Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Grace Amos, Kaos 2022.
Grace Amos is a singer/songwriter from Sydney and Kiss You ‘Til I’m Sober could be her breakthrough single.
It’s already clocked up thousands of streams in its first week, so it’s caught the ear of the music consumer.
This impressive track opens with an insistent heavy drum beat that simulates the heightened sexual tension of an impending romantic encounter.
It’s certainly quite a departure from Grace’s acoustic roots.
There’s a rawness to Kiss You ‘til I’m Sober that suggests Grace’s up-coming debut EP will see her heading in a new popish, and rockier direction.
As a lead single it’s a beauty, loaded with hooks that make it particularly radio friendly, and I’m sure it’ll get plenty of airtime.
The song describes the moments of anticipation leading to a romance and in part it’s a mix of Grace’s own personal experiences and her imagination.
She explains that: “It’s kind of a fever dream… After going through a really bad breakup at the end of January, I wanted to write a song that was not about my ex or the breakup, but about me moving on from it.”
There has been a spate of songs that have arisen out of heartbreak recently, most of them written by young women, many of whom are still in their teens (Grace is only 18).
Some are heart wrenching, some lost in despair, some filled with anger, but few are as raw, edgy, sexy, and filled with desire as Grace’s effort.
The power of Grace’s vocals over such a dark and brooding backing track suggest that the soft and gentle young starlet has given way to a siren.
One who is channelling Chrissy Amphlett, Alanis Morrissette, or Debbie Harry.
It’s a change that I like.
With a song like this and a great backing band behind her we could be witnessing the birth of another rock goddess.
The EP is due for release later this year.
In the meantime, give this track a listen, listen out for other tracks, and look out for Grace Amos who will be playing the festival circuit.
