Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Gracie Abrams, Interscope Records/Universal Music 2020.
Gracie Abrams is new to me so I’m not one of the 290K who have already watched her video clips or part of the 10 million who have streamed her songs.
These are impressive figures for a 20 year old who has just released her first extended work.
Minor is her debut EP and it’s a mature introduction from a new artist.
Three of the EP’s seven tracks have already been released as singles: 2I; Miss You I’m Sorry; and Long Sleeves and they have garnered quite a lot of interest from the music press.
NME hailed Abrams’ songs as “painfully honest tales of heartbreak draped in delicate melodies that carry much more intrigue than the usual run-of-the-mill singer/songwriter.”
And i-D noted that her voice “cradles the power to break even the toughest heart.”
She has already been named as one of the seven female artists to watch by Pigeons & Planes, Fader and i-D.
The title track to the EP was written by Abrams when she was 17 years old (she claims that she actually wrote her first song when she was eight) and it’s a bittersweet, even raw, outpouring that reflects the intense self-reflection and honesty of her lyrics.
There is a vulnerability that is conveyed not only in her lyrics but also through her presentation.
Her vocals are intimate and she can move easily from quiet and introverted to expressions of resignation and on to displays of strength and determination.
She has an impressive versatility in her vocals that is quite surprising for one so young.
Musically she’s a blend of acoustic singer/songwriter, pop, and indie/folk.
The backing contains a lot of space to allow us to concentrate on her impressive lyrics.
I concur with the aforementioned experts.
Gracie Abrams is going to be a voice to be reckoned with.
