I can’t believe I’m writing this so late, but with her upcoming eighth album, Petal, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on my ongoing love and connection with Ariana Grande.
I started listening to her around fifth grade, around 2016–2017, during her Dangerous Woman and Sweetener eras. Even then, I went back and explored her earlier music, diving into her full discography. I don’t remember the exact first time I heard her, but I do remember watching her music videos for No Tears Left to Cry, thank u, next, and God Is a Woman. I was instantly drawn in; the visuals, the sound, everything felt so captivating. That’s when I knew I loved her music.
At the time, I didn’t fully understand the deeper meanings behind her songs, but I sang them constantly. God Is a Woman was my favorite. Around that same time, I started taking singing more seriously, and her music became a huge part of that journey. Her songs challenged me vocally in a way that felt natural, not forced. She was the artist who helped me learn how to whistle notes and push my voice further. Beyond that, her music felt empowering, especially as a young girl learning to be confident.
Not long after, I learned about the Manchester Arena bombing. I remember feeling devastated. That was when I began to see a different side of Ariana, not just the pop star, but the human being behind the music. And that was only a glimpse of the pain she had experienced. Shortly before that, she had also lost Mac Miller. Despite everything, she continued to create such meaningful, emotional music. Even her saddest songs carried a kind of beauty that made pain feel almost painless.
Then came Positions, released during COVID. At the time, her music felt softer, more at peace, like she had found stability and love. But as time passed, that story changed, and she later released Eternal Sunshine, which became one of my personal favorite albums. This album felt different: it told a story of healing, self-reflection, and choosing yourself.
Around that same time, I had just gone through a breakup of my own. I remember listening to that album repeatedly. One moment that really stayed with me comes from the intro of the album, Intro (End of the World), where she asks, “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship?” That line immediately sets the tone; it feels like the beginning of a deeper, more vulnerable conversation about love, doubt, and self-awareness. It was a question I found myself asking, too, which made the album feel even more personal and relatable.
Songs like Breathin’ and Be Alright have also been especially meaningful to me over time. They each carry different emotions, one more vulnerable, the other more reassuring, but both reflect the kind of honesty I’ve always loved in her music. This album really inspired me during that time, encouraging me to spend time alone, reflect, and heal.
For fans, it was also noticeable that this was one of the first times she seemed genuinely at peace, even smiling on her album cover, which she had never done before. Despite everything she went through, she still created music that felt hopeful and honest.
Now, with her upcoming album Petal releasing July 31, I can already sense another chapter of growth. It feels like this album will reflect even more self-awareness and peace, and I’m excited to experience it alongside her music once again. I look forward to being in a place where I feel more secure, happy, and at peace with myself and my relationships, just like the journey her music has always encouraged.