The rumours are true – AG8 is real, and it’s got a name. For her eighth studio album, Ariana Grande returns with petal, but in the way she knows best, everything is top secret… until it’s not. To decipher some of the codes and easter eggs, we’ve enlisted the help of some of her top fans to share their thoughts and expectations on what’s to come from pop’s princess.

Where were you when Ariana Grande surprise announced the release date and title for her new album? Well, it was merely a month ago, so we hope you remember. Nonetheless, all corners of the internet were kicking off when the Florida-native pop princess posted a black and white photo, windswept hair with a full-beaming smile, with the caption “petal 7.31”. This is, perhaps, as cryptic as the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter has ever been with new music.

With petal, we’re eight albums on from her 2013 debut, Yours Truly, and a long list of chart-topping records in between – My Everything, Dangerous Woman, Sweetener, thank u, next, Positions (lest we forget) and most recently, eternal sunshine. Cementing her mark on the industry and world as a young aspiring performer, we saw glimpses of her greatness from stints on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, as well as clips of her as a young Annie or in Broadway rehearsals. What that has manifested as is pop superstardom. You say the name “Ariana”, and there’s most likely only one you’re thinking about — not to neglect all of the other Ariana’s, but Miss Grande tops the list. 

With this new era firmly underway, fans are discovering just how blind they’ve been to all the hints she’s been dropping. Last year, she elusively shared her thoughts on how AG8 could take shape on actor-comedian Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. Elsewhere, she’s been tight-lipped on music matters but alluding to something to come through her beauty brand, r.e.m beauty, where she looked knowingly in her mother’s eyes as they went through some eyeshadow colours – one, which is coincidentally called ‘petal’. And, fans have clung onto the knowing that her affinity for doing joint album tours, plus the mutual understanding between her and fans that she wouldn’t be doing it for the Positions album, would mean that another album needed to join the roster in order to rid of that possibility. 

Now, the lights are dimming, the curtains pulling apart. It’s almost showtime. With t-minus 14 days until the eternal sunshine world tour kicks off, we’ll be heading into arenas – either in-person or from our phone screens – without even having heard the album. And the truth is, no one really knows what lies ahead, but in Ariana fashion, all will be revealed in due time. Call us biased – though critics have seconded this notion – but the singer-songwriter, who just recently hung up her Glinda heels, has a natural inclination for rich, witty storytelling. A heart-wrenching ballad there, a pop hit elsewhere, and an underrated fan favourite for the self-professed ‘real ones’, Ariana herself has said that this record promises to be “something that is full of life and growing through the cracks of something cold and hard and challenging.” 

Enlisting the help of long-term collaborators, Swedish-Persian producer and songwriter Ilya (full name Ilya Salmanzadeh), the brains behind her fast-selling single “Problem”, and the infamous Max Martin, this feels like another back-to-back hits guarantee. So, prep your tissues, have your dancing shoes ready and massage those lungs because Ariana will surely be going grande with these incoming belters – the first one, “hate that i made you love me”, which we’ll hear in just one week on May 29th.

To commemorate the occasion, we’ve sought the Ari-expertise of fans to share what they suspect petal has in store. Keep scrolling…

Deborah, 26

“I’m expecting it to be fun and fresh and maybe a celebration of how far she’s come – also, some thoughts on the media’s treatment of her image and body as well! I’m expecting to hear about how she’s rediscovered herself over the past year or so, especially with getting back into acting. It’ll be fun!! But [we] can always expect a sad song or two (or five) because it’s Ari and she knows how to write a good sad song lol.”

Jasmin, 26

“I’m fully expecting a no-skips album – proper bangers front to back. The last time we had a quick album turnaround was thank u, next, and that’s my fave Ari album to date, so I have faith she won’t disappoint!! I want an album full of “past life” !!!! I want that feeling we all get hearing “Honeymoon Avenue”. But what I’d really like to see is her lean further into that ‘90s R&B, Brandy-influenced sound she started exploring on eternal sunshine. Tracks like “the boy is mine” and “don’t wanna break up again” hinted at it, and it feels like a natural fit for her and her tone!! If she fully commits to that direction, it could be a standout moment for this Ari era!!”

Liam, 24

“I think Ari is going to switch it all the way up with her new album petals. From the imagery we’ve seen so far, it’s giving very much ‘Jazziana’, which I couldn’t want any more from her. We’ve had little hints of that sound before, but never properly, so if she actually leans into that fully and drops an entire jazz album?? Yeah, I’ll die. This is the first time she’s announced a new album without dropping a pre-release single or any kind of video, and the release date being three months away? That defo means a motherquake is inbound. It makes me wonder what the themes of the album will be about. eternal sunshine was about the pain of heartbreak and wanting to erase her memories, whereas the album before that, positions, was about love and dedication to her partner. But it makes me think, what’s petal about? She’s still with Ethan Slater (as far as we know), it could be another love album, but I think it’ll be more about self-love and how she’s feeling post-Wicked especially, with how the press treated her during the films roll out. Well…the actual cycle of a petal begins with it developing…attracting pollinators…then it wilts…and then drops after it’s been pollinated. So far, the visuals have been in black and white, and I’m absolutely loving it. I’m praying she keeps it up because her last black and white album, Dangerous Woman, is still her best album to date…and I fear she might top it with petal.”

Fred, 25

“I love that Ariana is in an era where she is exploring every part of her creative desires – starring in musicals, doing comedic acting in the Focker-In-Law’s. I hope on this next album she continues to do whatever she wants because she deserves [to feel] fufllment. I would love a JT collab since the rapper has expressed that she loves her!”

Millie, 24

“I predict petal will be an album drawing on the healing experience, an album telling just how important it is to fall to be able to grow back stronger, brighter and better than you were before. As an Ariana fan, it’s so warming to see a genuine smile on the cover and not much else – it signals hope and happiness in both of their purest forms!”

Zoe, 24 

“I have such an easy time speaking about Ariana as such a long-term fan of hers. So petal – so exciting. Sweet, delicate name. I have two thoughts: I’m thinking that it’s either going to be the concept of picking petals like, ‘he loves me, he loves me not’, because she did go through this breakup and then was seen with other people. Another angle could be a flower and how it blooms. I’m expecting a very healing collection of music from her. Everything we see in the past is very dance-y and more on the electric pop side, and I feel like after her achieving one of her life goals of playing Glinda and really becoming and blossoming, I’m expecting a very light, airy, healing type of album from her. I feel like we’ve really never seen a piece or a project like this from her that is going to be as personal as this one. So, so excited.”

Sunni, 30

“I would LOVE to see Ariana firmly in her ‘90s R&B bag to be honest. I saw the Jermaine Dupri collab rumours a few weeks back, which I’m so here for. Bring Brandy back for a proper collab while we’re at it – no shade to the [“the boy is mine”] remix haha.”

Rey, 27

“I am scared for what could be next, but she either gives us another Positions that isn’t centred around her ex-husband and then doesn’t have to perform it or we go experimental pop, e.g in her Imogen Heap bag with the clearest enunciation ever, and it’ll be about this new chapter of her life where she is no longer the popstar we remember – nor is she Glinda.”

John Taurus, 25

“I’m thinking it will be different from anything she’s done before. The cover is black and white, and she’s smiling, which she hasn’t done before (I think??) Maybe more orchestral? Like Yours Truly mixed with Dangerous Woman. It feels like it could also be stripped back, raw…but maybe she would do the opposite.”

Moira, 24

“My gay best friend sent me a two-minute voice note saying it’s going to be very ‘90s R&B and that she will sample Mariah Carey’s “Petals” – his source…no idea. Based on the moody B&W visuals, I think Ariana is entering a more raw, autobiographical chapter. I’m predicting a darker, more vulnerable sound where the lyrics reveal a lot of her inner world – they may even sound like pages of her diary. Beyond the music, I’m manifesting some good fashion moments for Ariana and, hopefully, collaborations with cool, smaller indie artists…and loads of Grammys.”

Sage Thomas, 24

“I absolutely love the title of this album. Over the past few years, we’ve seen such a different side of Ari – the growth, the healing – it’s been so special and genuinely heartwarming to watch as someone who’s supported her through every era. The title really feels like her blossoming into something new, and I’m beyond excited to see what she has in store. I’m really getting sultry jazz R&B with a little sprinkle of pop vibes. I feel like it’s gonna be Positions’ little sister, which would be AMAZING – I’d literally cry because I’ve been a Positions lover since day one. I just know it’s gonna be such a vibe, and I cannot wait to blast it and dance around. Ariana Grande is THAT girl, so I can only imagine who she’s gonna bring onto this album…I would LOVE for her and The Weeknd to do something again because their collabs are always amazing. Or even a moment with Tate McRae, Lady Gaga, Victoria Monét, Doja Cat, Troye Sivan, Zara Larsson or Megan Thee Stallion – there are so many more, but off the top of my head, any one of those would be ICONIC.”

Siham, 27

“I feel like eternal sunshine as an era was heavy, but also really beautiful – you could hear it was the end of a chapter for her. As a listener, it wasn’t an easy first listen because it confronted a lot of emotions, but it felt like a really healing album for her. petal feels like it’ll be a completely different energy. It’s dropping in peak summer, during the tour, and that feels intentional. She’s working with Ilya, who also produced “Problem”. It’s giving the queen of pop is here to reclaim her throne, so I’m hoping there’s a nod to her old pop sound too. That said, it’ll be hard to predict the new sound/album because she’s evolved so much as an artist, especially since stepping back into acting and her overall relationship with music. So, it could go in any direction. My guess is it’ll be a hopeful and fun album. I’d love to hear her lean into her R&B side on this, too!!!”

Zara, 26

“It really seems like it’s gonna be riveting, transformative and healing. I JUST KNOW I’M ABOUT TO LEVITATE – it’s literally called petal (!!!!) like a soft blooming flower. SO EXCITED.”

Pablo, 25

“From what I’ve seen so far everything tells me she will be doing something more R&B leaning than eternal sunshine, but obviously still keeping the pop/R&B sound that she’s known for. I expect her usual collaborators Max Martin and Ilya to be involved, as she has already posted pictures in Max’s studio and also pictures with Ilya. I feel like she will continue where the last album ended, expanding on the autobiographical concepts that she’s been doing since sweetener, but this feels more in line with what she was going for with Positions, as she is definitely creating from a freer and healthier place. The positions correlation also makes sense as to where she is in life right now, with a more settled love life with Ethan and a more private approach to her public persona. I’m very curious as to what the lead single will sound and be like, as before almost every one of her lead singles served as Ariana taking control of her own narrative through media turmoils (“no tears to left to cry”, “thank u next”, “yes and?”). Rumoured collabs are Jermaine Dupri, as he has been liking all of the posts teasing the album so far, so the more R&B leaning sound makes sense, as he’s responsible for some of the ‘90s and Noughties biggest pop/R&B records, and a frequent collaborator of Usher and Ariana’s musical mother, Mariah Carey. But the Mariah Carey references don’t stop there, as “Petals” is the name of one of Mariah’s most personal songs. Also, it seems that Ariana is launching her own label imprint under Republic Records, called BabyDoll Music – “babydoll” being one of Mariah’s fan favourite songs as well. [LA-based producer and composer] Peter Lee Johnson is also allegedly involved, as he has also been liking Ariana’s posts on Instagram. He’s also a frequent collaborator and has worked on songs like “needy”, “better off”, or “shut up” doing strings. The black and white visual aesthetic is also a call back to earlier eras like Yours Truly, My Everything or Dangerous Woman, so the brighter and more upbeat sound is a possibility. I feel like she’s definitely going for a brighter sound with all the flower imagery and the teasers, and with where she seems to be in life right now, and all of the projects she’s been involved in recently or already announced, her creativity is definitely blooming – she’s more confident and self-assured in her artistry than she has ever been before.”

Aswan, 25

“Every time I’ve been through a romantic crisis, Ariana has dropped an album. That said, these are her stars, not mine, and what I’m hoping is that this is her most selfish album yet – and I strongly believe it could be. No teasing, really (although she’s always left an easter egg somewhere if Arianators are smart enough to find it…cue me going through all of her interviews from the last year). She thrives in R&B, when her vocals are at their most soulful – hello, “what they need” riff from Wicked 2 – and that she’s teaming up with the INFAMOUS Ilya again leads me to believe she’s dipping back into that bag with this album. I, too, have been hearing about the Jermaine Dupri whispers, and I’m saying every prayer in the hopes that these will be true. I think lyrically, she’s always made a joke of her sexuality, or rather sensuality, and here, we’ll have her charming wit still, but it’s just Ariana unabashedly unfiltered. I saw on a fan page that one time she mentions “petals” lyrically was in “The Way” with the late Mac Miller, so if there were to be any collaborations, I’m hoping for Thundercat – and of course, Mariah (who seems ready to defrost early) and Brandy (who has been staying busy). I’d love a “You Don’t Know Me” moment from the My Everything era. No bullshit. And certainly, no notes. Also…long, dark hair, no (or lower) ponytail?! I’m scared in the best way possible.”

Matheus, 26 

“I’m excited to be surprised by whatever Ariana Grande does next. I really hope she takes inspiration from the indie and alternative sounds that have creeping into the mainstream. Especially after the Dijon and Mk.gee wave, having produced masterpieces on Bieber’s latest work, I’d love to hear her take on that world. Her iconic vocals, paired with that signature R&B phrasing over raw or experimental instrumentals, could tap into something we haven’t really heard from her before. Lyrically, it feels harder to predict. She’s become more private in recent years, so the subject matter could go in any direction, and that emotional core can definitely shape the overall sound of the record. That said, she’s proven her GOAT status time and time again. Whatever direction she takes, I’m in.”

Jess, 27

“I have a feeling this album is the closing chapter to the music era of her career. This album almost feels like a goodbye to us diehard fans. The title of the album also makes sense. Petals fall when a season is ending. The black and white colour scheme is almost funeral-like. Also, her releasing this album before her tour makes sense as well. She is treating this era as one last ‘hoorah’. Also, the album cover is her smiling with her hair down with minimal to no makeup. This is her showing her unfiltered and real self. I’m so sad to see her potentially end her popstar career, but if this is the end, I’m forever grateful for her giving us a masterpiece for the last time.”

Michael, 26

“Soft. Girly. Intimate.”