Ariana Grande recently made an appearance on the 'Zach Sang Show' to discuss her upcoming record, 'Eternal Sunshine,' set to be released on March 8, as well as her role as Glinda in the highly anticipated 'Wicked' film. During the interview, Grande touched on various aspects of her current projects, shedding light on some trending topics.
One of the highlights was Grande's collaboration with producer Max Martin, with whom she expressed her admiration for their longstanding partnership. She revealed that they had recorded several sessions at Jungle City Studios in New York before she embarked on filming 'Wicked.' Interestingly, some of the songs from these sessions, including a demo titled 'Fantasize,' surfaced on TikTok without Grande's consent and gained significant popularity. Despite the unauthorized leak, Grande humorously acknowledged the situation and mentioned that reworked versions of these tracks would be featured on her new album.
Grande also delved into the thematic content of her upcoming record, hinting that some songs address personal frustrations while others contribute to a broader concept. She shared insights into the emotional inspiration behind her music, emphasizing its healing nature during a challenging period.
Furthermore, Grande discussed her transformation for the role of Glinda in 'Wicked,' highlighting the process of deconstructing her popstar image to embody a different character convincingly. She described the effort required to distance herself from her established persona and undergo vocal training to meet the demands of the role.
The conversation also touched upon Grande's unexpected return to music amidst her commitments to 'Wicked,' emphasizing the organic outpouring of creativity during a pivotal moment. The singer reflected on the cathartic experience of songwriting and the blend of emotional ballads with more upbeat tracks on her album.
As for the 'Wicked' film adaptation, Grande shared details about the casting and production timeline. The movie musical, directed by Jon M. Chu, is set to release in two parts, with the first installment hitting theaters on November 27 and the second part scheduled for November 26, 2025. The star-studded cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, and Jeff Goldblum in key roles.