In Camera Roll, musicians offer InStyle an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse at a weekend in the life of an artist, from rehearsing for a major gig to choosing their favorite onstage look. Here, Dove Cameron explains how her upcoming album signals a new era.

Allow Dove Cameron to reintroduce herself. At 29, the former Disney star (Liv & Maddy, Descendants) has traded in her self-described “sad girl” persona for an empowered identity reflective of 15 years in show business. Her fresh energy is best evidenced in “Too Much,” a hypnotic, retro-sounding single in which she croons, “If you say I’m too much, baby, go find less. If you can’t keep up, stay below, I guess.”

While her forthcoming, yet-untitled sophomore album will include tracks reminiscent of the vulnerable, soul-baring ballads featured on her debut album, Alchemical: Volume 1, this new project makes room for something else: joy. The visualizer for “Too Much,” for instance, represents Cameron at her fullest—sexy, raw, a little bit strange—while appearing grounded, stable, and poised for industry longevity. (I mean, who better to feed a tortoise while dressed in couture?)

In addition to keeping the music world on its toes, the glamazon has been busy performing at Diane von Furstenberg’s annual Oscar nominees luncheon, sitting front-row at Fashion Week, and gearing up for the release of her erotic-thriller series, Obsession. Ahead, she gives us a look into her new dawn, relationship with partner Damiano David, and what’s next.

Women can relate to questioning if they’re ever “too much,” which you explore in your latest single. I love how you turn this idea on its head and unapologetically declare we deserve to take up space. What’s the back story on this song?

I’ve had a lifetime of feeling like I was too much. As women, were taught to be the equalizer in the room: Am I giving everyone what they need to feel comfortable? I found myself, in my early years of adulthood, being in romantic relationships that required me to be less. It takes a few years of not being in relationships like that to look back and be like, This was an unhealthy environment.

One of my favorite quotes is, “Almost every woman I have ever met has a secret belief that she is just on the edge of madness.” That there is some deep crazy part within her that she must be on guard constantly against losing control. I have made peace with the fact that some people will not be able to feel comfortable around a fully expressed woman, and I don’t really care to be in those rooms anymore.

“Too Much” has an ’80s-esque bass and danciness, a departure from your earlier music. How did this song push you out of your comfort zone?

I’ve always been a really big fan of pop music, especially Robyn, [Lady] Gaga, Marina and the Diamonds. But, I had a secret belief that, because I was such an unhappy person when I was younger, I never had the skill to write pop music well. I always had a lot of access to sadness, but I didn’t really have a lot of access to joy, until 2024. I was truly happy for the first time since I was a child. All these joyful, playful, campy parts of me were becoming more accessible. Then, there suddenly was a pop record. It wrote itself. It’s like I finally had a pop identity, and I wasn’t attempting to make myself into a different shape.

The visualizer for “Too Much” is quite striking—the candles, the swaths of fabric and drapery on the clothes, the mud. What was the concept for this?

It’s funny, we didn’t actually film a visualizer. We filmed, like, 15 TikToks. I’m finally learning how to express myself on the internet and not be so introverted. [My friend] Richie [Shazam] showed up and was like, “We’re gonna have you wrapped in plastic, and then you’re gonna be in the mud, and then there’s gonna be a tortoise, and you’re gonna be feeding it.” I felt really seen in the sense that it still felt sexy but a little bit bizarre. I wanted it to feel like we were balancing out the pop music with a rawness. We shot 12 looks in 14 hours, and it was freezing. It was beautiful.

How does your sophomore album compare to your first?

My first album was more of an EP. It was always meant to be a two-part album. And when my whole life flipped on its head, with my natural evolution and the relationship that I started at the end of 2023, and the way that fully changed my life and brought back larger versions of myself; I was in such a different place. It felt like I went through five to 10 years of emotional and mental growth in one year. With this new album, it felt like I was finally living my life for the first time since I was a child. This record is a much larger representation of who I am as a person.

There are some really vulnerable and soul-baring tracks on Volume 1, like “Sand.” Can we expect the same from this album?

I’ve read lately that a lot of pop music has been a rebellion against darker forces in the world. I don’t think it’s as much of a form of escape as it’s a reclamation of joy, which is why I think there’s a lot of really good pop music right now. We need to stand two feet in our joy and reclaim our power and sense of community. In this album, there are a lot of tracks that give joy, levity, and are about lifting spirits, but then the other half is either down-tempo, vulnerable, lyricism-based music or up-tempo, intense, vocal-heavy ballads. I am very happy with the ratio.

You once said in an interview, “Fragrance is one of the strongest storytelling accessories that we have access to.” What three scents best describe this album?

Amber, always. One of my favorite scents, which is jasmine. And then something top-notey and fresh and spicy, like Champagne.

You once said, “I find capturing moments to be very romantic,” and that you’re a big picture taker. What’s something you’ve romanticized recently?

I’ve been someone who takes photos of food a lot lately, because my partner is an incredible cook. When we’re at home, he’s cooking two meals a day at least, and he makes the most beautiful food from scratch. The other day, he made pasta from scratch for the first time, and it was this stunning process. It’s really art. I can’t help but take so many photos, and it’s like no one’s going to see 99% of them. It’s mesmerizing to me, especially as someone who cannot cook. I have so many pictures of his hands in dough or putting all the food together or things in pans. He puts rosemary in red wine and does a reduction, and it’s the most beautiful bubbling red perfection.

You are a fashion force to be reckoned with. How would you define your style?

Ever-changing, sculptural, emotional, romantic. Clothes have to have a romantic flair for me, while also being structural and architectural. I’m really not a fan of patterns. I love muted colors in strong shapes with a romantic flair. I love a gothic POV, but it doesn’t always have to be black. I love whites, I love reds. I just love that Phantom of the Opera feeling, and you can have that in a basic daily work look. I love a masculinity-femininity meeting of the minds.

I saw a photo of you, your partner Damiano David, and Jenna Ortega at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, and my first thought was I need to see the three of you onscreen in some gothic vampire horror project.

It’s funny, because we saw that photo later, and we were like, “Why are we so tall?” She’s so adorable and petite. I never really think about this, but we both came from Disney, and she’s just the loveliest, smartest, most intelligent, deeply feeling young actress. I have a very strong love and affinity for her. And, yeah, I’ll make a few calls. I’m always trying to get my partner more involved in film.

I’m tuned in already. Speaking of projects, your new show Obsession, in which you play main character Ciara, sounds like quite a dark thriller. What drew you to this project?

The script was different from any series script I had read. I had no idea what was going to happen next, and the writing was so elevated. I always feel this sense of responsibility when I feel the character in my body; I feel they are owed a real chance at becoming flesh and blood. And the fact that it’s an erotic thriller, and there was a necessity for nudity, was something I had always known I was going to do. I was like, I’m 28, it’s time I don’t have this fear. If you’re afraid to do something, for me, it is the very next thing that I have to tackle. It helps me step into the fullness of who I am.

What are you most looking forward to in this new era of your life?

I’m looking forward to discovering more. This last year-and-a-half has been such a beautiful example to me that possibilities truly are endless. I’m happier than ever in my life right now. I’m proving to myself that all of my limits were self-imposed.