Ariana Grande and Victoria Monét Hope for ‘Better Days,’ Honor Victims of Violence

Ariana Grande and collaborator Victoria Monét have shared “Better Days,” a melancholy but hopeful new song that looks forward to a less violent future.

“During this challenging time, we have to remember that the only way we will progress is if the overruling force is #Love,” Grande wrote on Instagram. “Too many precious lives were taken from us this week, this month, this year,” she continued, adding hashtags in memory of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and five police officers killed in Dallas on Thursday.

“I’m heartbroken by all of the recent tragedies the came as a result of hatred, racism and injustice,” Monét added on her SoundCloud. The singer-songwriter, 23, has previously co-written a number of songs for Grande, including Dangerous Woman tracks “Be Alright” and “Let Me Love You.”

The past week’s violence has inspired a number of artists, including Jay Z, Miguel, and ScHoolboy Q, to add their voices to the all-too-long history of music protesting racial injustice. Listen to Grande and Monét’s “Better Days” below and see Grande’s Instagram post below (via Rap-Up).

 

During this challenging time, we have to remember that the only way we will progress is if the overruling force is #Love. “Music is a universal language that all of us can feel regardless of color lines, gender, sexuality, age, race, religion…. it unifies us. We believe we can not fight hate with hate, only love. Just as we can not fight darkness with more darkness. Only Light.” Too many precious lives were taken from us this week, this month, this year. Rest in peace #AltonSterling. Rest in peace #PhilandoCastile #BlackLivesMatter. And the police that were peacefully guarding the #BlackLivesMatter rally in Dallas…. Rest in peace. #LorneAhrens, #MichaelKrol, #MichaelJSmith, #BrentThompson & #PatrickZamarripa. Stay strong and know that better days are coming… #BetterDays by Victoria + Ariana ..listen on @VictoriaMonet's soundcloud ♩

A video posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Jul 9, 2016 at 1:33pm PDT