Ariana Grande says ‘Petal’ was written from a place of unfiltered rage

Ariana Grande has opened up about the creative mindset behind her eighth studio album 'Petal', released on 31 July via Republic Records. In an Apple Music interview filmed on the set of her ongoing 'Eternal Sunshine' tour, the singer described the record as emerging from "an unfiltered rage that I think we all feel sometimes."

"I usually am too shy to tap into that," Grande explained when discussing the album's 12 tracks. "This time, I didn't filter as much as I usually do. I usually do a lot of rewrites and make things a little kinder. This time, I didn't." The shift in approach marks a departure from her typical songwriting process, where she tends to soften her initial instincts through revision.

Grande had previously hinted at this more assertive creative direction in May, when she described 'Petal' as "a little feral" and noted it came "from a place I've been maybe too shy or polite to tap into before." The album also balances this rawness with growth, with Grande characterising it as "full of life" and "growing through the cracks of something cold and hard and challenging."

The record features the lead single 'Hate That I Made You Love Me' alongside tracks including 'Kiss Me', 'Stay', 'Big Feelings', 'Freak' and 'Never Get Over Me'. Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine' tour continues through August, including a 10-night residency at London's O2 Arena.