Clip on your ponytails and brace your headphones, Ariana Grande is ready to drop her new album. Giving the tea on Jimmy Fallon last night the popstar revealed that the new album is called Sweetener. “It’s kind of about bringing light to somebody’s life, or somebody who brings light to your life… Sweetening the situation,” she said of the title.
Granted that she’s already let loose the fact that one song is called R.E.M (“I have a big mouth and I went on Twitter”), and a fortnight ago she released verified number one proper banger No Tears Left To Cry (play count in the i-D office 588848 and rising), we are pretty certain that the album will be packed to the rafters with hits. “I tweet vomited a bunch of lyrics the other day,” she said. Proving that even she is mortal and can’t keep a secret she also described how she leaked the album tracklist in a video (although not in the right order, the tease).
The first track on the album will be called Raindrops, which is a cover of a part of this 1950’s big band song, An Angel Cried by Hal Miller & The Rays. You’d be forgiven for not listening to it before now but give it a whirl:
Of making her version she said, “I had it in my head, and I said to Max (Martin), you know what, let’s record a bit of it a cappella and maybe we can make a beat out of it or something.” The super-producer, who can claim co-responsibility for 22 Billboard Hot 100 hits, left it as is, deciding to open the album on something special. “I looked up the writing credits,” Ariana continues, “and this is crazy, my grandfather’s best friend, who I grew up with in Boca, is a co-writer. It gives me goosebumps.”
Let’s face it No Tears Left To Cry is already the song of year — a mix of proper pop banger that mixes the headly emotions of wanting to bask in sweet spot of finding the place where time is best spent: loving, living and vibing. The song is effortless, perfect — a tribute that tackles a subject that, well, we don’t need to go into details, but is still hard to comprehend a year on. The line that still resonates, even after unending plays, is “Oh I just want you to come with me” — a short sentence that surmises exactly how it feels to loss and mourn, and take that sadness on with you as part of your life’s journey.
The album, which is set to be released 20 July will be preempted by 3 special events on the 20th of every month in the run up, the first one being a show at the Billboard awards.