Gracie Abrams is back with a new single Risk, which previews the release of The Secret of Us, her second album coming out on June 21st.
The song is playful and fresher compared to what we are used to hearing from the singer. The production also stands out as different from her previous songs, despite continuing the collaboration with The National founder Aaron Dessner, the main producer of her first album Good Riddance.
The theme is unusual for the artist, as we usually listen to her talking about broken hearts like in the famous song I miss you, I'm sorry. In Risk, she talks about the phase before the start of a relationship, when you're completely head over heels and desperately wish for a happy ending.
Risk is a perfect summer song, both in terms of sound and theme. It also shows an artistic evolution of Gracie who has (finally, in some ways) set aside the whispered vocals, showcasing a beautiful tone that she hasn't always been able to highlight. The only downside is definitely the cover art, the yellow WordArt 2010-style font could have been avoided by choosing something more refined.
This past year has been intense for the singer, with the release of her first album, the task of opening the American dates for Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, her idol and source of inspiration, a personal tour that has taken her around the world with sold-out shows and competing for a as Best New Artist.
If The Secret of Us is indeed similar to this song, Gracie could have excellent chances of releasing a very successful album, and why not, perhaps end these months of satisfaction with another Grammy nomination.
You can listen to Risk here: