Ariana Grande: 'eternal sunshine', Wicked & Tour | Apple Music
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
🎭 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.
🎵 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.
✨ 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.
🔮 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.
🎤 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.
🎟️ 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.
👏 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
💡Connection
💡Gratitude
💡Vulnerability
💡Meditation
💡Concept
💡Presence
💡Truth
💡Friendship
💡Nuance
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
where is the magic in life for you in
art in human Connection in the people I
love in laughter and creating something
you're proud of um there's so much today
I'll
say definitely I'll focus it on the art
there's so much magic in
[Music]
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
did you ever think you'd spend as much
time in New York when you were a kid I
love I mean being so close to theater
when I used to come visit with my mom
when I was little and my best friend
Aaron we would see as many shows as we
could every weekend we would go go to
dinner in a show or a matina and then
dinner in a show and it was just the
best I mean New York energy is so
different you know they great memories
as well going to spend time with your
parents at an age where you get to kind
of enjoy that before your identity takes
over and your becomes yours it's kind of
theirs yeah what's one of your favorite
memories about the time you spent with
your mom before you decided to go out on
your own and and ended up here does her
support even from such a young age I
would she would fly me in from bokeh to
audition for Broadway shows and you know
I believed in it so she supported me and
she never pushed me she always was just
kind of very supportive and it's really
happening right now I mean that must be
extra specially sweet for you to have
done so much work and completed this you
know ERA with Wicked to be able to kind
of trace it back to that moment CU I'm
sure she's super proud of of everything
that you've achieved and the music is a
big part of that but for her to know
that those trips to New York and those
those trips to Broadway and those Maes
kind of LED you back to that place in a
strange way it's nice it's strange but
also not 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
yeah I can't wait to see it I was
excited to know you were taking part in
doing it and it kind of leads us to this
era for you as as the artist that we
know or we knew I feel like this album
is a whole new step forward creatively
for you not just in terms of writing and
producing the music and and the
performance on it is incredible but I
get it like I get the concept like I get
it thank you and when I first listened
to the album I I did that thing where I
I started to attribute all of these
words and songs and ideas to the person
and then I was like wait a minute
there's space and freedom to write
within a concept to push it even further
is that kind of part of what motivated
you to want to do it in a more
conceptual way yeah I think so I mean
that's very protective and observant and
caring of you to say 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 yeah 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 and I it's almost
become kind of treacherous I think to
tell the truth music because it stops
being about the music so quickly I think
it depends where you look though I
really do think that yes that is there
and that kind of
noise has always been there in certain
ways and different ways and I think now
with social media it's definitely more
present or more available also 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 I
think there are more people that are
able to do that than the other or maybe
that's me being Eternal Sunshine
ignorance is BL no you're not being
idealistic at all the access is is far
greater but you sit it beautifully there
as long as we take what we need from it
right cuz it's no longer mine really
it's for you so right if I send it to a
friend and they have their own
experience with it or they take from it
a new meaning that I didn't even
consider when writing it that's you know
the beauty of it it's not really mine
anymore that's why I that's when it
clicked for me and I was listening to it
and I thought okay you know it starts
with a question and it ends with an
answer yes right the question is how do
I know if I'm in the right relationship
if I found the right person and it ends
with the most timeless piece of advice
that anyone with any wisdom will give
you which is don't forget about the
little things when did you realize that
the album had that start that question
but you also had the answer at the end
honestly I I didn't realize it until I
found the voice note I knew 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 what did you hear with in
your laughter after cuz your laughter is
the last thing you hear on the record
yeah and I wondered what that laugh
means to you listening to it now well 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
how much did kind of stepping away from
the sort of day-to-day or or project to
project type routine of of releasing a
record and I know you didn't necessarily
to positions the way you had done in the
past but still it felt like you were
moving with regularity and getting to
focus on on Wicked did it did it kind of
help break it break the spell a little
bit in terms of how you wanted to come
back and start a record
yeah it definitely did I mean I tried to
put music as far from my brain as
humanly possible while I was making
while I was working on Wicked because I
think in order to fully give myself to
Glenda I needed to really really really
really put that in a box in a big way
everything from the way I sing to the
way I speak the way I everything kind of
had to be different for a long time so
that I could be fully present in it it
also really allowed for coming back to
it to feel so much more special and so
much more um enjoyable yeah I learned a
lot
about
H I don't know I I I had a very
interesting relationship to music before
I left for Wicked I think that the time
away was really healing and I love I
love it's so interesting because I came
came back and I've loved every minute of
making this album the videos rehearsing
putting the roll out together doing the
photos Sho doing like you know every
single part of it more than ever before
in my life I've been able to be so much
more present and enjoy it and savor it
this time in a way that I don't think I
was able to before must have felt almost
like you were working in secret which I
don't think you it must be hard to feel
that way when your last arm was hugely
successful you came off a tour and
everyone's still dialed into your
frequency what were those days like when
you're working on your own because I
know that you obviously worked with Max
Mar with il which is great but I'm also
really interested in that time you spent
just on your own just figuring out what
the songs meant to you and how you were
going to construct them and produce them
um well it was very vulnerable I mean
you know I had this amazing trip in
September that was just me and Max and
we started these Little Seedling ideas
and we had a collection of Beats that we
liked and we wanted to EXP span upon and
he left me with like a big folder I
would come in and try things
and FaceTime when I was done and be like
what do you think is it fine I don't
know and um you know it was a very
vulnerable but really fun experience I
don't know it was really special and
then of course Max came back and we had
so much fun and Ilia joined as well and
shintaro was sending Beats from afar too
so that's kind of how
it started I think the first two things
that I wrote were end of the world and
Eternal Sunshine so those are both
sharos as well so and you knew the
concept of that moment Eternal Sunshine
came out because that was ultimately
where it was going to let it was going
to add up to to the idea I actually
don't remember when it like clicked to
me that that was what was happening but
yeah end of the world is such an
interesting way to start the record and
I think like when when is the world not
coming to an end I mean at least that's
how it feels for everybody I'm sure I
mean it's like we sure make a real habit
of taking a look at even the good things
in our life and looking just past them
at what could possibly go wrong you know
do you catastrophize things as much as
anybody else you know when it comes to
life I try not to catastrophize I try to
stay present I think that's a lot of our
work as human beings is to not live in
the past or in the future but to try and
just be right here and focus on the
present but of course there's that
hovering dread of what could happen I
think anxiety is just the byproduct of
being alive I actually think it's not
something that you get Afflicted with I
think it's something you learn to live
with and or acknowledge you have to
learn to live you have to learn what
tools work for you and how to befriend
it how to shine a light on all your
little monsters and see them and look at
them and say okay I see you how can we
live together how can we survive
together how can we get through what we
need to get through and work on this
together you know do you still meditate
I do every day what's the what's the
trick what's the secret because I there
isn't I mean there really isn't struggle
it's one of the only things I can do
everything else but that I just are you
judging your performance are you saying
okay my mind is jumping around I'm not
doing a good job myself at the I'm
serious that's what most people say to
me they're like okay I don't think I'm
good at it I'm like well doing it at all
is good at it I mean you really can't
judge yourself that's a that's a good
place toide just doing it is great as
David G would say it's all a part of the
meditation so if a phone rings if a dog
barks yeah it was meant to happen it's a
part of the meditation how do you apply
it to your to your Creative Energy like
do you when you're in a creative space
sometimes do songs come from that
experience I guess is my question H I
don't think so I think I think taking
care of your brain as much as possible
is always productive I think it
definitely helped me more with acting
than it I can see it being present when
I'm doing music but I think it helps
everything that's always like daunting
is when you have been rehearsing
something for months and months and
months and then you have that one scene
that one day you know and it's like oh
today is the day that has to be there so
you can't get in your own way and how do
you judge yourself differently if you
judge yourself at all from that position
or at least approach it from a point of
view of like trying of self-awareness
because with music at the end of the day
it's a very personal expression from
within but but on set I'd imagine if
you're looking back at a take or or or
the rushes it must be hard not to look
at yourself differently at least judge
your performance differently and maybe
be harder on yourself in that sense I
try to not really do much of that uh
with acting or with Wicked in particular
because I I mean I loved to see stuff
because it was exciting to take a peek
every now and then and see whatever but
I just didn't want to be too aware or
conscious of you know I just kind of
wanted to be living in there in her and
not aware of what that looks like yeah
totally and you have to trust the
director and Trust the people on set to
so they go what they need right yeah
totally I think it's could be a little
distracting was there a song that when
you were working on this album that kind
of presented itself with no delay and no
obstruction whatsoever and it just fell
fell out of the magic space for you
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 and um cuz it was
fast right you did it quickly it was
fast but it wasn't too fast I it was
like 3 and a half months I don't know
how people leave the studio I mean I can
imagine it's just such a rewarding place
to be that to actually execute on
something must be one of the hardest
things like how they let like let
letting it go yeah like I thought that
must be where the emotion was coming
from I saw some of the videos of you
playing it for people and I could see
how you were just trying to hold it
together but is that really I'm a cancer
it's all it's all very emotional yeah I
I can imagine that that that was kind of
part of what was going through will you
tell me what was going through your mind
when you f started to play it to people
and the emotion caught you off guard I
think 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
um so that was emotional you know it was
just
like a beautiful thing to see these fa
of people that I love and have worked
with and survived so much with for so
long and this is like our first time
that we've done this that it's felt this
way for me and also that I've been able
to give my all to it this way even to do
like interviews and stuff I don't really
do that kind of stuff but I'm like
excited to does that make sense I'm
excited I'm like proud and grateful and