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Published Feb 10, 2025

Episode 1616 - Ariana Grande

Join Marc Maron as Ariana Grande delves into her emotional resilience, navigating fame while maintaining artistic integrity, and the pivotal role of mental health in her personal and professional journey. Discover the creative and vocal artistry that transformed her from theater influences to a global pop sensation.
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  • Vocal Training

    Ariana Grande shares her rigorous journey of vocal training for her role in Wicked. She describes the intense process of training her vocal muscles to achieve the technical precision required for the role of Glinda, a character she deeply admired since childhood 1. Ariana explains that transitioning from pop to opera required her to learn a new vocal track, which involved extensive preparation with her vocal coach, Eric Vitro 2.

    It was really hard. Actually, the other day, I was, like, listening... and it's just crazy to hear the difference, like, week to week in how that upper register strengthened.

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    Her dedication to mastering this new style highlights her commitment to the role and her passion for musical theater.

       

    Vocal Arranging

    Ariana finds immense joy in vocal arranging, a process she often undertakes with producer Max Martin. She describes the creative freedom and trust they share, allowing her to experiment with harmonies and vocal layers 3. This collaboration is marked by a lack of ego and a shared curiosity, which Ariana values deeply.

    The best part is the vocal arranging, which is just sort of, like, adding all the stacks of harmonies.

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    Her journey in vocal arranging also reflects her growth as an artist, as she learned to assert her voice and take control of her music production 4.

       

    Musical Acting

    Musical acting presents unique challenges for Ariana, particularly in balancing emotional vulnerability with technical performance. She discusses how singing live in musicals like Wicked requires connecting deeply with the character's emotional journey 5. Ariana emphasizes the importance of understanding her character, Glinda, to authentically portray her on screen without letting her own experiences overshadow the role 6.

    I needed to disappear into her.

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    This dedication to embodying Glinda showcases Ariana's commitment to her craft and her ability to navigate the complexities of musical theater.

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