Hilary Duff reflects on growth and desire in deeply personal new music era

Hilary Duff has reflected on intimacy, aging and family estrangement as she has ushered in a bold new era with the release of her deeply personal album, love…or something.

The 38-year-old singer-actress has revealed that her relationship with sex has evolved significantly with age, admitting that intimacy in her 20s was “not always enjoyable” as she navigated uncertainty and self-discovery.

“I finally feel like I know a lot about sex,” Duff said in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times while promoting her new album, love…or something, released Feb. 20. 

“My whole 20s, sex was not always enjoyable it was so much to figure out. Now I finally understand it. Maybe that’s a female thing, but I’m not ready to be put out to pasture.”

The candid reflection marks a bold moment for the former teen idol, who has reemerged musically with her first album in a decade. 

The deeply personal record was largely written alongside her husband, producer Matthew Koma, whom she married in 2019.

Duff’s new project dives into themes of romantic growth, maturity, motherhood and desire. One standout single, Roommates raised eyebrows with its unapologetically provocative lyrics, signaling a confident artistic shift.

The album also offers insight into her personal life as a mother of four son Luca, 13, and daughters Banks Violet, 7, Mae James, 4, and Townes Meadow, 21 months, balancing family life with creative reinvention.

Beyond intimacy, Duff has also addressed the public fascination with her aging.

“People come up to me all the time, and they’re like, ‘Wow, you aged really well,’” she said. “I’m only 38! Just because you’ve known me since I was 9… When do I start getting the discounts?”

She added that perspectives on age have shifted over time, noting that today’s late-30s and early-40s generation looks different than she remembers from her childhood.

Perhaps the most emotional layer of love…or something centers on Duff’s strained relationship with her sister, Haylie Duff, 41.

The track We Don’t Talk references their shared upbringing “the same home, the same blood” and alludes to an ongoing estrangement.

Appearing on CBS Mornings, Duff confirmed the song is about her sister and admitted she struggled with whether to include it on the album.

“It’s definitely about my sister and just absolutely the most lonely part of my existence,” Duff said. 

“It’s not having my sister in my life at the moment, and I really struggled with thinking about including that on the record.”