Before leaving, she had begun work on an album for Interscope called Control Freak set for a summer release 2005 with production by a host of other producers.

Production on the album, which was classified as "energetic [and] ghetto" with a less classic R&B edge, was primarily handled by Scott Storch and J.R. Rotem with additional contributions from Bryan Michael Cox, Kwame, Carvin & Ivan, longtime contributor Tricky Stewart, and a handful of others.

Originally conceived as a project called Control Freak, the main production of the album was initially financed by A&M Records, following Mya's departure from the Interscope label after the mediocre commercial success of her previous effort Moodring in 2003, and expected to involve contributions by producers and songwriters Scott Storch, Dr. Dre, Jodeci, Lil Jon, Rockwilder and songwriter Sean Garrett.

"[3][5] However, although she intended to release a dance track called "Let It Go" at a particular time,[6] she eventually decided to leave both her management and A&M Records in fall 2005 due to personal differences, before signing a new contract with Universal Motown.

[7] During the following months Mya began consulting a few other producers to collaborate on the album, renamed Liberation, including Tim & Bob, Bryan Michael Cox, Kwamé, J. R. Rotem and Tricky Stewart.

[7] In search of a new vibe for the album, she drew inspiration by leaving Los Angeles, California and moving back to Washington, D.C., where she spent her formative years.

"[8] Back home, Mya bought a house and enlisted her brother to build a recording studio, where she began experimenting, laying down rudimentary tracks and learning how to engineer.

Pushed by her newfound abilities in mixing and production, Mya once again intensified work on the re-worked Control Freak album, with most of it eventually being completed in a stretch of only three month.

"I've been honest with myself and have been able to admit some things and analyze myself and save myself at the end of the day [...] Liberation is a clean slate; my most expressive, vulnerable album.

[14] Similarly, "Lock U Down" featuring Lil Wayne mixes a prominent Eastern harp sample with a guitar riff.

[14] "Lights Go Off" is a slow jam, produced by duo Carvin & Ivan,[10] that features Mya adopting a low, subtle vocal tone.

[14] Ballad "Ridin'" is a break-up throwback to her earlier work in the late 1990s and was inspired by a former relationship in which Mýa suspected her ex-boyfriend of cheating.

[14] Frustrated and fed-up with the situation, it details her traffic route past the homes of people important to her man, including his mother, ex-girlfriends, and new lover.

[14] "All in the Name of Love", the album's eleventh track was produced by J. R. Rotem and samples the theme song from the horror film Halloween (1978).

As a result, Universal Motown decided to shelf a physical CD release elsewhere as the company feared that heavy bootlegging would affect sales.

[21] Beginning in April, promotion intensified, Mya co-headlined the eighth annual Seagram's Live Tour with rap duo Clipse.

[32] David LaChapelle was originally supposed to direct a music video for the song, with Patricia Field consulted for styling—but the then-head of marketing of the label thought it was "too weird".

Dorian Lynskey of Blender magazine gave the album two and a half stars out of five, stating: "A decade into her career, two songs raise the 27-year-old's game—the insidious snake-charmer melody of "'Walka Not a Talka' and the bracing blast of betrayed-housewife rage of 'All in the Name of Love.'

"[33] Writing for Vibe, Julianne Shepherd gave Liberation a favorable review, noting, "on her fourth album Mya breaks out and swaggers into an intriguing new role".