GRACIE ABRAMS

This Is What It Feels Like

Article

by Hannah Crouch

Gracie Abrams released her second EP ‘This is What It Feels Like’ in 2021, following her first project ‘minor’ Exploring a mixture of raw emotions, Abrams has crafted a track list with vulnerable lyricism and an intimacy which makes listeners almost feel like they know the singer personally I have picked This is What it Feels Like for my album review, as I believe it can perfectly accompany anybody facing daunting new beginnings

The first track ‘Feels Like’, from which the EP coined it’s name, expresses a feeling of a new love and the naivety that can bring. With lyrics such as “I would do whatever you wanted; we don't have to leave the apartment” Abrams opens up about her seemingly happy relationship However, this is quickly juxtaposed in the second track “Rockland” (a personal favourite) in which the singer states “Bet you wish you never even met me/ I don’t blame you, broke your every heartbeat”- it’s clear here that the situation is much more complex than was once presented Even the bright piano and upbeat chorus in Feels Like mellows to a fingerpicked guitar and soft vocals in Rockland Gracie Abrams conveys almost every emotion throughout this track list meaning almost anyone can find comfort in her relatable experiences

This is What it Feels Like has also been heavily influenced by producer Aaron Dessner, known for his rustic folk sound This can be heard in ‘Rockland’, ‘Camden’, ‘Hard to sleep’ and ‘Augusta’ - some of the more melancholy tracks on the EP Their musical partnership is to be continued in Gracie’s debut album ‘Good Riddance’ to be released on the 24th of February 2023

My favourite songs on the EP are ‘Alright’ and ‘For Real This Time’, both carrying the weight of entering a new beginning. ‘Alright’ opens with a simple fingerpicked guitar melody which floats throughout the entire song, leaving Abrams’ vocals isolated and clear The singer pleads for reassurance in the recurring lyric ‘someone tell me it gets better’, a feeling understood by most listeners when venturing into a unfamiliar new beginning Although being one of the shortest songs on the EP, only 2 minutes 24 seconds long, ‘Alright’ ends the track list with a perfect taste of what Gracie Abrams’ is known for – her honesty and vulnerability

‘For Real This Time’, however, offers a more upbeat sound, almost encouraging listeners to dance along Abrams uses this song to explain her actions within a relationship - ‘I’ve packed my bags in the middle of the night’ ‘I’ve taken down all the pictures in my room’, which have empowered the singer to move on and move forward into a new beginning