MANILA, Philippines – Sugar, spice, and everything nice – you get very interesting results when you ask the ultra-talented Ariana Grande to collaborate with some of the best musicians today. (READ: Ariana Grande Playlist: 5 amazing covers)

On her newest album My Everything, she scored a coup with a formidable line-up of collaborators, which include OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder and One Direction’s Harry Styles.

Her soaring but sweet vocals perfectly pair with eclectic instrumentations – the aggressive synths and bass of EDM (electronic dance music), the cool beats of future R&B, and more. Her duets also meld different vocal textures together, so she and her collaborators often end up with unique and appealing creations.

As Ariana’s August 23 solo show at the Mall of Asia Arena approaches, we put the spotlight on a few of these sometimes-underrated masterpieces. Who knows, she might drop one of these tracks as a surprise performance for her Filipino fans.
 
“Adore” (with Cashmere Cat)

In this original work by electronic musician Cashmere Cat (a.k.a. Magnus Hølberg), Ariana’s warm, cruising vocals (reminiscent of early-90s R&B) glides over the Norwegian producer’s pulsating, genre-bending beats. We feel it’s an experiment-in-progress that has Ariana delving into underground sensibilities, and we should watch out for more.

Watch the “Ari x Cashy” collab performed live:

“Love Me Harder” (with The Weeknd)

Arguably the grittiest song on My Everything, “Love Me Harder” juxtaposes Ariana’s crystal-clear singing in contrast with The Weeknd’s (a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye) soulful pining. Influential music magazine Billboard deconstructs the song: “The driving guitar riff in the chorus is delicious 80’s cheese, and the Weeknd’s ultra-sincere crooning works well while serving as callbacks to Grande’s demands for romantic satisfaction.”
 

“Break Your Heart Right Back” (with Childish Gambino)

To some, Donald Glover was the sensitive jock Troy Barnes in the cult TV series Community, but to most people these days, he’s a singer and rapper doing cutting-edge work under the alias Childish Gambino.

Ariana’s retro-esque belting weaves in and out a sample of Motown legend Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out,” right before Childish Gambino serves up his slick verses.

Speaking backstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2014, the rapper recounts, “She came in; I was recording… And she was like, ‘That’s great! I love the tone of your voice.’ That was it, like she was very encouraging.”

Watch their surprise live performance at the said festival here:

“Popular” (with MIKA)

Ariana was once a Nickelodeon starlet, and her work with Lebanese-British musician MIKA on “Popular” channels some of the bubblegum, bouncy vibes that kind of recall those days.

Broadway fans recognize that the song’s hook has been inspired by the smash-hit musical Wicked. Upon closer look, the playful but edgy song also has an empowering message for the “bullied and unpopular,” according to examiner.com’s Marques Daniels.
 
“Break Free” (with Zedd)

Ariana’s voice serves as the uplifting hook for this no-nonsense, well-produced track from EDM stalwart Zedd. Talking to Billboard, she describes the song as “fantastic and super-experimental for me. I never thought I’d do an EDM song, but that was an eye-opening experience, and now all I want to do is dance.”

What are your favorite Ariana collabs? Share them with us below. – Rappler.com

Paolo Abad is a film/television editor and motion graphic designer. He is also a self-confessed concert junkie. Follow his Instagram for live music @outoftunephoto