The creation of Sweetener and Thank U, Next was an emotionally challenging period for Ariana Grande.
Sweetener, released in August 2018, was her first project after the tragic bombing at the Manchester stop of her Dangerous Woman Tour in 2017, which claimed 22 lives and left many others injured.
Just weeks after the album’s release, her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller passed away from an accidental drug overdose.
Grande produced most of Thank U, Next in about two weeks, releasing it in February 2019 as something she felt she “needed” to do during a time filled with PTSD, grief, depression, and anxiety.
She shared on a podcast that while she took her mental health seriously, creating music played a crucial role in her healing process, stating, “having music be a part of that remedy was absolutely contributing to saving my life.”
She described those times as dark but emphasized how music provided levity and urgency, serving as a means of survival.
Although her record label recognized her need to produce more music, they were hesitant to move on from Sweetener so quickly, as it wasn’t a common practice outside of rap and hip-hop.
Grande asserted, “I don’t really care about the formula… because this is what I need from my soul.”
She found the experience to be healing and freeing, noting that maintaining a deep connection with her fans has been one of the most beautiful aspects of her career.
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