Ariana Grande: 'eternal sunshine', Wicked & Tour | Apple Music

Apple Music
7 Mar 202430:30

Summary

TLDRIn this interview, the artist discusses the inspiration behind her new album, which was influenced by the film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. She delves into the creative process, her emotional connection to the music, and her growth as an artist. The conversation touches on themes of relationships, self-discovery, and the magic found in art. The artist also reflects on her journey, from her childhood dreams to her current success, and the importance of honesty and vulnerability in her work. Overall, the interview offers a glimpse into the artist's mindset and the deeply personal nature of her latest album.

Takeaways

  • 🎭 The artist finds magic in art, human connections, laughter, and creating something to be proud of.
  • 🌆 Being in New York and experiencing its energy and theater culture holds nostalgic value from childhood trips with family.
  • 🎬 The album 'Eternal Sunshine' is influenced by the concept and themes from the film of the same name, exploring complex relationships and emotions.
  • 🧘‍♀️ The artist values being present, grateful, and finding peace through practices like meditation.
  • 🌐 Stepping away from music to work on projects like 'Wicked' allowed for a refreshing and rejuvenated approach to creating this album.
  • 🎼 Collaborating with producers like Max Martin and Ilya fostered a nurturing and therapeutic creative process.
  • 🔄 The album explores the cyclical nature of relationships, love, and the complexities involved.
  • 🤝 Friendships and their honesty, acceptance, and safety are highly valued and celebrated in songs like 'Perfect for You'.
  • 👯‍♀️ Redefining the artist's relationship with touring and live performances is a goal, overcoming past anxieties.
  • 🌍 The album aims to build a conceptual world beyond personal experiences, inviting listeners to find their own meanings.

Q & A

  • What does the artist find magical about life?

    -The artist finds magic in art, human connections, the people they love, laughter, and creating something they're proud of.

  • How did spending time in New York as a child influence the artist's career?

    -As a child, the artist would visit New York with their mom and best friend to see Broadway shows. This sparked their love for theater and eventually led them to their role in the musical Wicked.

  • What was the artist's relationship with their mom like before pursuing their career?

    -The artist's mom was very supportive of their dreams and never pushed them. She would fly them to New York for Broadway auditions, believing in their passion.

  • How did the artist approach the concept for their new album?

    -The artist used the concept of the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as a "costume" or framework for the album, allowing them freedom to explore different stories and perspectives within that concept.

  • What was the artist's motivation behind creating a more conceptual album?

    -The artist wanted to move away from the tendency for listeners to attribute every song to the artist's personal experiences. By using a concept, the songs could be viewed more as stories and art, rather than just autobiographical accounts.

  • How did the time away from music while working on Wicked impact the artist's creative process?

    -The break from music while working on Wicked allowed the artist to come back to creating music with a renewed sense of enjoyment and presence. They were able to savor the process and be fully engaged in a way they hadn't been before.

  • What was the artist's experience of sharing the new album with their team?

    -Sharing the new album with their longtime team was an emotional experience for the artist. They felt truly present and able to enjoy the process in a way they hadn't before, feeling proud and grateful for the opportunity to create art.

  • How did the artist's Saturn return impact their personal growth?

    -The artist's Saturn return taught them the importance of listening to themselves and their inner voice, rather than ignoring their feelings and needs.

  • What is the significance of the song "Perfect for You" on the album?

    -The song "Perfect for You" is a beautiful tribute to the value of real, accepting friendships that embrace our imperfections and complexities, something the artist sees as increasingly rare in today's world.

  • How does the artist hope to redefine their relationship with touring and live shows?

    -The artist hopes to redefine their relationship with touring and live shows, as their previous experiences were impacted by personal trauma and a lack of boundaries. They look forward to approaching live performances with excitement and a fresh perspective.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Reflecting on the Magic of Art and Life's Connections

The speaker reflects on where they find magic in life, highlighting art, human connections, laughter, and creating something they're proud of. They express excitement about being in New York and recall fond childhood memories of attending Broadway shows with their mother and friend. The speaker shares a cherished memory of their mother's supportive role during their auditions for Broadway shows as a child. There is a sense of gratitude and fulfillment in having achieved success in the same industry that ignited their passion from a young age.

05:01

🎵 The Creative Process and Finding Freedom in Art

The discussion shifts to the creative process behind the speaker's new album. They describe the vulnerability and freedom experienced while writing and producing the music with collaborators like Max Martin. The concept of the album, inspired by the film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' allowed for exploration and storytelling beyond personal experiences. The speaker appreciates the ability to pull from various sources, including truth, concepts, films, and relationships, to create art. They emphasize the importance of allowing songs to resonate with listeners on an individual level, rather than becoming mere headlines or lyrics.

10:02

✨ Embracing the Present and Finding Joy in Music

The conversation delves into the speaker's journey of becoming more present and finding joy in their music career. They describe a previous period of resentment and disconnection from their success, which impacted their ability to fully appreciate their work. However, the time away from music during their involvement in 'Wicked' provided healing and a newfound sense of gratitude. The speaker expresses excitement and pride in being able to give their all to this album, marking a shift in their relationship with music and their audience.

15:04

🔮 The Magic of Life and Exploring Conceptual Themes

The speaker reflects on where they find magic in life, emphasizing art, human connections, laughter, and creating something they're proud of. The discussion transitions to exploring the conceptual themes of the new album, inspired by the film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.' The speaker appreciates the freedom within art to pull from various sources, including truth, concepts, films, and relationships. They explain how the album starts with a question and ends with timeless advice, mirroring the journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

20:05

🎤 The Collaborative Process and Artistic Expression

The speaker shares insights into the collaborative process behind their new album, working closely with producers like Max Martin and ilYa. They discuss the creative freedom and vulnerability involved in exploring different ideas and allowing songs to organically take shape. The speaker also touches on their approach to vocal performances, intentionally choosing moments to showcase their range and emotional depth. Additionally, they reflect on the inspiration behind specific songs, such as 'The Boy Is Mine' and its connection to their fans' appreciation for bold, provocative anthems.

25:06

🎟️ Redefining the Relationship with Touring and Live Performances

The conversation shifts to the speaker's desire to tour and perform live in support of their new album. They express excitement about redefining their relationship with touring, acknowledging past challenges and anxieties associated with live performances. The speaker recognizes the importance of setting boundaries and finding a healthy balance, while also expressing gratitude for the opportunity to connect with audiences through their music. Additionally, they discuss the conceptual nature of the album and the intention behind creating a world beyond personal experiences.

30:06

👏 Appreciation for the Conceptual Approach and Artistic Journey

The interviewer expresses appreciation for the speaker's conceptual approach to their new album, commending their ability to create a world that extends beyond personal experiences. They acknowledge the speaker's incredible journey in bringing this artistic vision to life and seeing it through to completion.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Art

Art refers to creative works such as music, paintings, sculptures, or performances. In the video, Ariana Grande highlights the magic and importance of art in her life, saying, "there's so much magic in art." She views art as a means of expression, creation, and finding joy.

💡Connection

Connection refers to the bonds and relationships we form with others. Ariana Grande emphasizes the significance of human connections, stating that the magic in life is found "in the people I love." Connections with loved ones provide a sense of belonging, support, and shared experiences.

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and appreciative. In the video, Ariana Grande stresses the importance of staying rooted in gratitude, saying, "the only possible way to survive is with gratitude." She believes that cultivating gratitude helps one overcome challenges and maintain a positive mindset.

💡Vulnerability

Vulnerability refers to the state of being open, emotionally exposed, and susceptible to potential hurt or judgment. Ariana Grande discusses the vulnerable nature of the creative process, describing it as "a very vulnerable but really fun experience." She acknowledges the emotional risk involved in sharing one's art with others.

💡Meditation

Meditation is a practice that involves training the mind to achieve a state of calm, focus, and awareness. Ariana Grande mentions that she meditates every day, highlighting its importance in her life. Meditation helps her manage stress, stay present, and cultivate self-awareness.

💡Concept

A concept refers to an abstract idea or principle. In the context of the video, Ariana Grande discusses the conceptual nature of her album, which is inspired by the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." She explains how the album explores themes of love, relationships, and the complexities of human emotions.

💡Presence

Presence refers to being fully engaged and focused in the present moment. Ariana Grande expresses her newfound ability to be truly present and enjoy the creative process, saying, "this is the first time that I have felt truly present for it and able to enjoy it." Being present allows her to fully immerse herself in her art.

💡Truth

Truth refers to the genuine, authentic, and honest representation of one's experiences or emotions. In the video, Ariana Grande discusses the importance of conveying truth in her music, mentioning that her collaborator Max Martin helps her find the truth in her lyrics and performances.

💡Friendship

Friendship refers to the close, supportive, and affectionate bond between two or more people. Ariana Grande values the honesty, safety, and acceptance that her friends provide, saying, "they're the best at that but they also have helped me understand the things I was most scared about myself, and accept them over time." Friends play a crucial role in her personal growth and self-acceptance.

💡Nuance

Nuance refers to the subtle shades of meaning, complexity, and intricate details within a concept or experience. Ariana Grande's song "Perfect for You" is described as demanding "room for nuance and humanness, and complexity," acknowledging the multifaceted nature of relationships and human experiences.

Highlights

There's so much magic in art, it's so good to see you in person I know, look at this place this is like I don't, know this is a this is some kind of, magic dream skate overlooking New York.

It feels so full circle It, Feels Like Home it feels like pieces of, the puzzle that have always been there, finding their way back again and just a, nice balance of everything it's it's, beautiful I hope you love it I'm excited.

I think there's, such a, freedom within art in general because, you really can pull from anywhere you, can pull from your truth you can pull, from a concept you can pull from a film, from a story you're telling from a story, about a relationship that a friend told, you from you know art is really it can, come from anywhere.

Finding a home, in Eternal, Sunshine was a, lovely a a lovely costume to wear I, think for this project because when we, hear songs now I think you know we jump, on the timelines and we we start, attributing all of these things and then, they don't become songs anymore they, become lines and headlines and lyrics, and words and they stop being yeah and, they stop being songs.

I do, think that there are so many more people, that are just able to listen to the, music and take what they need from it, what they need to hear what they need to, heal you know what resonates with them.

Ordinary, things was the end of the album I was, like this is the last song but I, wonder how I can put that button on it, and have it land emotionally the way, that I feel it can and how can I answer, the question I always record my Nona, when I'm with her because you never know, what she's going to say and she's the, most hilarious person in the world and, um I had this like 30 minute voice note, of her and her friend Shirley talking, and um it was just right smack in the, middle of it and I said oh my God that's, the answer.

My, own laugh means to I don't know yeah I I, don't know I mean I think it's a little, bit of wow our our loved ones our, friends and our family have the ability, to instantly just sort of soothe and, calm and simplify things that are so, complicated and heavy at times like they, just have that instant ability sometimes.

Something really beautiful about this, writing process was, that if it was taking too long or if it, became, too mathematic or if it became, too we drilling this pre chorus to get, the right thing we kind of would bounce, around or try a different idea or come, back to it and whatever and just do, Melody passes until it just fell out so, I kind of do feel like everything fell, into place that way with this album just, sort of organically.

I've been doing this a long time, with the same team from Republic records, and I love them all so much you know how, many times I've called Monty and Wendy, and Joe and Avery and to he and Roo and, Donna to hear a record to hear a song, it's been this is my seventh time it's, just a long time to be doing this and I, think this is the first time that I have, felt truly, present for it and able to enjoy it the, way that we were talking about before.

I was like oh I'm not listening to, myself I need to start listening to, my why am I doing this you know it's not, protective to ignore these feelings it's, actually counterproductive it's actually, more harmful to not.

I think the movie is so beloved, because so many people can relate to, knowing that something isn't right but, loving so much and wanting to stay and, wanting to figure it out and that cycle, that can happen in the film I think, that's why the film is so belov it it's, because so many people can relate to it.

He's very thoughtful when it comes to things, like that cuz usually I'll go too far, like I'll still way I'll be way too you, know I'll I I like to write like no, one's ever going to hear it ever and, then sometimes I want want to dilate, back or change things or redo things and, um he's got such an amazing ability to, ride that balance and know what people, need to hear and what I need to say too.

We'd walk in, the Highline it was so fun long days too, yeah and then we'd like have a glass of, wine and sit there and listen to what we, did and like laugh and it was just the, best.

The Boy Is Mine and once we had those we, kind of couldn't believe that they, happened so quickly and we were just, kind of like oh we might be making, something you know.

I, love to be Discerning with how much I, want to go there vocally it's one of my, favorite things is to watch girls just, like sling down and and but I I kind of, am very Discerning with what moments I, decide to go there.

I think in a different way, for me than it does for most of my, friends and most of my family and people, who have listened and they all sort of, interpret it a little bit differently, which I love about that song because I, think it can be applied, to any kind of relationship really again, especially when you see the video I, think you'll understand the importance, of it especially being the second single, as well the video that we made for we, can't be friends really to me is the, album in a video.

Transcripts

00:00

where is the magic in life for you in

00:02

art in human Connection in the people I

00:05

love in laughter and creating something

00:08

you're proud of um there's so much today

00:12

I'll

00:13

say definitely I'll focus it on the art

00:16

there's so much magic in

00:18

[Music]

00:28

art

00:37

it's so good to see you in person I know

00:40

look at this place this is like I don't

00:41

know this is a this is some kind of

00:43

magic dream skate overlooking New York

00:46

did you ever think you'd spend as much

00:47

time in New York when you were a kid I

00:49

love I mean being so close to theater

00:52

when I used to come visit with my mom

00:55

when I was little and my best friend

00:56

Aaron we would see as many shows as we

00:58

could every weekend we would go go to

01:00

dinner in a show or a matina and then

01:02

dinner in a show and it was just the

01:04

best I mean New York energy is so

01:06

different you know they great memories

01:08

as well going to spend time with your

01:09

parents at an age where you get to kind

01:11

of enjoy that before your identity takes

01:13

over and your becomes yours it's kind of

01:15

theirs yeah what's one of your favorite

01:18

memories about the time you spent with

01:20

your mom before you decided to go out on

01:23

your own and and ended up here does her

01:26

support even from such a young age I

01:29

would she would fly me in from bokeh to

01:32

audition for Broadway shows and you know

01:34

I believed in it so she supported me and

01:37

she never pushed me she always was just

01:39

kind of very supportive and it's really

01:42

happening right now I mean that must be

01:43

extra specially sweet for you to have

01:45

done so much work and completed this you

01:48

know ERA with Wicked to be able to kind

01:51

of trace it back to that moment CU I'm

01:53

sure she's super proud of of everything

01:54

that you've achieved and the music is a

01:55

big part of that but for her to know

01:57

that those trips to New York and those

01:59

those trips to Broadway and those Maes

02:01

kind of LED you back to that place in a

02:03

strange way it's nice it's strange but

02:06

also not it feels so full circle It

02:09

Feels Like Home it feels like pieces of

02:11

the puzzle that have always been there

02:14

finding their way back again and just a

02:17

nice balance of everything it's it's

02:19

beautiful I hope you love it I'm excited

02:20

yeah I can't wait to see it I was

02:21

excited to know you were taking part in

02:23

doing it and it kind of leads us to this

02:25

era for you as as the artist that we

02:27

know or we knew I feel like this album

02:31

is a whole new step forward creatively

02:33

for you not just in terms of writing and

02:35

producing the music and and the

02:37

performance on it is incredible but I

02:40

get it like I get the concept like I get

02:42

it thank you and when I first listened

02:44

to the album I I did that thing where I

02:46

I started to attribute all of these

02:48

words and songs and ideas to the person

02:51

and then I was like wait a minute

02:53

there's space and freedom to write

02:56

within a concept to push it even further

02:59

is that kind of part of what motivated

03:01

you to want to do it in a more

03:02

conceptual way yeah I think so I mean

03:05

that's very protective and observant and

03:08

caring of you to say I think there's

03:09

such a

03:10

freedom within art in general because

03:14

you really can pull from anywhere you

03:16

can pull from your truth you can pull

03:19

from a concept you can pull from a film

03:22

from a story you're telling from a story

03:23

about a relationship that a friend told

03:25

you from you know art is really it can

03:29

come from anywhere yeah finding a home

03:31

in Eternal

03:33

Sunshine was a

03:37

lovely a a lovely costume to wear I

03:40

think for this project because when we

03:41

hear songs now I think you know we jump

03:43

on the timelines and we we start

03:45

attributing all of these things and then

03:46

they don't become songs anymore they

03:49

become lines and headlines and lyrics

03:52

and words and they stop being yeah and

03:54

they stop being songs and I it's almost

03:57

become kind of treacherous I think to

03:59

tell the truth music because it stops

04:00

being about the music so quickly I think

04:03

it depends where you look though I

04:05

really do think that yes that is there

04:08

and that kind of

04:09

noise has always been there in certain

04:14

ways and different ways and I think now

04:15

with social media it's definitely more

04:17

present or more available also I do

04:20

think that there are so many more people

04:22

that are just able to listen to the

04:25

music and take what they need from it

04:27

what they need to hear what they need to

04:30

heal you know what resonates with them I

04:31

think there are more people that are

04:33

able to do that than the other or maybe

04:38

that's me being Eternal Sunshine

04:40

ignorance is BL no you're not being

04:42

idealistic at all the access is is far

04:45

greater but you sit it beautifully there

04:47

as long as we take what we need from it

04:50

right cuz it's no longer mine really

04:52

it's for you so right if I send it to a

04:54

friend and they have their own

04:57

experience with it or they take from it

05:01

a new meaning that I didn't even

05:03

consider when writing it that's you know

05:05

the beauty of it it's not really mine

05:07

anymore that's why I that's when it

05:09

clicked for me and I was listening to it

05:10

and I thought okay you know it starts

05:12

with a question and it ends with an

05:13

answer yes right the question is how do

05:15

I know if I'm in the right relationship

05:16

if I found the right person and it ends

05:18

with the most timeless piece of advice

05:20

that anyone with any wisdom will give

05:22

you which is don't forget about the

05:24

little things when did you realize that

05:26

the album had that start that question

05:28

but you also had the answer at the end

05:31

honestly I I didn't realize it until I

05:35

found the voice note I knew ordinary

05:37

things was the end of the album I was

05:39

like this is the last song but I

05:42

wonder how I can put that button on it

05:45

and have it land emotionally the way

05:47

that I feel it can and how can I answer

05:50

the question I always record my Nona

05:52

when I'm with her because you never know

05:54

what she's going to say and she's the

05:56

most hilarious person in the world and

05:58

um I had this like 30 minute voice note

06:00

of her and her friend Shirley talking

06:03

and um it was just right smack in the

06:07

middle of it and I said oh my God that's

06:09

the answer what did you hear with in

06:10

your laughter after cuz your laughter is

06:12

the last thing you hear on the record

06:14

yeah and I wondered what that laugh

06:15

means to you listening to it now well my

06:17

own laugh means to I don't know yeah I I

06:20

don't know I mean I think it's a little

06:22

bit of wow our our loved ones our

06:25

friends and our family have the ability

06:27

to instantly just sort of soothe and

06:30

calm and simplify things that are so

06:34

complicated and heavy at times like they

06:37

just have that instant ability sometimes

06:40

how much did kind of stepping away from

06:42

the sort of day-to-day or or project to

06:45

project type routine of of releasing a

06:48

record and I know you didn't necessarily

06:49

to positions the way you had done in the

06:50

past but still it felt like you were

06:52

moving with regularity and getting to

06:53

focus on on Wicked did it did it kind of

06:55

help break it break the spell a little

06:57

bit in terms of how you wanted to come

06:58

back and start a record

06:59

yeah it definitely did I mean I tried to

07:02

put music as far from my brain as

07:05

humanly possible while I was making

07:08

while I was working on Wicked because I

07:10

think in order to fully give myself to

07:13

Glenda I needed to really really really

07:16

really put that in a box in a big way

07:19

everything from the way I sing to the

07:21

way I speak the way I everything kind of

07:24

had to be different for a long time so

07:28

that I could be fully present in it it

07:31

also really allowed for coming back to

07:33

it to feel so much more special and so

07:36

much more um enjoyable yeah I learned a

07:40

lot

07:42

about

07:45

H I don't know I I I had a very

07:47

interesting relationship to music before

07:51

I left for Wicked I think that the time

07:54

away was really healing and I love I

07:58

love it's so interesting because I came

07:59

came back and I've loved every minute of

08:01

making this album the videos rehearsing

08:05

putting the roll out together doing the

08:07

photos Sho doing like you know every

08:09

single part of it more than ever before

08:11

in my life I've been able to be so much

08:13

more present and enjoy it and savor it

08:17

this time in a way that I don't think I

08:18

was able to before must have felt almost

08:21

like you were working in secret which I

08:22

don't think you it must be hard to feel

08:25

that way when your last arm was hugely

08:27

successful you came off a tour and

08:29

everyone's still dialed into your

08:31

frequency what were those days like when

08:33

you're working on your own because I

08:34

know that you obviously worked with Max

08:35

Mar with il which is great but I'm also

08:37

really interested in that time you spent

08:39

just on your own just figuring out what

08:42

the songs meant to you and how you were

08:43

going to construct them and produce them

08:45

um well it was very vulnerable I mean

08:47

you know I had this amazing trip in

08:51

September that was just me and Max and

08:53

we started these Little Seedling ideas

08:55

and we had a collection of Beats that we

08:58

liked and we wanted to EXP span upon and

09:00

he left me with like a big folder I

09:03

would come in and try things

09:07

and FaceTime when I was done and be like

09:09

what do you think is it fine I don't

09:11

know and um you know it was a very

09:13

vulnerable but really fun experience I

09:18

don't know it was really special and

09:19

then of course Max came back and we had

09:22

so much fun and Ilia joined as well and

09:24

shintaro was sending Beats from afar too

09:27

so that's kind of how

09:29

it started I think the first two things

09:33

that I wrote were end of the world and

09:35

Eternal Sunshine so those are both

09:36

sharos as well so and you knew the

09:37

concept of that moment Eternal Sunshine

09:39

came out because that was ultimately

09:41

where it was going to let it was going

09:42

to add up to to the idea I actually

09:44

don't remember when it like clicked to

09:47

me that that was what was happening but

09:50

yeah end of the world is such an

09:51

interesting way to start the record and

09:52

I think like when when is the world not

09:54

coming to an end I mean at least that's

09:56

how it feels for everybody I'm sure I

09:57

mean it's like we sure make a real habit

10:00

of taking a look at even the good things

10:02

in our life and looking just past them

10:03

at what could possibly go wrong you know

10:05

do you catastrophize things as much as

10:07

anybody else you know when it comes to

10:08

life I try not to catastrophize I try to

10:12

stay present I think that's a lot of our

10:15

work as human beings is to not live in

10:17

the past or in the future but to try and

10:19

just be right here and focus on the

10:21

present but of course there's that

10:23

hovering dread of what could happen I

10:27

think anxiety is just the byproduct of

10:28

being alive I actually think it's not

10:29

something that you get Afflicted with I

10:30

think it's something you learn to live

10:31

with and or acknowledge you have to

10:33

learn to live you have to learn what

10:34

tools work for you and how to befriend

10:37

it how to shine a light on all your

10:40

little monsters and see them and look at

10:42

them and say okay I see you how can we

10:44

live together how can we survive

10:46

together how can we get through what we

10:49

need to get through and work on this

10:51

together you know do you still meditate

10:53

I do every day what's the what's the

10:55

trick what's the secret because I there

10:57

isn't I mean there really isn't struggle

10:59

it's one of the only things I can do

11:00

everything else but that I just are you

11:02

judging your performance are you saying

11:04

okay my mind is jumping around I'm not

11:06

doing a good job myself at the I'm

11:08

serious that's what most people say to

11:09

me they're like okay I don't think I'm

11:11

good at it I'm like well doing it at all

11:13

is good at it I mean you really can't

11:16

judge yourself that's a that's a good

11:19

place toide just doing it is great as

11:21

David G would say it's all a part of the

11:23

meditation so if a phone rings if a dog

11:25

barks yeah it was meant to happen it's a

11:28

part of the meditation how do you apply

11:30

it to your to your Creative Energy like

11:32

do you when you're in a creative space

11:34

sometimes do songs come from that

11:36

experience I guess is my question H I

11:39

don't think so I think I think taking

11:41

care of your brain as much as possible

11:43

is always productive I think it

11:44

definitely helped me more with acting

11:47

than it I can see it being present when

11:49

I'm doing music but I think it helps

11:52

everything that's always like daunting

11:54

is when you have been rehearsing

11:56

something for months and months and

11:57

months and then you have that one scene

11:59

that one day you know and it's like oh

12:02

today is the day that has to be there so

12:03

you can't get in your own way and how do

12:05

you judge yourself differently if you

12:06

judge yourself at all from that position

12:08

or at least approach it from a point of

12:09

view of like trying of self-awareness

12:11

because with music at the end of the day

12:13

it's a very personal expression from

12:15

within but but on set I'd imagine if

12:18

you're looking back at a take or or or

12:20

the rushes it must be hard not to look

12:23

at yourself differently at least judge

12:24

your performance differently and maybe

12:25

be harder on yourself in that sense I

12:27

try to not really do much of that uh

12:31

with acting or with Wicked in particular

12:34

because I I mean I loved to see stuff

12:36

because it was exciting to take a peek

12:37

every now and then and see whatever but

12:39

I just didn't want to be too aware or

12:43

conscious of you know I just kind of

12:44

wanted to be living in there in her and

12:47

not aware of what that looks like yeah

12:50

totally and you have to trust the

12:51

director and Trust the people on set to

12:52

so they go what they need right yeah

12:54

totally I think it's could be a little

12:57

distracting was there a song that when

12:59

you were working on this album that kind

13:00

of presented itself with no delay and no

13:05

obstruction whatsoever and it just fell

13:08

fell out of the magic space for you

13:10

something really beautiful about this

13:11

writing process was

13:13

that if it was taking too long or if it

13:17

became

13:18

too mathematic or if it became

13:22

too we drilling this pre chorus to get

13:26

the right thing we kind of would bounce

13:28

around or try a different idea or come

13:30

back to it and whatever and just do

13:33

Melody passes until it just fell out so

13:35

I kind of do feel like everything fell

13:37

into place that way with this album just

13:39

sort of organically and um cuz it was

13:42

fast right you did it quickly it was

13:44

fast but it wasn't too fast I it was

13:47

like 3 and a half months I don't know

13:48

how people leave the studio I mean I can

13:51

imagine it's just such a rewarding place

13:52

to be that to actually execute on

13:54

something must be one of the hardest

13:56

things like how they let like let

13:58

letting it go yeah like I thought that

13:59

must be where the emotion was coming

14:01

from I saw some of the videos of you

14:02

playing it for people and I could see

14:04

how you were just trying to hold it

14:05

together but is that really I'm a cancer

14:08

it's all it's all very emotional yeah I

14:10

I can imagine that that that was kind of

14:12

part of what was going through will you

14:13

tell me what was going through your mind

14:15

when you f started to play it to people

14:16

and the emotion caught you off guard I

14:17

think I've been doing this a long time

14:20

with the same team from Republic records

14:23

and I love them all so much you know how

14:25

many times I've called Monty and Wendy

14:28

and Joe and Avery and to he and Roo and

14:31

Donna to hear a record to hear a song

14:33

it's been this is my seventh time it's

14:36

just a long time to be doing this and I

14:39

think this is the first time that I have

14:42

felt truly

14:45

present for it and able to enjoy it the

14:47

way that we were talking about before

14:51

um so that was emotional you know it was

14:54

just

14:55

like a beautiful thing to see these fa

14:58

of people that I love and have worked

15:00

with and survived so much with for so

15:03

long and this is like our first time

15:07

that we've done this that it's felt this

15:09

way for me and also that I've been able

15:12

to give my all to it this way even to do

15:18

like interviews and stuff I don't really

15:20

do that kind of stuff but I'm like

15:21

excited to does that make sense I'm

15:24

excited I'm like proud and grateful and

15:25

I feel like oh my goodness what a gift

15:29

to be able to make this art and for so

15:31

long I think I

15:32

was in

15:38

um hiding from it hiding from my success

15:41

or from what comes with

15:42

it and it was really impacting my

15:45

ability to be able to love what I do for

15:47

a long time oh my God I don't want to

15:49

get choked up but but but but um but

15:53

yeah it was really making me resentful I

15:55

think for a little bit of time and I

15:57

don't feel that anymore and I feel like

16:00

I'm able to let go of that and enjoy it

16:04

and um I feel really proud and grateful

16:06

for that sorry to like go there but it

16:09

feels very different I think that's why

16:11

I was so choked up even just playing

16:13

them the the songs cuz I was like waa

16:16

this feels so different this time what

16:17

was really hard for us as fans was to

16:21

see this thing that you were giving to

16:22

us as a gift to your point feel like it

16:26

was soundtracking these tough T times

16:29

and I I wouldn't have I wouldn't have

16:31

blamed you if you hadn't made a record

16:32

for a long time I think between like

16:35

that the

16:36

unpredictability

16:38

of what we were just discussing versus

16:41

also like the game of it all was

16:44

something that when I started making

16:47

music when I was young I didn't

16:49

really expect that or sign up for that

16:52

like I just loved music I didn't know it

16:54

had to be a game I didn't know people

16:55

were going to try to to pit me against

16:59

people I love I didn't know that you

17:01

know it was going

17:02

to do such strange things and I think I

17:05

was very young and processing all of

17:09

that I kind of married that to music in

17:13

my head for a while I was like oh well I

17:16

can't continue doing that I was talking

17:19

to someone else who's made an album

17:20

which is deeply rooted in in um love

17:24

lost uh very recently and I made the

17:27

observation that it even though the

17:29

album goes through all of these

17:30

different experiences of losing someone

17:33

that you care about it actually still

17:34

was a love album to me

17:36

because you know this feels very much

17:39

like that yeah it does to me there's not

17:41

to me it doesn't just have to be an

17:42

everlasting love story mm love is

17:45

complicated showcasing um both sides of

17:49

it is kind of what I tried my very best

17:51

to balance in the music is you know this

17:55

feeling can be true and this feeling can

17:57

also be true

17:59

simultaneously and I think that's

18:01

something

18:02

that we can ignore sometimes you know

18:05

what what really helps you face it down

18:07

as Saturn's return I remember mine super

18:10

well yeah I do and um it's a unique

18:14

experience because it's almost a

18:15

mathematically perfect equation but is

18:18

unique to everybody else it's like one

18:20

of those things that is a planetary

18:21

alignment that really should put us all

18:23

in some grid but it's not like that it's

18:25

super individual and it applies itself

18:27

like magic to everyone's life so Ari

18:30

what was your sat's return like oh my

18:33

gosh H my Saturn return what was it like

18:37

it was um it was pretty chill nothing

18:40

changed pretty uneventful seriously

18:43

pretty

18:44

uneventful nothing yeah I can't think of

18:46

a thing that changed my life you don't

18:49

have to go into specifics but from a

18:51

personal level how did you grow in all

18:53

seriousness I think I kind

18:57

of

18:59

learned that I wasn't really listening

19:01

to myself in a lot of in a lot of areas

19:05

where I I could have been it's like my

19:08

my nervous system was screaming at me to

19:11

make certain changes for a long time but

19:13

I think I I I was kind of a person who

19:16

wasn't listening I don't know I just

19:17

made I tried to listen to it more it's

19:20

an interesting time in your life because

19:22

it applies itself to every aspect and I

19:24

think we make a lot of it about

19:25

relationships and a lot of it about self

19:27

but no it's about it's so much about

19:30

your relationship to yourself yeah

19:31

that's mainly what I mean yeah like for

19:34

me I was like oh I'm not listening to

19:35

myself I need to start listening to

19:38

my why am I doing this you know it's not

19:41

protective to ignore these feelings it's

19:43

actually counterproductive it's actually

19:46

more harmful to not Supernatural as a

19:49

song um I love it's it's one of those

19:52

moments that to me kind of comes out and

19:54

and is an immediate comforting and very

19:58

moment but I love the sentiment of

20:00

Supernatural and the idea of what it

20:02

means um what is most magic about life

20:04

to you where is the magic in life for

20:06

you in art in human Connection in the

20:10

people I love in laughter and creating

20:13

something you're proud of um there's so

20:17

much today I'll

20:19

say definitely I'll focus it on the art

20:22

there's so much magic in art do you

20:23

remind yourself more often than not

20:25

throughout the day to appreciate where

20:26

you where you stand absolutely I think

20:28

the only possible way to survive is with

20:32

gratitude is to stay rooted in gratitude

20:34

and sort of be thankful every day for

20:39

everything it's so easily taken away and

20:42

it's so easy to get wrapped up in

20:44

negativity or what you know challenges

20:47

are here in the day it's time to get

20:48

into this kind of concept a little more

20:50

because for me at least because I love

20:52

the film and I recognize now that there

20:55

was a thread from the movie not just on

20:58

a literal sense but just the feeling of

20:59

the movie that goes through the record

21:02

um what prompted you to to link this

21:05

album to the film if it is that literal

21:08

I think it the movie is so beloved

21:11

because so many people can relate to

21:13

knowing that something isn't right but

21:16

loving so much and wanting to stay and

21:17

wanting to figure it out and that cycle

21:19

that can happen in the film I think

21:22

that's why the film is so belov it it's

21:24

because so many people can relate to it

21:25

and I think it kind of fell into place

21:28

that these songs had little tidbits of

21:31

that theme do you remember the first

21:32

time you watched it by it I was really

21:34

young I'm a massive I'm a massive Jim

21:36

Carrey fan I don't know if you know this

21:38

but my first screen name was Jim Carrey

21:41

fan

21:42

42 so so I was definitely very young uh

21:46

it's always been a favorite of mine

21:48

what's it been like meeting him

21:50

thrilling he is even better you know how

21:52

sometimes you get nervous to meet your

21:53

people because you never know how

21:55

they're going to be and it's very scary

21:56

he couldn't be

21:58

better I love him so much more after

22:00

meeting him and um working with him on

22:03

kidding What's maxm like I just I just

22:05

want to made him he is he's like the

22:08

biggest mystery the most successful pop

22:10

producer he just turned into an absolute

22:13

child it my favorite thing what's not

22:15

smart like no he's the best person in

22:18

the world I think who he is is who he is

22:20

as a human being and the fact that like

22:22

his success and all that he's done

22:25

hasn't at all inflated his ego or his

22:29

humanness like he's just the coolest guy

22:31

ever he's so nice he's kind to every

22:34

single person he encounters and he's

22:36

nurturing in the studio like he how does

22:37

he get the truth like how does he get

22:39

those performances in that truth out and

22:40

yet make it feel like it's my life he's

22:44

very thoughtful when it comes to things

22:45

like that cuz usually I'll go too far

22:48

like I'll still way I'll be way too you

22:51

know I'll I I like to write like no

22:53

one's ever going to hear it ever and

22:55

then sometimes I want want to dilate

22:58

back or change things or redo things and

23:01

um he's got such an amazing ability to

23:05

ride that balance and know what people

23:08

need to hear and what I need to say too

23:10

like he'll stand up for me he'll be like

23:12

no you deserve to say that he also know

23:14

that like hey you can say that in a way

23:17

that's not going to distract people from

23:18

the song 100% or he'll be like this is

23:21

more aligned with the Ari you know what

23:23

I mean it's he he's amazing um but we've

23:27

we had some an amazing and therapeutic

23:29

time together we walk to work together

23:31

every day um you did yeah we'd walk in

23:34

the Highline it was so fun long days too

23:37

yeah and then we'd like have a glass of

23:39

wine and sit there and listen to what we

23:41

did and like laugh and it was just the

23:43

best can you disappear here can you walk

23:45

the Highline and just disappear

23:47

literally anywhere in New York it's so

23:50

funny it's really funny I just walk

23:52

around if I have like a little Beanie or

23:55

hat and I just I love it I need it like

23:58

and that's what I loved about London so

23:59

much was I got to do that every single

24:01

weekend and it's nice to just be able to

24:04

explore and roam around and it's New

24:06

York everyone lives in New York everyone

24:08

used to seeing people in New York I

24:09

think about true story and and what I

24:11

love about that song is how playful it

24:12

is and how it leans into the into the

24:14

idea of like what is real and what's not

24:16

like you called a true story but I

24:17

actually don't not sure if it is it's an

24:19

untrue story based on all untrue events

24:21

exactly it sets up the boy's mind

24:23

obviously it's kind of like okay I'll

24:24

play the bad girl now here's your Bad

24:26

Girl Anthem that's why they're

24:28

in that order on the track list the boy

24:30

is mine I mean the original is a classic

24:32

yes I love that song I've always like

24:34

wanted to reimagine that song in some

24:37

kind of way why on this album where did

24:39

I mean where were you when you came out

24:40

with the idea of wan to add to that when

24:41

I saw my fans reaction to fantasize

24:43

because they love it so much so this one

24:45

was was an extension of that in a way I

24:49

think I kind of was like this is a very

24:51

bad idea I think but there is a large

24:55

group of my fans that really they do

24:58

Love a Bad Girl Anthem and I this is

25:01

kind of I think an elevated version of

25:05

that it's kind of Pop's job to some

25:08

degree to be provocative right and to be

25:10

an escape for in some way but yeah I

25:13

thank you I'm glad that you love it did

25:15

you work on that one on your own as well

25:16

or did you work on no that was Max and I

25:18

that was our first trip that was one of

25:19

the first ideas that we started

25:21

everything fell into place with that

25:22

Tempo change though yeah and we and when

25:24

once he did that I was like oh this is a

25:26

problem did it feel like the album was

25:28

was really reality when when when when a

25:30

song like that shows up it's like okay

25:31

now I've got to find a bunch to go

25:33

around it because it can't just sit on

25:34

its own yeah the first that Max and I

25:38

did together was don't want to break up

25:40

again and the second we did together was

25:42

The Boy Is Mine and once we had those we

25:45

kind of couldn't believe that they

25:48

happened so quickly and we were just

25:50

kind of like oh we might be making

25:52

something you know when I listen to your

25:53

vocals on the record um and obviously

25:56

being a fan of you as a performer as

25:57

well was a writer and a producer um and

25:59

an artist in general is is that hearing

26:01

you sing often I get to explore with you

26:03

your range and find where you can take

26:05

it emotionally it on this record I feel

26:06

like you and I don't if it was on

26:09

purpose I'd love to get your take on it

26:10

but the performance feels like you chose

26:12

those moments very deliberately and a

26:13

lot of the time you just L the writing

26:15

kind of be at the Forefront thank you

26:17

yeah that's actually super intentional I

26:19

love to be Discerning with how much I

26:23

want to go there vocally it's one of my

26:26

favorite things is to watch girls just

26:27

like sling down and and but I I kind of

26:30

am very Discerning with what moments I

26:32

decide to go there we can't be friends

26:34

on that song which is kind of like a a

26:36

sort of classic sort of emotive Dance

26:38

Floor moment where you sort of dancing

26:40

to something and I can't quite tell

26:42

whether it's it's sort of final or it's

26:44

flirty and maybe that's the point about

26:46

that song as to whether or not it's like

26:48

well we can't be friends or it's like we

26:49

can never be friends how does it fit

26:51

into the concept over what it fits the

26:53

concept um I think in a different way

26:56

for me than it does for most of my

26:59

friends and most of my family and people

27:00

who have listened and they all sort of

27:02

interpret it a little bit differently

27:03

which I love about that song because I

27:04

think it can be applied

27:07

to any kind of relationship really again

27:10

especially when you see the video I

27:11

think you'll understand the importance

27:14

of it especially being the second single

27:16

as well the video that we made for we

27:19

can't be friends really to me is the

27:21

album in a video what do you value in

27:23

Friendship what do you love about your

27:25

friends the most oh my gosh just having

27:27

such a space in them like no matter what

27:30

is happening I feel so incredibly fine

27:34

because of the people that I have in my

27:36

life I know they would never you know

27:39

what I mean they're just the best I love

27:41

them they're right about everything

27:43

they're brilliant um what about you for

27:46

me what I love about my friends honesty

27:48

mhm oh yeah safety holding up the mirror

27:52

they're the best at that but they

27:54

also have helped me understand the

27:58

things I was most scared about myself

28:01

and accept them over time right like to

28:04

give me a place of honesty where I can

28:05

talk to them and then by verbalizing

28:07

those fears I'm not so afraid of them

28:09

anymore and I think that's kind of leads

28:11

me to my my favorite song the record

28:13

which isn't perfect for you because I I

28:16

I think it's a beautiful tribute to that

28:18

experience it's one of my favorites as

28:20

well I think my top three are we can be

28:23

friends and perfect for you and Eternal

28:25

Sunshine but I think the most beautiful

28:27

thing about about and perfect for you is

28:28

that we

28:30

all know those people that we feel that

28:33

way about and that we are so lucky to

28:35

have because they see it all they hold

28:38

space for it all and it fits in their

28:42

imperfections too like we're so lucky to

28:44

have friends family loved ones that

28:47

are just so accepting and real with us

28:51

no matter no matter what it's like such

28:55

an important song in my opinion because

28:56

we live live in a time where everything

28:58

is boiled down but that song kind of

29:02

Demands room for nuance and humanness

29:05

and complexity that we're so used to

29:09

like being stripped of these days will

29:11

you find the time and have the energy to

29:13

want to tour this this album I miss

29:15

doing shows I really do if there's a

29:17

chance to in between the wickeds or

29:20

right after the wickeds I will of course

29:23

do my best to do it I think I just have

29:25

to sort of like my Rel Rel ship to music

29:28

I have to redefine my relationship to

29:30

doing shows because I think that's

29:31

something that suffered a lot as well

29:34

because of my own trauma my own sort of

29:38

like lack of boundaries when I was

29:39

younger I think allowed for me to sort

29:41

of have a an anxious association with it

29:46

but I think that was where I was so

29:49

being here now and kind of I like look

29:52

forward to it I'm excited to redefine my

29:54

relationship to touring into doing shows

29:56

when time allows

29:57

but it is something that I'm like yes I

29:59

would love to I just don't know when I

30:01

appreciate you that this album to me is

30:04

a really great example of what happens

30:06

when somebody takes the concept of

30:08

what's going on internally and goes

30:09

beyond that and builds a world that's

30:11

bigger than just your own personal

30:13

experience that's what concept are and

30:15

um I think you've done an incredible job

30:17

I appreciate you seeing this through

30:19

thank

30:26

you