Ariana Grande's new album 'Positions' will be released on October 30. Here's everything we know.
- Ariana Grande recently revealed on Twitter that her new album is coming "this month."
- Grande's website was later updated with two countdowns, suggesting the album will be released on October 30.
- The countdown also revealed the album and its lead single are both titled "Positions."
- Cowriter Tayla Parx told Insider that Grande has been working with "the 'Thank U, Next' crew" during quarantine and said "she's made, yet again, another evolution."
- Tommy Brown, aka TBHits, and production duo The Rascals were both involved in the album's creation.
Ariana Grande has officially kicked off a new era.
The record-breaking pop star had stayed largely quiet about her sixth studio album, the follow-up to 2019's wildly successful "Thank U, Next" — until October 14, when she revealed her plan to drop it by the end of the month.
"i can't wait to give u my album this month," she tweeted.
Fans had previously suspected her sixth album was nearing completion, and began circulating the hashtag #AG6isComing as new details continued to emerge. Thanks to hints from close collaborators, we already know a small amount of what to expect.
Here's everything we know about AG6.
The album, titled "Positions," will be released on October 30
Grande first teased the album title on Saturday, when she shared a video of her hand typing out the word "positions."
Six hours later, she shared a link to her website, which had been updated with two countdowns underneath the header "POSITIONS."
The first was a countdown to midnight on Friday, October 23: the release date of the album's lead single, also titled "Positions." She revealed the artwork on Wednesday and dropped the song, along with an elaborate music video, right on schedule.
The website's second countdown is for the album, which Grande confirmed on Friday.
Back in February, Grande already had at least nine new song ideas
Less than two months after returning home from the "Sweetener" World Tour — and about one year after releasing her most recent album — Grande had already returned to the studio.
"i should not post this but f--- it," she wrote on Twitter, sharing a screenshot of a playlist with the song titles blacked out.
"these are how many ideas i really really love (like enough to tell u that they exist) in a playlist of things i've made since i've been home. i love this s--- i can't help it."
The tweet has since been deleted.
Grande told Zane Lowe in May that she's been feeling productive and "extra inspired" this year, especially after installing a studio in her Los Angeles home.
"I think as far as creating goes, it feels really good," she told Lowe in May.
One of those songs is likely called 'Nasty'
On March 24, Grande shared a short snippet of a new song.
"i miss making things," Grande wrote alongside the clip. "can't wait to get back to work."
The risqué lyrics possibly nod to Grande's new relationship with Dalton Gomez, whom she had recently begun dating.
"I just wanna make time for you / Swear it's just right for you / Like this p---- designed for you," she sings. "Bet I look nice on you / Open my mind for you."
The hook features the lyric: "Don't wanna wait on it, tonight I wanna get nasty."
Grande also promised fans it would not be "one of those snippets where we'll never hear the whole song" like one fan suggested on Twitter.
"but new music is still a long time away," she clarified. "jus wanted to share a lil something w u."
Another song might be a collaboration with Doja Cat
Grande confirmed to Lowe that she has an unreleased song with Doja Cat.
"I'm obsessed with her. I love her. I was able to work with her earlier this year on this song that I want to save for whenever it's time again to drop," Grande revealed.
"I was like, 'Take as many bars as you want. Do it. If you're inspired to say stuff, let's go,'" she continued. "And so she just goes off on it, and it's so much fun, and I love it. It's my favorite so far."
Doja later teased their collaboration on Twitter, though it's unclear whether it will be included on Grande's forthcoming album or Doja's.
Fans think The Weeknd is another featured artist on the album
Grande and The Weekend previously collaborated on "Love Me Harder," the fourth single from Grande's second studio album, "My Everything."
Notably, The Weeknd retweeted Grande's album announcement. He also shared her "positions" teaser on his Instagram story.
This activity seems to suggest that Grande has tapped the "Blinding Lights" singer to feature on her new album.
Grande shared another snippet of new vocals in September, a wink in October — and quietly endorsed fans' tweets about a new era
Grande teased fans with another short clip of new music, captioning the post, "brb."
That same day, Grande wrote a tweet that appeared to tease new lyrics: "Know my love infinite nothing that I won't do."
Just a few weeks later, Grande posted a selfie and revealed that she's "turning in" some "mixes" — probably meaning the album is getting some finishing touches.
She also liked a fan reaction on Twitter that reads "SHES COMING TO SAVE US," and another tweet with the hashtag #AG6isComing," though she later un-liked the latter.
Cowriter Tayla Parx told Insider that Grande has been working with her 'Thank U, Next' collaborators, and said the pop star has made 'another evolution'
"The 'Thank U, Next' crew did get back together over quarantine," Parx revealed during an interview back in September. "We just kind of let it happen naturally, same way as the last album."
Along with singer-songwriter Victoria Monét and producer Tommy Brown, Parx is one of Grande's closest collaborators: She cowrote six songs on Grande's Grammy-nominated fifth album: "Needy," "NASA," "Make Up," "Ghostin," "7 Rings," and the iconic title track.
"I think she has to tell you more about [the album] herself, but I can tell you she's made, yet again, another evolution," Parx continued. "We're just going to get to know her even more this time around, which I'm really excited for the world to see."
"I'm excited for her to tell you guys just more about where her head was at with this project, because it truly is incredible, honestly, and I can't wait for the world to hear it," she added.
Producers on the album include Tommy Brown, aka TBHits, and The Rascals
Brown has worked with Grande on all of her albums since her debut, 2013's "Yours Truly."
On October 10, Brown reposted a photo from the fan account @throwbacksagb, which shares old posts from Grande and news that occurred "on this day."
Brown reposted a photo of himself with Grande that she shared two years ago, as the singer and producer were putting the finishing touches on "Thank U, Next."
"five albums n however many years of friendship later," Grande wrote at the time. Brown added: "6****"
"cant believe this was two years ago," Grande commented on Brown's Instagram. "love uuuuuu. here's to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10."
We also know The Rascals contributed to the album.
The production duo — which consists of Khris Riddick-Tynes and Grande's former "Victorious" costar Leon Thomas III — reposted Grande's announcement on Instagram. Thomas' publicist confirmed The Rascals' involvement to Insider.
The Rascals previously helped produce five songs on Grande's debut, "Yours Truly," including its best song, "Baby I."
Insider will continue to update this article as information becomes available.
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