It’s been nearly a decade since Ne-Yo made his music debut with In My Own Words, and since then, he has become a household name in the industry. Not only has he dominated the charts with hits from his own projects over the years, but he’s also got a credit list for other artists that can’t be beat. The past five years have been major determining factors for the R&B crooner, as he’s experimented with almost every sound and genre under the sun. One thing is clear – the risk-taking certainly has paid off handsomely.

Yesterday (Jan. 27), Ne-Yo dropped his sixth studio album Non-Fiction, reuniting with his R&B roots, which he says is like “coming back home.” Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the new project has songs for the lovers, the fighters, and the ones who just want to get it right.

Take a soulful dive into the mind of Ne-Yo on the next few pages as he touches on receiving fan stories as song inspirations for the album, his advice on how to deal with a fresh heartbreak and how to avoid the friend zone and plenty more. –Lindsey India