Ariana Grande is seeing her tour from a different perspective this time around, metaphorically and literally.
During a recent conversation with Broadway star Jessica Vosk for her Vosk in the City series, Grande opened up about her experience on the Eternal Sunshine Tour, calling the trek a “corrective experience” and reflecting on how her mind-set has changed since her previous tour.
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“I think on my last tour I wasn’t necessarily in the same place in life, and I wasn’t able to be as present as I am this time,” Grande told Vosk.
Vosk specifically asked Grande about her “ascent” during “Supernatural,” the theatrical close to the Eternal Sunshine show in which the singer is lifted above the stage to create the illusion that she is floating upward. Grande explained that the experience itself is “fun,” “nice” and “wonderful,” saying that she received a tap on her hip when each side of her body is secured before she takes flight.
“I like to get involved emotionally,” Grande explains, referring to her participation in the melodramatics that are her bits during the show. “It helps me enjoy [the tour] actually. I actually convince myself that I’m actually going somewhere.”
During a test flight, Grande said she can look around and think, “Oh, this is something,” but once the song begins and the music consumes her, the feeling changes. “It’s space, and it’s real,” she giggles.
The singer said that being physically involved in the tour’s theatrics has become an important part of her experience on the road, particularly because of the emotional connection she feels while performing. That connection extends to Grande’s relationship with her audience, and Vosk praises her fans in the segment as “some of the best fans in the universe.” Grande agreed, adding that the love between herself and her fans is mutual.
The Eternal Sunshine era has given Grande an opportunity to experience the songs and performances from an entirely different place, with the pop star emphasizing how much she is enjoying being onstage and connecting with her fans. While the conversation touched on the more emotional aspects of touring, Grande kept things light with a joke about her previous tour: This time around, she’s also wearing contact lenses, meaning she can actually see the audience from the stage.
The interview occurs during one of Grande’s stops of the Eternal Sunshine tour at Barclay’s Center in New York. The tour continues the Eternal Sunshine era along with her recently released album Petal, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Grande’s full conversation with Vosk is available through Vosk in the City, the Broadway performer’s interview series, which has become known for its candid conversations and comedic approach. Vosk is best known for her Broadway work, including her turn as Elphaba in Wicked.
Watch the full interview below.