Sweetener is Ariana Grande's upcoming fourth studio album. It is set to be released in August 2018, through Republic Records.[1] It was recorded starting in July 2016, and finishing in May 2018.[3][4]
Background
Following the release of Grande's third studio album, Dangerous Woman on May 20, 2016, which was met with positive reviews, Grande confirmed she began working and writing on the album on her Snapchat and Twitter later that month.[5] Recording sessions began on May 6, 2016 and continued through the summer.
On November 13, 2016, Grande confirmed on Snapchat that she was done with her fourth album. She later clarified by saying, "I didn't mean to make an album, and I don't know if it's done at all, but I just have a bunch of songs that I really really like. I've been working a lot and have been creating and feeling inspired."[6][7][8] On January 10, 2017, Grande confirmed again by tweeting that she was done with the album, but later she deleted the tweet.[9]
On March 5, 2017, Grande confirmed during the soundcheck of her Dangerous Woman Tour concert in Toronto that the songs she had previously teased ("She Got Her Own", "My Way" and "Sober") won't be on the album. In a Q&A, Grande said that she wanted to have 10 tracks on the album.[10] On March 6, 2017, Grande confirmed during a Q&A that she had been working with Pharrell Williams for several months.[11]
On September 18, 2017, Riccardo Marcuzzo uploaded a photo on Instagram Stories editing a song for Ariana.[12] Scooter Braun told Variety that the album has a more mature sound.[13] Pharrell Williams told LA Times: “The things that [Ariana] has to say on this album, it's pretty next-level.”[14] On November 27, 2017, Urban/R&B producers Hitmaka and A1 revealed they produced a beat for Grande.[2] On December 13, 2017, Ariana uploaded a photo and a video on her Instagram Story in the recording studio for the album.[15] On December 31, 2017, Ariana shared a snippet from the album on her Instagram.[16] Grande's close friend, Colleen Ballinger, said in a Q&A that she has heard some of the album.[17] Charlie Walk, from Republic Records, also said about the album: "She's making some music that we haven't heard before from her, different types of stuff that I think is gonna be really super important for the 2018 music scene."[18] Frankie Grande, Ariana's brother, said: "It's the best thing that ever happened on earth... she's unbelievable... It's unreal".[19]
On March 2, 2018, the album was reported to be complete. It was also revealed that Pharrell Williams and Max Martin each produced half of the album, and Grande wrote or co-wrote every track.[20] On April 9, 2018, it was reported that Grande was set to release the lead single from the album on April 27, 2018 and it was revealed that Savan Kotecha worked on the album.[21] On April 16, 2018, it was reported that Grande may move up the lead single release to April 20, 2018, due to labelmate Post Malone's album being released on April 27.[22] On April 17, 2018, Grande announced that the album's lead single, "No Tears Left To Cry", would be released on April 20, 2018.[23]
On May 1, 2018, during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Grande revealed the title of the album, Sweetener. She said the meaning behind the title is "kind of about like bringing light to a situation, or to someone's life, or somebody else who brings light to your life, or sweetening the situation."[24] Grande also revealed three songs featured in the album: "God Is A Woman", "Raindrops" and "The Light Is Coming".[25] On May 17, 2018, in an interview with TIME Magazine, Grande announced a new song, "Get Well Soon", as well as confirming that she took the lead on songwriting for the album and experimented with her sound.[26] On May 21, 2018, Ariana posted a snippet on her Instagram story,[27] and revealed that she had added more songs to the album.[28] On May 25, 2018, Grande confirmed that she had added 5 more songs to the album.[29] On May 27, 2018, Grande posted a snippet of "The Light Is Coming", revealing that the song features Nicki Minaj.[30] On May 29, 2018, Grande confirmed that the album will have fifteen tracks, three of which will be collaborations.[31][32]
On June 2, 2018, Grande announced that the album will be available for pre-order on June 20, 2018, and "The Light Is Coming" will be released with it.[33]
Cover art
On May 29, 2018, Grande confirmed that the album cover will be in color, and that her eyes will be open.[34][35]
On June 12, 2018, Grande created a Instagram account and revealed part of the album cover art.[36]
Recording
She posted on her Snapchat and tweeted that she was in the studio on May 6, 2016 - June 29, 2016 - July 13, 2016. She was not able to record between May 28, 2016 and early June 2016 due to throat and sinus infection.
On December 13, 2017, old photos of Grande recording surfaced on Twitter. To shut down rumors about them being recent, Grande posted photos of herself working on the album on her Instagram story.
On December 28, 2017, Grande posted four photos and two videos of her in the studio.[37]
On June 7, 2018, Grande revealed that the first song recorded for the album was the "Sweetener", in early July 2016.[3] She also revealed that the last song to be recorded was an interlude, in May 2018.[4]
- July 22, 2016[38]
- July 27, 2016[39]
- July 30, 2016[40]
- August 11, 2016[41]
- August 12, 2016[42][43]
- August 13, 2016[44]
- April 25, 2017[37]
- May 3, 2017[37]
- June 19, 2017[37]
- June 23, 2017[37]
- September 27, 2017[37]
- October 4, 2017[37]
- December 31, 2017[45]
Singles
The lead single, "No Tears Left To Cry", was released on April 20, 2018.[23]
Promotional singles
The first promotional single, "The Light Is Coming", featuring Nicki Minaj, will be released on June 20, 2018, along with the pre-order of the album.[33]
Trivia
Gallery
.jpg "Scooter Braun as Superman and Pharrel Williams on Studio (2).jpg (72 KB)")
.jpg "Scooter Braun as Superman and Pharrel Williams on Studio (1).jpg (124 KB)")
Songs
On May 29, 2018, Grande confirmed that Sweetener will have fifteen tracks, three of which will be collaborations.[46]
Confirmed songs
- Track 1 - "Raindrops"
- Track 3 - "The Light Is Coming" (feat. Nicki Minaj)[47][48]
- Track 4 - "R.E.M."
- Track 7 - "Successful"[49]
- Track 8 - "Everytime"[50]
- Track 10 - "No Tears Left To Cry"[51] – 3:25
- Track 13 - "Goodnight N Go"[52]
- Track 15 - "Get Well Soon"
- "God Is A Woman"
- "Sweetener"
- "Borderline" (feat. Missy Elliott)[1]
- "Blazed" (feat. Pharrell)[53]
- "Better Off"[54]
Possible songs
In the music video for the lead single, "No Tears Left To Cry", one scene showed a piece of paper with the title "Track List" at the top[55][56], however, Grande said that the songs weren't in order.[57] She has since confirmed all the tracks except for one titled "Breathing".
Cut songs
The titles of the following songs are unconfirmed and based on snippets.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Fader - Ariana Grande
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Twitter - About Hitmaka & A1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Twitter - Ariana Grande
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Twitter - Ariana Grande
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Vevo/status/733359206863122433
- ↑ YouTube - Ariana Grande's Gone Platinum Blonde & Confirms She's FINISHED Her Fourth Album
- ↑ Idolator - Ariana Grande Is Already Working On Her Fourth Album
- ↑ MTV - Ariana Grande's Been So 'Inspired' That She Already Made Her Next Album
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana confirms AG4 is done
- ↑ Youtube - Ariana during Dangerous Woman Q&A
- ↑ http://thatgrapejuice.net/2017/03/ariana-grande-teams-pharrell-williams-4th-album/
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana News Brasil - Riccardo Marcuzzo via Instagram Stories
- ↑ From Ariana to Watt: Catching Up With Scooter Braun’s 20 Clients as SB Projects Turns 10
- ↑ Pharrell Williams' latest Adidas Originals collaboration is a super-exclusive pair of co-branded Chanel kicks
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande Today - Ariana on the studio
- ↑ Instagram - New song snippet - 12/31/17
- ↑ Twitter - Colleen Ballinge in a Q&A about 'Be Alright' and Ariana's fourth album.
- ↑ Twitter - Charlie Walk about Ariana's fourth album
- ↑ Twitter - Frankie about AG4
- ↑ MTV UK - Ariana Grande Has Reportedly Finished Her New Album
- ↑ Variety - Ariana Grande to Drop First Single From New Album on April 27
- ↑ Headline Planet - Ariana Grande's New Single May Actually Arrive On April 20
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Billboard - Ariana Grande Announces New Song 'No Tears Left To Cry' Out Friday
- ↑ Ariana Grande Dishes On New Album 'Sweetener' as She Takes Over 'The Tonight Show'
- ↑ Just Jared - Ariana Grande Reveals Title of Fourth Album: 'Sweetener'
- ↑ TIME - Ariana Grande Is Ready to Be Happy
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana posted a new snippet on her Instagram Story"
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana has announced that she has added more songs
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana's Instagram Story #2
- ↑ Twitter - Snippet of Nicki Minaj's verse on 'The Light Is Coming'
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Twitter - Ariana revealed that the pre-order for Sweetener is coming June 20
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande
- ↑ Instagram - @sweetener - Part of the album cover
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 Is Ariana Grande Collaborating With Aretha Franklin?
- ↑ Instagram - July 22, 2016
- ↑ Instagram - July 27, 2016
- ↑ Instagram - July 30, 2016
- ↑ Instagram - August 11, 2016
- ↑ Instagram - August 12, 2016
- ↑ Instagram - August 12, 2016 studio
- ↑ Instagram - August 13, 2016
- ↑ Instagram - Ariana Grande - "see you next year"
- ↑ Twitter - ArianaTodayNet - Ariana confirmed there will be 15 tracks on Sweetener with 3 being collaborations
- ↑ Preview Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj's New Song "The Light Is Coming"
- ↑ Grande Teases ‘The Light Is Coming’ Featuring Nicki Minaj
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana about the seventh track on Sweetener
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana revealing "Everytime" on Sweetener
- ↑ Twitter - Grande about the track 10 on Sweetener
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana about the track 13 on Sweetener
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana has just revealed she has a song called "Blazed"
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana about re-adding a song called "Better Off"
- ↑ Twitter - Track list
- ↑ Twitter - Track list 2
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande - those weren't in order
| "Nobody got me the way that you did." Not to be confused with the song. |
Template:Title