Ariana Grande is reflecting on her early albums and how they helped her secure creative control over her music career. In a recent interview, the singer revealed that My Everything (2014) and Dangerous Woman (2016) were crucial stepping stones that allowed her to establish herself in the industry. “They had to kind of prove a point, just sort of solidifying my spot so I could stick around,” she said. “That was the kind of time when I felt like the label was sending me everywhere. We were doing the big pop records; it was really fun, but I was everywhere, every single day. Those two albums kind of had me doing the work, allowing me to change the formula from then on.”
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Released in August 2014, My Everything was Ariana Grande’s second studio album and marked her transition into mainstream pop. It featured a mix of dance-pop, R&B, and EDM influences, with hit singles like “Problem” (feat. Iggy Azalea), “Break Free” (feat. Zedd), “Bang Bang” (with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj), and “Love Me Harder” (feat. The Weeknd). The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, further establishing her, then 21, as one of pop’s rising stars. By 2016, Ariana had already proven herself as a hitmaker, but Dangerous Woman allowed her to showcase a more mature sound. The album incorporated pop, R&B, and soul influences, featuring standout singles like “Into You,” “Side to Side” (feat. Nicki Minaj), and the title track, “Dangerous Woman.”
Following these albums, the Grammy-nominated singer took full creative control, leading to more personal and experimental projects like Sweetener (2018), Thank U, Next (2019), Positions (2020), and Eternal Sunshine (2024). All these albums spawned timeless hits such as “No Tears Left To Cry,” “Breathin,” “34+35,” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love).”
Photo by Ariana Grande via Instagram
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