didn’t even have to click my heels to be gifted with the news that new Ariana Grande music is right around the corner.
For the past couple of years, the Grammy winner has been deep in Oz-ian mode, promoting the Wicked and Wicked: For Good films, in which she portrays Glinda the Good (in a performance that earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress). Now, Grande is gearing up to hit the road for her Eternal Sunshine Tour, which begins in Oakland, California, on June 6. However, there might be a few surprises when it comes to the setlist, because Grande just announced that her eighth studio album is officially on the way.
Titled Petal, the pop singer’s forthcoming LP is out July 31, which she just announced in a new Instagram post. Here’s everything we know about the album so far:
What is the cover art for Petal?
In the cover art for her eighth studio album, Grande is seen smiling, and almost laughing, in a close-up black-and-white portrait, where her hair falls in front of her face. The image was captured by NYC-based photographer Katia Temkin, who, according to Grande, directed “every detail of [the] packaging design,” including the photos, and font as well.
Where can I pre-order Petal?
You can pre-order the album directly from Grande’s website shop, where she offers up two vinyl variants (including a store exclusive), a CD, a cassette, and digital versions for purchase. She is also already offering Petal-themed merch, including a hoodie, baby tees, a blanket, a baseball cap, socks, and buttons.
Who did she work with on the album?
For the past few weeks, Grande has shared a series of selfies that were taken from within a studio. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that one room seemingly belonged to none other than powerhouse producer and Grande’s former collaborator Max Martin (who has helped craft some of her biggest hits like “Into You,” “Break Free,” and “Yes, And?”).
Then, when Grande announced Petal on her personal Instagram, she tagged producer and songwriter Ilya Salmanzadeh, who she has worked with alongside Martin on numerous occasions. (The trio is responsible for classics like “God Is a Woman,” “Breathin’,” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).”
If history is any indication, this trio will likely deliver more surefire hits.
How did she tease the announcement?
Prior to announcing Petal, Grande teased the project on the one-year anniversary of her Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead deluxe LP, by uploading a mysterious message to her fan hotline [+1 (934) 333-7273].
To commemorate the anniversary and build excitement for her upcoming tour, Grande shared a voice recording, where she said: “Hello! And thank you for calling the Brighter Days Ahead hotline. We just wanted to say thank you all so much to all of our loyal customers for making this last year together something we’ll never want to forget. Our staff here at Brighter Days are so looking forward to continuing our mission of bringing happiness and healing to as many as we can this summer in person.”
However, it was at the end of the message where Grande seemed to hint at the release of her eighth studio album, saying: “We’re counting down the 8s—oops! I mean, the days. We’ll see you this summer, and remember, there are always brighter days ahead.”
The same message was shared by a fan account to Instagram, set to a looping clip from Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead short film, and Grande herself ended up reposting the video to her Instagram Story.
Is there a tracklist?
There is no tracklist for Petal yet, but keep checking back for updates as we learn more.
