In a remarkable turn of events, Sky Ferreira has emerged from a decade-long tumultuous relationship with Capitol Records. In 2023, she was dropped from the label, finally gaining the freedom to release music on her own terms. But as she reveals, reclaiming her past recordings isn't a straightforward process.

Struggles in Reclaiming Past Work

In an extensive interview with Vogue published on Monday (Dec. 2), the 32-year-old alt-pop icon opened up about the difficulties she faced in winning ownership of her past work back from Capitol. Her long-awaited sophomore LP, Masochism, was blocked from release for years, highlighting the complex issues artists often encounter.The most prominent case of an artist battling for rights to their masters is that of a certain "Anti-Hero" singer who has spent the past three years re-releasing "Taylor's Version" replicas of her first six albums under her new label. However, as Ferreira points out, such a process requires significant resources that not all artists can afford. "People keep suggesting I re-record the songs, but Taylor Swift can do that because she's a billionaire. I've put all my earnings as an artist back into making music. Most musicians I know generally pay to work," she told the publication."I'm working hard to get some of those songs back, but it's a complicated process, and I have to figure it out on my own now," she added.

Release of "Leash" and Beyond

The interview comes three days before the release of "Leash," a track Ferreira wrote and recorded for A24's upcoming film Babygirl. This marks her first release since her 2013 cult-favorite debut album Night Time, My Time. The years following the album were filled with alleged internal conflicts; as she describes it, "Capitol didn't think my sound was commercial enough."Ferreira revealed that Capitol officially dropped her on the 10-year anniversary of her first LP, sending her an automated message that felt impersonal yet deeply personal. "To be let go in such a way was a shock. It feels liberating, but I'm still angry. I was in a state of shock for weeks after that email. Not because of the drop itself, but the way it happened," she said."It was like they were trying to break my spirit one last time. It's similar to when someone gets out of prison and doesn't know what to do. I still don't have full rights to my previous work," she added.Looking ahead, Ferreira confirmed that she has plans to independently release a new song right after "Leash." She also shared her experience auditioning to play Madonna in the delayed biopic. Initially, Julia Garner was tapped for the role before the film was scrapped. Ferreira spent two months auditioning, including dance rehearsals and spending time with Madonna at her house."I sat in one of her guest rooms to read the script, then she took me downstairs to her bedroom and did my makeup and put her clothes on me. I couldn't believe it was happening. I kept getting called back, and it was an incredible experience," she said.Although she didn't land the part, the time spent with Madonna was a memorable one.