Gracie Abrams’s second studio album, “The Secret of Us,” was released on June 21. This album gives off a melancholic pop vibe and conveys the raw and vulnerable emotions and guilt of having crushes, going through breakups, and the adolescent experience. It also deeply illustrates the aspect of unrequited love – the sickening feeling of loving someone who doesn’t love you back.
Gracie’s debut album, “Good Riddance,” featured very downcast and sorrowful tracks, while “The Secret of Us” encompasses intense build ups with intimate lyrics. This is significant, as it shows that Abrams’ music has changed and reformed over time. Abrams tends to utilize a lot of piano and guitar in her music. However, her painfully truthful lyrics are the facet that grapples the audience’s attention, which can be displayed in the album.
According to The Stanford Daily, “‘The Secret of Us’ is a moving collection featuring some of Abrams’ best lyrics to date, leaving listeners feeling empowered to understand their emotions, let go of past pain and grow.” This statement discloses how important Abrams’ vulnerability within her music and words truly are to listeners.
While Abrams’ tends to lean towards a comforting, almost whispery way of singing, it is visible that she was making an effort to branch out of her comfort zone with this album.
Her previous works “Minor,” “This is What it Feels Like,” and “Good Riddance” all possess light and whispery words, while the vocals in “The Secret of Us” demonstrate a new level of intensity and passion. Not only this, but the production is much more bouncy and eccentric compared to her previous works. With a new perspective on abstraction and profoundness, Abrams’ proves that she is pushing herself with her music.
She represented this when she said, “We just had a good time realizing that we can make things that sound totally different. It was permission, this album, to try whatever we want.”
Thus, it is evident that Gracie Abrams has grown as an artist because of her enhanced vocal strength, attention to detail, and growth in maturity.
There are a number of tracks that distinctly stand out in this album, such as “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” This song was labeled a single on July 17, accompanied by its music video. It is a reference to Abrams’ hit song, “I Miss You, I’m Sorry,” which was released in 2020 in her debut “EP” (extended play), “Minor.” “I Miss You, I’m Sorry” is about regret and the pain of missing someone, while “I Love You, I’m Sorry” demonstrates acceptance and the prospect of letting them go.
As claimed by the The Stanford Daily, “One of the most compelling aspects of the album is how Abrams’ revisits and develops themes from her earlier work, showcasing her growth as an artist.” It is a very unique element that listeners find fascinating.
Abrams also had the privilege to collaborate with her role model Taylor Swift. I was overly thrilled and speechless when this was announced, as I admire the two artists. Both Abrams and Swift have a brilliant ability to connect to listeners with their music. “Us. ft. Taylor Swift” is an extremely emotionally compelling song that they composed together.
As stated by Aaron Dessner, Abrams’ producer, in a Billboard interview, “[This song] just brought everything into focus in a beautiful way.”
“Us. ft. Taylor Swift” is about a past relationship that burned down quickly without any closure. The collaboration was something fans have been waiting on for years, and the song definitely lived up to its standards. The lyric, “Do you miss the secret of us?” is truly what ties the entire record together, as it symbolizes the complete message of the album.
“Risk,” the lead single in “The Secret of Us,” is another song that particularly caught my eye, and it was the first taste that Abrams’ gave us for the album. “Risk” is about the excitement and uncertainty when it comes to falling for someone new. While Abrams’ previous works could be described as somber, “Risk” brings forth a new sense of vibrantness and intimateness. It also delves into how intense infatuation can be.
According to SPIN, Abrams’ states that the song is inspired by “the mania before you actually even know someone, where you get it all sick and twisted in your head and feel like you have a fever and can’t control your body and mind.” The theme of unrequited love appears again here, and “Risk” explains it further.
Gracie Abrams truly gave it her all with this album. The lyrics, production, and diversity show how much she has grown and changed over time. Her beautiful sense of melody and songwriting is expressed in every corner of “The Secret of Us.”
Abrams’ openness to trying new things with her production and sound is taking her farther than ever before. Her voice has also improved tremendously over time, enveloping more genuine emotion and maturity.
According to Atwood Magazine, critics state that “The Secret of Us” is “a capsule of songs that are as relatable as they are enjoyable to listen and sing along with.”
Overall, “The Secret of Us” definitely lived up to my expectations. In addition, Abrams’ has announced that the Deluxe version of “The Secret of Us” will be coming out very soon. I’m extremely excited for what music Abrams’ has in store for the audience in the future, and I’m sure it will not disappoint.
