Ariana Grande has shared how "time and therapy" have allowed her to "re-embrace" her old music.
During an appearance on Hot Ones that aired on Thursday, host Sean Evans asked the superstar whether there are songs in her catalogue that she would like to retire if fans didn't request to hear her perform them.
In response, Ariana explained that it can sometimes be hard to sing tracks that she wrote during "stressful" times in her life.
"There was a time when it was hard for me to feel that same gratitude that I do now for certain songs and for the music because I think some of it was like a stressful time and I think becoming a pop star is insane at 19 or 20 and I think that experience was sort of married to some of the songs a little bit," she responded. "Or like some of the songs that are more emotional that the experience that inspired them can be married to the music to me for a second, but with time and therapy we sort of are able to re-embrace, so I feel just really proud and grateful and happy when I hear them, whereas I used to maybe hear it and cry..."
Ariana went on to name working with producer Max Martin on 2014 hit Break Free as one of her favourite memories.
"I was a lot younger and I did not want to do the intonation on 'say I don't want ya' and he was like, 'No, it really needs to be like pingy, like annoying. It has to be like, (sings line twice).' And I was like, 'Fine, like this (sings line).' And that's what made it to the record," the 31-year-old continued. "And I'm so grateful for it because I totally get it because it made it so much better. I love that song, I love what that song has done for so many people..."
Elsewhere in the conversation, Sean questioned Ariana over what it feels like when songs get leaked to the public prior to official release.
Accordingly, the 7 Rings hitmaker admitted that she has conflicted emotions.
"It's hard, it's really hard for me because it's really disheartening and disappointing and it sucks. And I am constantly trying to get to the bottom of like how people get stuff. Whether it's like videos or pictures or audio, songs and then also like commented on criticised... blah blah blah," she added. "So it's conflicting because that is very frustrating and feels very dehumanising, and then the other side is like... but I'm so grateful to be an artist that people care about and my fans want more of me, so they're going to these extremes to steal and break in... I sit somewhere in between being grateful to be here and at all and being like but really, come on, so that's how I feel."
