Gracie Abrams’ This Is What It Feels Like, is bedroom pop at its finest.
The 12-track EP encapsulates the confusion of young adult life as 22-year-old Abrams explores her emotions — touching on her own insecurities, the fears that come with getting older, and heartbreak, tied together with her warm vocals and strums of soft guitar.
Produced by Blake Slatkin, Aaron Dessner and Joel Little, This Is What It Feels Like embodies the feeling of laying in your bed with a pair of wired headphones on while thinking of everything that went wrong in your past relationship.
Abrams is the voice for Gen-Z, as she sings about the pressures of growing up today, all while making her claim to fame in the industry from creating music in her bedroom during the pandemic with her first EP minor.
This EP opens with “Feels Like,” which begins with a hushed sigh and kicks off with Abrams’ soft vocals and romantic lyrics; the chorus ends with, “Met you at the right time, this is what it feels like.”
Taking inspiration from the likes of Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and even Lizzy McAlpine, Abrams builds to a powerful bridge with her vocals sounding almost plea-like. It’s a song for reminiscing.
In fact, the whole album is a form of self-reflection.
“The Bottom” shows Abrams’ honesty, as she describes that a relationship might fail due to her being the problem. One of the few faster-paced songs on this track, the song’s steady percussion coupled with snapping, clapping and strummy guitar is the song for dancing in your room or driving into the sunset with the windows down.
In contrast, “Camden,” also a vulnerable track from Abrams, slows things down again as she delves into her multiple insecurities regarding self-image and her need for validation from others. The lyrics, “I only talk into the mirror, I’m only scared of getting bigger,” are backed with a simple, twinkly piano progression, allowing the lyrics to stand out.
Track number three, “For Real This Time,” is relatable in every sense, as Abrams confesses that she struggles with staying firm in her decision-making when it comes to leaving a relationship. Abrams swears she’s “for real this time,” as a synthesizer and bass add to the dramatic build-up in the second half of the song.
“Augusta,” track number 10, is a dreamy song with strong imagery. Abrams sings to a folksy guitar pattern about looking for a change in the chaos of life. Its sound and overall style are reminiscent of Passenger’s “Riding to New York.” The lyrics, “Heard a poem about mid-October/How the leaves in the fall feel like closure,” are some of my favourite from the entire album, as it perfectly grasps the feeling of nostalgia.
“Augusta” is the song you listen to while riding a bike across a pebble beach on a chilly fall day — and you’re wearing an oversized cable knit sweater too.
While “Wishful Thinking” and “Better” are catchy tunes with funky intros and echoey outros, tracks like “Rockland” and “Painkillers” made me fall in love with this album.
“Rockland” is raw and real as Abrams exposes that she truly isn’t ready to give up on a past relationship in an indie, folklore way. This song is the first collaboration between Abrams and producer Aaron Dessner, who also produced Swift’s Grammy-winning album.
Meanwhile, “Painkillers” has the most captivating outro that makes you take a step back and appreciate the music. Its barely-there piano works well, as the emotional lyrics themselves create a lonely, empty atmosphere.
This Is What It Feels Like is an emotional rollercoaster. With its highs, lows and everything in between — it’s the soundtrack to any twenty something-year-old’s life.