GRAE‘s album, Whiplash, perfectly balances softness with strength. Her whispery vocals float over the dreamy melodies, but there’s an undercurrent of that edge that she’s known for.
The title, Whiplash, alludes to GRAE’s ever-changing emotions. “The album is so back and forth in emotion, but so am I,” GRAE states in a recent press release.
She says, “When you think you understand where I’m going with something, the mood changes, and everything is back at square one. It’s an album filled with so much self-reflection, love, heartbreak, and discovery.” It’s easy to sense the growth in this project, but also her
“Boxes” bring us right into the project and right into her emotions. GRAE wears her heart on her sleeve, but it’s like she’s self-conscious about it. She’s only letting out so much per song. It’s like peeling back the layers.
Tracks like “Spinning” and “Soft” sum up her sound; the lilting choruses and almost ASMR style vocals are at the forefront. It’s so effortless and lush. They perfectly set the stage, effervescent and light.
“I know I always seem to be crying,” she leads into the standout track, “Grenade,” and the melancholic lyrics lead into an explosive break. It’s a rollercoaster from start to finish. She’s looking for that one person to bring her out of the darkness, even if it’s just for a night. It’s not sustainable, it’s all going to blow up, but she accepts it.
She shifts her focus in “No Lovey Dovey,” a sunshiney, retro track where the mood change is very apparent. She leans into the fun aspect while still keeping the thread of vulnerability intact. Songs like “Room In The Dessert” add a layer of psychedelia and that trancey instrumentation that’s laced throughout this album. It’s hypnotic and otherworldly and gives space to the more emotional tracks.
“Don’t Know How to Girlfriend” is a fitting closer. A soft acoustic guitar backs her laments of deciding whether or not to confront her fear of intimacy. The song sums up the rollercoaster of emotions, the whiplash she faces. Does she dive into the relationship and accept love, or will she return to old habits and the independence she knows best? Either way, GRAE is ready for a new chapter.
