When I was a teenager (and maybe you, too) I used to sing along to the radio and think “I sound just like the record!” In actual fact, I sounded like the prepubescent kid I was, which I realized when my little brother went through the same phase. But occasionally you encounter a young artist who has a voice and persona way beyond their years. Current artists I’d place in this category are Sophie Dorsten, Abigale Fierce and now Ann Gray.
Ann Gray is a Norfolk, Virginia singer/songwriter of high school age who’s just released two singles: “No Good Partier” and “Top Fifteen.” She’s well on her way to success, having already won the 2021 Tastebreakers Music Contest while her debut EP Foolish received great reviews and a Veer Music Award nomination for “Best Acoustic / Folk.” Besides her recent singles she also released a full length album in January 2023 titled The Half Of It. The title of “No Good Partier” is already interesting: is Gray calling somebody a “no-good partier” or is she saying there’s no such thing as a “good” partier? As the lyrics kick in there’s a chance she means both, as she mentions: “My friends are now on the floor… wasted a week getting wasted.” Musically the song is built on a subsonic, digital dance beat with low, swirling synths very much of the ’80s school. As previously mentioned, Gray has a voice of grit and substance way beyond her years, similar in some ways to Sophie Dorsten or even Nanna from “Of Monsters and Men.” The instruments mainly stick to a descending four-note motif with subtle variations, giving Gray plenty of space to roam around and explore the melodic possibilities, with a few well-placed harmonies for variety. There’s also some subtle humor in Gray’s lyrics: “I feel bad for the parents who have to clean this up!” As the song moves on, Gray declares herself to be “the no-good partier, the designated driver… (it’s) obvious I’m no expert at this stuff.” This is a very witty, evocative description of the kind of party most of us hope never to visit again (but probably will). “Top Fifteen” is a major stylistic change to “upbeat indie pop.” Gray describes this song as being about “a toxic, annoying audacious Ex” who has the temerity to rate the narrator as a “Top Fifteen, but Top Ten if she’s wearing a skirt.” That’s a really clever lyrical conceit, and nicely explains the cover photo of the artist quizzically regarding herself in a large mirror. Gray handles vocals (natch) with John Terrell on guitars and bass and JJ Bowers on drums. Terrell also recorded the track at Soul Haven Studios in Virginia Beach, with mastering by Izzy McPhee at Weird Jungle Studios. The vocals are again quite accomplished, and I personally enjoy this style of breezy pop rock, conjuring happy memories of Michelle Branch and her contemporaries. It seems Gray is more interested in building a solid base for her vocals instead of messing around too much with her musical structures, and she’s more than deserving of that spotlight. But her musical team of Terrell and Bowers also acquit themselves nicely, laying a solid groundwork over which Gray can shine. It’s always exciting to find a new artist with a truly unique take on what could be fairly common themes. Get in her camp early because this young lady is going places!
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