Ariana Grande is my absolute favorite artist of all time! Ariana, who first became known for her role as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, has grown into one of the biggest names in music today. Throughout her career, she has released six albums prior to 2026: “Yours Truly,” “My Everything,” “Dangerous Woman,” “sweetener,” “thank u, next,” “positions” and “eternal sunshine.” Each album has explored a different side of her, whether it is her powerful vocals, catchy pop songs, personal lyrics or stand-out bridges. Even though Ariana is mostly labeled as a pop artist, I have always seen her as an R&B artist, too. Her smooth vocals, layered harmonies and the way she experiments with different sounds give her music an R&B feeling that I absolutely love.

On July 31, 2026, Ariana released her eighth studio album titled petal, which includes 12 tracks. After dedicating all of her time working in the Wicked movies, it was very exciting to see her return to music and explore a totally different sound she has never done. Compared to some of her earlier albums, “petal” feels very toned down, with a dreamy production, dark sounds and lyrics that explore relationships and the pressure that comes with being famous. Instead of relying on huge vocals in every song, Ariana lets her voice blend into the music, which gives the album a more intimate feeling. I think this is an interesting direction for her because it shows that she does not always have to hit crazy high notes to make a song memorable.

A highlight of the record is “oh well.” I love how Ariana talks about letting go of a relationship that is no longer good for her. I enjoy how the song develops because it represents the feeling of finally accepting a situation and deciding it is best to move on. One of my favorite parts of the entire song is the dance-y outro. It gives the song a fun energy that makes me want to replay it as soon as it ends. Every time I hear it, I just want to get up and dance. I love how the upbeat production makes the ending of the song feel freeing, almost as if she is celebrating finally choosing herself. 

“like i do” is another highlight for me. I love how angry Ariana sounds throughout the song. There is so much attitude in her vocals, and she sounds so confident and completely unbothered by the people who criticize her. It almost feels like she knows people are obsessed with her, even when they try to act like they are not. The production is another thing I really love in this song because it sounds so powerful and matches the energy of her vocals perfectly. Everything comes together to create this bold, almost intimidating sound that makes the song so fun to listen to. Ariana leans into her anger instead of holding back and sugarcoating her emotions. I am constantly replaying this song and it is definitely in my top three favorites songs off the album. 

Lastly, another memorable song is “never get over me.” One of the main reasons I love this song is for the instrumentals. The production sounds  smooth and dreamy, and I love how it blends with Ariana’s vocals to create a hypnotic feeling. The song has a flirty, confident energy, almost like Ariana knows she is unforgettable and is making sure the listener knows it too. I also love seeing people use this song for manifestation on social media and call it the “witch spell track” because honestly, I think that description fits perfectly. The overall vibe of the song makes the listener feel like they are casting a spell on a special someone, hoping they become obsessed with you.

Overall, “petal” is my favorite album of the year (favorite Ariana album ever, honestly) and it is a good representation as to why Ariana is my favorite artist of all time. I love seeing her grow and experiment with her music instead of trying to recreate the same sound every time she releases an album. Her vocals are amazing, but what makes her stand out to me is how she combines them with interesting production, different genres and emotions that listeners can resonate with. The fact that she is always so personally involved with the production is very inspiring.

I can see myself listening to record anywhere, whether I am walking to class or just relaxing in my room. To any music lovers reading this, I recommend giving this album a listen. If you are not already a fan of Ariana, this is the album that could get you invested in her music.