KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — In the build-up to the release of her third studio album, Chapters, Yuna spoke to Billboard in an interview that was published in the April 30 edition of the magazine.

Here, she describes, in her own words, what it’s like to be a Muslim in music, how she mended her broken heart, and why the rise of Donald Trump worries her.

1. The woman who isn’t afraid to take on the haters and social media trolls admits that she was once timid.

“I was a timid girl before. A lot of people said, ‘Your problem is always holding back.’ I didn’t want to hold back anymore.”

2. Models Gigi and Bella Hadid are fans.

Verve chairman and Grammy-winning composer David Foster confirmed that his stepdaughters are “crazy” for the Malaysian singer-songwriter. “Yuna thinks differently than a lot of people — she has something to say, and she won’t compromise,” he was quoted as saying. “I’m much older than her, but I relate to her lyrics, and my stepdaughters, Gigi and Bella [Hadid], they’re crazy for her too. She’s speaking to a lot of generations.”

3. Yuna almost became a lawyer.

But in between hitting the books, she taught herself guitar by watching YouTube, writing songs in both Malay and English, inspired by her heroes Lauryn Hill (“she was life-changing for me”) and Feist. And the rest, as they say, is history.

4. She struggled with the fact she wasn’t sexy and hid her ‘real self’ from the public initially.

“Women singers are seen as sexy [in Malaysia] — you have to let your hair out and be beautiful. I struggled with that. I didn’t put up a proper photo of myself — it was cropped, up until my nose. People didn’t know what I looked like until my first show. They were shocked in the beginning, but they accepted me.”

5. Don’t tell Yuna that she’s oppressed.

“People say, ‘You should let your hair out; you shouldn’t be oppressed — you’re not in Malaysia anymore. You should show your curves and be proud of it.’ But I am proud — it’s my choice to cover up my body. I’m not oppressed — I’m free.”

6. Chapters is a break-up album inspired by a wrecked relationship.

Although she doesn’t offer many details to Billboard, she pours out her heart in her compositions, as she wonders how her ex has moved on when she’s stuck behind. Case in point: Used to Love You, featuring “big sister” Jhene Aiko, who also played a part in pushing Yuna to come out of her shell.

7. The album is powered by Yuna’s new confidence in herself and her opinions.

“I used to be dependent on my ex. I didn’t know how to love myself. So I made a mental note: ‘In 2016, I’m going to be single.’ When this album comes out, I want to be in a good place.”

8. She’s no fan of Donald Trump.

“He’s out there promoting hate, violence. It’s really weird that this is acceptable in a modern, advanced country.

9. But she believes that music can soften hearts.

“I’m not too worried about it. I think you can soften people’s hearts, even if they have a lot of hate. Music can do that, if it’s beautiful and honest. If I can do that — soften just one person’s heart — I consider myself successful already.”

*Chapters is out on May 20, and features Crush, Yuna’s first Billboard chart hit.