joked that people would think we were overly religious if we had another one. Between the kids, we also have a full house with three dogs, two cats, and eight chickens!

As artists and parents, how do you balance raising children with your creative work? One of us felt a strong need to create after having their fourth child. While they love being a mother, they also felt a bit envious that their partner could focus on his work and have time to himself. It felt like a turning point – either fully embrace being a stay-at-home parent or actively pursue a passion project to maintain a sense of self.

It’s well known that mothers often feel guilty for prioritizing themselves. Was it difficult for you to realize it’s okay to take time for your own needs? Our instincts tell us to focus on our children, and that deeply ingrained feeling can be very powerful, often overriding our own self-care. It’s a real struggle, and just thinking about the things I’ll miss as a mom this year is incredibly emotional.

In your song “Roommates,” you have the line, “Life is life-ing and pressure is pressuring me.” When you performed that song recently, did you feel like the audience could relate to that feeling, being at a similar stage in their lives?

Absolutely. When they were singing along so enthusiastically, it was clear they understood. It’s not necessarily about being a parent; “Life is life-ing” captures all the everyday struggles – bills, routines, commuting, family issues – just everything life throws at you. I figured if I was feeling it after living a relatively normal life for the past decade, others would recognize themselves in those lyrics too.

A quarter-century ago, your audience was likely young children. Do you think today’s kids would enjoy your current music? Probably not. It reminds me of when I’d sing along to Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” without understanding the lyrics at all.

The past ten years have seen incredible success for young female songwriters like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Rodrigo. Don’t forget Chappell Roan, either!

The feeling behind “Luck… or Something” seems to represent a growth in your songwriting ability. Perhaps your earlier work just felt polished to you at the time. But honestly, I don’t think you were intentionally aiming for sophisticated songs back then. It was a different era – before the level of songwriting we see with artists like Taylor Swift really became prominent.

She changed the game?
On all the levels.

I was curious about how I landed on Atlantic Records. I wondered if it had anything to do with connections – you know, Elliot Grainge’s relationships with people like Sofia Richie and Good Charlotte. But honestly, we’ve become genuine friends with them all. I finally finished the record, and for the first time, I just wanted their honest opinion – I asked them, ‘Do you even like it?’

You weren’t seeking feedback or direction from the record label. I did have some meetings with the A&R team, but the album was essentially finished and that was it. I didn’t try to get opinions from multiple sources, which was great, because I really dislike having to present my work to a lot of different people for approval.

Were you ever taken advantage of by the music industry? After my album “Breathe In. Breathe Out.” came out, it became clear that I should have pushed a different song first, but I didn’t have the confidence to fight for it at the time. I definitely learned from that experience. I don’t think I would have been able to make my current record if I hadn’t made that mistake.

Honestly, the whole thing with that mom group going viral happened right as my album was coming out, and it did make me think twice about putting myself back in the public eye. But this isn’t exactly new territory for me. I’ve been dealing with intense scrutiny since I was around 15, when the paparazzi started following me. Everything became public, and everyone started having opinions about my life and the people around me. It’s different than someone becoming an actor later in life, you know? Now it’s just amplified by TikTok and everyone needing a sensational story. It’s frustrating because sometimes people get things a little right, and other times they’re way off base. I even saw someone claim that none of the moms or teachers even liked me, and I just thought, ‘Well, that’s just not true!’

Do you find it difficult to stop thinking about things? Also, I really like all the girls at school – I think they’re great!

Is it possible to tune out what people are saying about you online? It really varies. What matters most to me is being able to spend time with my family – playing soccer, relaxing in the hot tub, and even collecting fresh eggs. When things get stressful or chaotic, I prioritize going home and finding peace and quiet.

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2026-02-20 19:32