In May 2017, 22 people were killed and many more were injured when a terrorist attack took place at Ariana’s concert in Manchester.
The bombing was the deadliest terrorist attack in the UK since the 2005 London bombings and took place just a year before the death of Mac Miller, Ariana’s former partner.
After so much tragedy in such a short space of time, Ariana revealed there was only thing that helped her cope - her music.
“‘I was doing so much therapy, and I was dealing with PTSD and all different kinds of grief and depression and anxiety,” she told The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast.
“I was, of course, treating it very seriously, but having music be a part of that remedy was absolutely contributing to saving my life.”
“They were dark times, and the music brought so much levity.”
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Back in 2020, the singer spoke about how writing her following album Thank U, Next “quite literally” saved her life.
“Making this project with so many dear friends quite literally saved my life and gave me the courage to be vulnerable and be honest with people.”
“Thank u for making me feel heard, safe and incredibly human. It is nice (and so healing) to know that I don’t have to hide behind a weird, polished pop star facade and that I’m able to connect with so many people over my truths and pain.”
The singer revealed in the podcast interview that her label wasn’t keen on her releasing the albums in quick succession – but understood her demands.
“The label understood that, but they were also very hesitant to stop Sweetener dead in its tracks and move onto an album so quickly…”
“I just said: ‘I don’t really care about the formula. I don’t want to play by the rules at this moment, because this is what I need for my soul.’”
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