At the stroke of midnight this morning, Beyoncé released a new album with 13 new songs and a slew of companion videos.

Now she’s talking about why she did it.

“I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it,” Beyoncé says in a press release about hew new, self-titled album. “I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.”

Beyoncé also explained the “visual album” concept – including videos with each song. “I see music. It’s more than just what I hear. When I’m connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they’re all connected to the music.”

BEYONCÉ features several collaborations, including work with her husband Jay Z and her daughter Blue Ivy. You can listen to previews of each song and download the full album on iTunes.

Fans are still reeling from last night’s surprise announcement, and many are wondering how she was able to keep it a complete secret up until its actual unveiling. The singer is universally recognized for being one of the best in the industry, and her successful mission to release a new album in secret further cemented that fact.