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Ariana Grande Notion Magazine
Ariana Grande Notion Magazine
From child star to music star is a story weve been hearing a lot about of late: heres a star whose controversy is that shes just fine with being an old-timey princess. With
sensational illustrator Hattie Stewart giving her unique spin to the cover shoot, Rob Copsey meets a girl with plenty of ambition on the cusp of glory.
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at cross-legged on an armless very bubblegummy, she admits of her early support me in whatever I want to do, but
antique chair in a central recording sessions. It was mainly doo- her saying, You dont have to do this and
London hotel, Ariana Grande wop driven and very princess-type music. not being that typical stage mum helped me
is ravenous. Now 7pm, shes It felt too young, too electronic, too realise early on how much I really want to
been up since six in the morning for current, too mainstream... everything do this myself.
the first of four jam-packed days of UK I didnt want to be. Spending a total
television, radio and press interviews of three years on the project, the 50s Its hard to believe that Ariana is the
to simultaneously promote her new kids pastiche has mostly been wiped in favour of same age Miley Cyrus; a popstar with a
TV series and album. Wearing a pretty a throwback R&B style thats been compared similar backstory who so desperately wanted
black dress and an alarmingly cute doe- to Mariah Carey circa 02 and early Whitney to shed her Disney image she reinvented
eyed expression on her face, one of her Houston - both musically and vocally. herself as a tirelessly twerking,
20-strong entourage that sit in for the sledgehammer-licking, foam-finger-chewing
interview including mum, best friend Unsurprisingly, she embraces the likeness rebel. By comparison, Arianas behaviour
and new boyfriend Nathan Sykes from The wholeheartedly even putting up covers appears more innocent and child-like on
Wanted approaches with an assortment online of some of their notable classics the surface, but on closer inspection
of energy snacks. She opts for a flax bar to rapturous praise - but shes quick to it quickly becomes apparent that shes
and three vitamin pills. Ariana aint dismiss any talk of wanting to emulate an old soul at heart. I cant sing
going anywhere yet. their success. I just want to succeed in about: Walk into the club, youve got a
my own way, she explains. Im not trying cool butt, swag, turn it up - not in a
The transition from beloved child actress to beat any records or achieve success on million years, she vents, sighing with
to pop megastar is one rife with potential somebody elses level because those women frustration. I dont relate to it - I
for disaster. At the moment, Ariana is are icons. Of course I want the music to be wish I was cool enough to pull it off! The
slap bang between the two. Currently successful - music is my life - but Im not sad thing is there are tons of girls out
in the middle of a 40 episode run of trying to have anyone elses career. Im there my friends included - who force
her Nickelodeon series Sam & Cat, any trying to create something thats unique to themselves to be that sort of person. Its
behaviour deemed too risqu could find her me and I want to do it in my own way. not whats cool if youre not happy.
falling out of favour with the tabloids.
Be too sickly sweet and theres danger of Reminiscing on when she first realised Curiously, it was Ke$ha - a popstar who
losing interest from the masses that sent that she had an impressive set of pipes, career relies on her image as a boozy,
her debut LP Yours Truly to number one on Ariana recalls: I grew up in a very glitter-spewing party animal - to whom
iTunes in 30 countries. I was so surprised musical household where I thought it was she recently turned to for advice. She
that people took me seriously as an artist normal to sing all the time. One day my said, Its cool that youre like this,
right off the bat, says the 20-year-old mum heard me and she was like, Can you you need to embrace it. Its cool that
Italian-American. Especially as I was on do that again?, so I did. She said, Oh, you dont club or party. Youre a princess
a kids show for so long. To be honest, I I think weve got a problem here this and thats ok. Her wandering gaze snaps
thought it wouldnt happen for me. Im ones looking for trouble! Noting that back into focus. Im not a child, Im
so grateful and Im proud of the music we her mum wasnt especially keen on the idea just not a party girl. She said you need
created. I cant wait to step it up. of her pursuing a music career because to embrace who you are, and Im a hopeless
of all the craziness that comes with it, romantic who feels very uncomfortable
She may be slow out the gate with a she insists: She wanted me to be a happy, in this day and age. I dont think Im
music career compared to her child star healthy, normal kid. Of course, shell meant to be living in this time, but Im
affiliates, but Ariana explains that she glad Im here. The idea of these two
decided to take her time finding her niche people even crossing paths, let alone
after initially being faced with an album becoming friends, seems too bizarre to be
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she didnt want to release. It was all Notion merely a coincidence. I have no idea how
ARIANA GRANDE
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it happened, She admits. Opposites Shes currently defending accusations that heavily R&B driven, she insists, her eyes
attract I guess. I was writing songs there was an overlap period between Nathan searching for exactly the right words. I
with her and her mum just the other day. and her Aussie YouTube prankster ex Jai still want it to be poppy as well, but I
Theyre both amazing, zany, eccentric Brooks; something she out-rightly denies. dont want it to sound like an extension
and beautiful women. Theyre like an But its a minor blip given the majority of Yours Truly. Its not going to be the
extension of my family now. of fans on both sides welcomed news of reject songs that didnt make the first
their relationship. They want us to be album. Weve started fresh. Ive been
Asked if she thinks or fears - that her happy. And if they dont, then theyre talking to writers about recent events in
years in the business will eventually lead supporting us for the wrong reasons, she my life and Im really excited about it
to her own Miley Moment, she adamantly says, pulling a faux frustrated expression. because I want my sound to capture how I
claims that shes felt the same way inside If it was a singer that I liked and they feel. Barely two months have passed since
since I was five. I dont see myself were in a happy relationship, Id be like, the record was released, but shes keen
changing like that. Im growing up, for hell yeah! And if they got engaged? Id to plough on because she is now learning
sure, but I dont feel the impulse to do be crying on the floor. Sobbing happy more each day that I used to in a month.
anything shocking to tell the world that tears, of course. My life is on crazy fast-forward right
Im growing up - Im just going to let the now and Ive got to hold on otherwise Im
music do the talking. Not wanting to be When the subject of her years on Nickelodeon going to miss my chance. And the person
misunderstood, she continues: I think Miley arises, where she played Cat Valentine on she wants to collaborate with more than
is amazing though. She looks happier than Victorious and now on its spinoff series anyone else on it? Id really love want
ever, prettier than ever and shes doing Sam & Cat, Ariana offers little more to record a song with Imogen Heap.
better than ever. Her music is kicking ass. than the PR-fed lines (It was an amazing
Shes doing all the right things for her, experience because I grew up watching Thrown by her response, Im prompted by one
and Im doing all the right things for me. Nickelodeon, getting to work there was such a of her crew to wind up the interview. I
blessing). The reason for her glazing over revisit her desire to act in a horror film,
As Nathan interrupts us to see if he can is probably down to her not-so-surprising to which she reveals she considers herself
fetch Ariana a coffee, the conversation revelation that she wants to give up acting a scary movie buff. This sets her off on a
turns to her love life. She politely so she can give her full attention to music. ramble. The Ring is the ultimate horror
declines his offer, but her prolonged gaze There are three things Id like to do if I movie for me, probably because it came out
over him afterwards makes everyone else continue acting, she says. A musical movie, when I was a kid. Have you seen theyve
in the room feel awkward. To break the to do Broadway again and a scary movie. Other remade Carrie? Im very unsettled about
tension, I ask if her budding romance has than that, I dont really want to be an that. The original was such a classic
inspired her next album, which she has actress anymore. and this one looks somewhat modern, which
already begun working on. Im always going bothers me. I ask her what role shed
to be as honest I want to be, she says, With a Christmas EP and album number two like to play in such a film. I want to be
looking painfully smitten. Music is the already in the works, I ask her if she the girl who dies first, she says with a
greatest form of self-expression. Im the plans to stick to same winning formula glint in her eye. You know, the girl who
happiest Ive ever been and Im learning as Yours Truly. Its still going to be says, I dare you you wouldnt! And then
a lot of lessons from this relationship. I gets it in the neck. She may have yet to
think thats beautiful and its something completely rid herself of her cutesy child
that should be expressed. You best believe 039 star roots, but with that kind of wicked
Im going to be writing about him! Notion streak, it shouldnt take her long.
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