Ariana Grande returns from a three-year hiatus with her upcoming album, “Eternal Sunshine,” set to be released on March 8.
Grande announced the body of work on Jan. 17, soon after releasing the high-energy lead single titled “yes, and?” which is heavily inspired by Madonna’s “Vogue.” The track accentuates a pop-house sound accompanied by layered harmonies and piano synths. The single serves as a carefree response to critics and negative media.
According to Grande’s website, the upcoming album will have thirteen tracks, with titles one and five being “intro (end of the world)” and “eternal sunshine,” respectively.
“It’s kind of a concept album because it’s just all different, like heightened pieces of the same story,” Grande said in an Instagram reel.
The “Positions” singer collaborated with producers and hitmakers Ilya Salmanzadeh and Max Martin in the making of “yes, and?” which quickly charted to No.1 on Billboard. Martin is known for working with Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and more.
Grande does not shy away from her 80s and 90s pop influences in her new work. The “yes, and?” music video pays homage to Paula Abdul’s “Cold Hearted,” with a similar setting and the theme of winning over their critics.
The pop star begins her second verse of the lead single with, “Now I’m so done with caring what you think, no, I won’t hide,” which stomps on the recent hate she’s been receiving over her new relationship with “Wicked” costar, Ethan Slater.
There are seven album covers, six of which have been revealed on Grande’s Instagram. Each picture holds a consistent color scheme of red, black, and off-white, along with her staple blond ponytail that is representative of the AG7 era.
“We wanted to give you a few different options that capture the emotional ups and downs of this album,” Grande said in the caption.
She has been adamant about not releasing any music teasers this time around. However, she routinely unveils album information on dates ending in the number seven. As Grande once said in her own words, the light is coming.
