“The saddest part is I understand why you weren’t there” is one of the many lines from Gracie Jean’s brand-new debut album that pinched my heart. I wouldn’t say that I’m a great fan of country music, but through a raw and almost childlike honesty, the Australian singer-songwriter found her way into my heart almost instantly.
Combining folk and country influences with current indie pop music trends, Jean manages to bring a breath of fresh air to a genre that is rather difficult to revitalize. With a long history of great artists, you can’t help but wonder if everything there is to say about folk music has already been said, but Jean proves me wrong and reminds me that the secret to this kind of music is simplicity, and that high-quality pure music from the heart never goes out of style.
Embodying emotions of sadness, whether it’s due to failed romance or tough life experiences, the singer-songwriter relates to her listeners with an album she dubs a ‘sad girl starter kit’: “I really wanted to convey the idea that it’s okay to feel sad, and to voice that sadness. I think often people tend to try and avoid all sad feelings. We put on masks and we ‘switch off’ the sadness when we interact with one another”, Jean openly shares.
It’s clear that music has been Jean’s outlet throughout life’s challenges. Dealing with clinical depression, the artist manages to take all these difficult emotions and turn them into something beautiful – something that can speak to those who may be going through hard times themselves.
With a simple but soaring production to match the vulnerability of her vocals, the artist shares an impressive and expressive body of work that I truly recommend.
Listen to ‘Romance Is Band’ by Gracie Jean on Spotify now:
