Ariana Grande says her song “Petal” reflects a darker, more intense side of her that she does not usually show. In comments reported by Billboard and NME, Grande describes her typical approach as rewriting lyrics and “mak[ing] things a little kinder,” explaining that she often filters her material before releasing it. For “Petal,” she says she did not apply the same level of filtering and rewrites. Grande characterizes the writing process as coming from “unfiltered rage,” describing it as a more direct expression than her usual, more tempered way of crafting songs. Billboard frames this as showcasing a side of her the public has “never seen before,” while NME emphasizes Grande’s statement that she “didn’t filter as much as I usually do.”
Across both outlets, the central point is Grande’s own account that “Petal” is the product of less-edited, more raw emotion during its creation, specifically anger. The reports do not detail lyrical content beyond her description of the creative process.
