Ariana Grande releases Petal, her eighth studio album, on July 31 through Babydoll Music and Republic Records. The 12-track project marks a departure from the glossy pop perfection she’s built her career on. It’s raw, experimental, and Grande herself calls it “a little feral.”
The album opener “kiss me” sets the tone. Lead single “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” released in May, hit number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart. Grande and producer Ilya Salmanzadeh co-wrote and executive-produced the full project, with Max Martin handling the lead single.
What the Album Contains
The tracklist runs: “kiss me,” “hate that i made you love me,” “petal,” “stay,” “oh well,” “big feelings,” “freak,” “(warning signs),” “like i do,” “never get over me,” “bad thing (bunny hop),” and “nowhere, nobody.” Three songs dropped early—”Rock Music” and others—so listeners have already heard pieces of the sonic landscape.
Why This Album Matters
Grande described the creative process as “breaking up with all different kinds of negative attachments—whether it’s my own monsters in my own head, external voices, things that no longer serve me.” She said making it required tapping into territory she’d been “maybe too shy or polite to approach before.”
The shift away from the bombastic production of recent work suggests she’s chasing authenticity over streaming metrics. The runtime sits at just over 30 minutes—lean and intentional.
For fans waiting since her last album, Petal arrives July 31.
