The previous few years could have been a whirlwind for Gracie Abrams however she’s having fun with each second, particularly all of the “firsts taking place on a regular basis.”
Although Abrams is kind of busy performing in sold-out venues on her headlining tour, which kicked off earlier this month, Abrams not too long ago took a while to talk with The Hollywood Reporter over Zoom about life, music and her aspirations… who wouldn’t love getting deep on a Monday morning?
However the “Shut To You” singer-songwriter, daughter of filmmaker J.J. Abrams, was gracious sufficient to supply a peek inside her life, which has seen loads of thrilling milestones in recent times, from releasing her debut album, Good Riddance, final yr and dropping her sophomore album, The Secret of Us, in June to opening for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour in 2022 (and she or he’ll be again when Swift returns to the U.S. later this yr) and now her Secret of Us Tour.
It’s loads for Abrams, and doubtless any 25-year-old, to wrap their head round in a brief timespan, but when one factor’s for sure, she’s simply “letting the enjoyable information” her on this wild journey.
“I believe I’m simply getting a greater really feel for all this in real-time always, as there’s a lot of firsts taking place on a regular basis,” the “I Love You, I’m Sorry” artist tells THR. “So I’m simply making an attempt to hear greater than I converse lately and soak up as a lot as potential. I really feel like a sponge.”
Under, Abrams will get candid about utilizing her platform to make a distinction, notably with the upcoming election (she’s beforehand endorsed Kamala Harris), her ardour for the songwriting course of, overcoming challenges and discovering pleasure within the silent moments, which has been “enlightening” for her.
9 months into 2024 and also you’ve already launched you’re second studio album and kicked off your new tour, what’s your response to this yr up to now?
Once I take into consideration this yr, I do take into consideration the method of creating the album first. It simply is form of what marked this previous yr for me as a result of it was such a shock. It actually got here out of nowhere. I didn’t assume I’d fall into the making of a brand new album as shortly as we did with this one after placing out Good Riddance only a yr in the past. My expectation for the method was that it might take much more devoted time and like planning, and there was one thing actually spontaneous and form of reactive in regards to the songwriting course of on this one and it was frantic in a means that I actually beloved feeling.
I assume being very stunned by what got here out after which having a very candy time form of following that, now being on tour and all the pieces that comes put up writing and recording and producing, as a result of that’s the place I really feel form of most myself within the context of the work of all of it. Every thing else I’ve had, due to what the method felt like, it’s been this actually form of candy North Star feeling to form of maintain on to after which comply with it. I’ve simply been form of letting the enjoyable information all the pieces else that’s come because the album’s been out.
Would you say every album is a brand new chapter and also you don’t need them to really feel the identical?
Yeah, I believe that’s true. Songs are roughly three minutes lengthy, you understand, they’re these tiny nutshell time capsules which might be humorous to form of like protect after which launch, I believe. I all the time, simply traditionally and I’ve not been doing this very lengthy, however each single time that I’ve put one thing out, it completely has felt like a chapter that I all the time form of discover myself typically guffawing about having preserved as a result of it may be… simply because an album exists, doesn’t imply it was like off the again of a five-year-long relationship. It may be one thing that lasted for 2 months after which is now what I might be performing for the following yr and a half straight on tour, so it’s humorous. I believe I’m simply getting a greater really feel for all this in real-time always, as there’s a lot of firsts taking place on a regular basis. So I’m simply making an attempt to hear greater than I converse lately and soak up as a lot as potential. I really feel like a sponge (Laughs).
Your music has related with so lots of your followers, however how has music helped you?
I’ve all the time turned to music first, as a spot to form of most instantly course of emotions or permit music by artists who encourage me, who transfer me to assist my private experiences, you understand, in my headphones. It’s simply all the time been that place for me. I don’t know, I believe that’s a extremely popular expertise, and perhaps corny to say, however it’s just like the place that I am going, you understand. All of my most formative reminiscences and experiences and relationships — I do know folks have like synesthesia and a few folks affiliate emotions with coloration — I’m identical to, I’ll keep in mind a breakup by the music that I listened to, to get me via it or I keep in mind transferring into faculty and listening to XYZ religiously or like the primary time I rode the subway on my own or no matter it’s, that form of factor, you understand what I imply? There’s by no means been a second that I haven’t leaned on music to make me really feel extra grounded, I suppose.
Would you say these private experiences inform your personal music?
All day, dude. I imply, the writing is what I really like probably the most. That’s like my past love. All of my experiences find yourself in my music, for higher or for worse (Laughs).
Is there a deeper which means behind the title of your album The Secret of Us, and in that case, may you share or is it a secret?
I adore it being up for interpretation to the listener. I actually really feel like my lyrics are typically so conversational and form of direct and to the purpose that it’s humorous to typically dig into the which means behind it as a result of typically it’s fairly actually like simply there. However with the [album title], I do know what it means for me. I used to be actually excited when the title got here up and it felt like a e-book title to me, and if I took myself out of it, I simply would need to know the key and I’d need to know the us and it made me get just like the form of butterfly, bubbly, electrical feeling (Laughs), in order that’s why it caught.
What music on the album would you say is most private to you?
For positive! I imply, they’re all… I’d say nothing is literal, like there’s thieves of fact in all the pieces. I believe one of many nice joys in regards to the means of penning this album is doing it with my greatest pal Audrey [Hobert], who’s such an incredible author outdoors of music as properly. She had by no means written music earlier than, however is such an epic author, all the time had one in all my favourite voices. And we grew up collectively, singing collectively, like on the bus on the best way to high school, making music movies to different folks’s songs once we have been in center college, writing tales in faculty collectively, like the entire thing. And it was a really pure development, although, fully sudden of our relationship to then have this collaboration in a, it doesn’t really feel skilled as a result of it was actually us — we’re roommates as properly — like at house on our sofa, form of like fucking round and making one another giggle and cry and having a good time.
My level in mentioning Audrey, except for identical to crediting her massively, is as a result of we obtained to weave our tales and our experiences and relationships into these songs in a means the place it was each of us being like in our mid-20s, actually reminding one another that we’re all going via the identical shit form of. And whereas they’re all very private to me, we’ve additionally constructed characters via these experiences that we’ve had. However quick reply to your query, “Free Now” is one which involves thoughts.
With a lot occurring in your life, particularly being on tour now, how do you disconnect from the world to calm down and reenergize your self?
Generally I received’t converse, like if I can get away with like not talking for a day. It’s humorous as a result of once you’re touring, vocal relaxation days are actually essential, in any other case you’ll pressure and get exhausted and blow it. However having these days constructed into my schedule has been enlightening as a result of I truly discover that going quiet helps me simply fully relaxation my mind as properly. So typically I simply received’t make noise in any respect for days (Laughs). In any other case, I simply preserve a whole lot of poetry in my [tour] bus, and in my baggage that I carry round there’s like free poetry in all places. [I’m] studying that always whereas on the street, I’ve all the time discovered it actually grounding. And I’m considering form of tour particular leisure strategies simply because that’s what I’m in the midst of proper now, however like hikes. We have been simply in Portland and I went on a very lovely hike, and I believe getting outdoors and being in precise nature, not simply going to love a exercise class, which I respect very a lot as properly and can benefit from after I can. However I personally love being outdoors with the bushes, like I really like being in nature. It simply makes me really feel higher each time. So on tour, it’s actually form of like this actually fortunate alternative to see extra of the nation than I usually get to and simply immerse myself as a lot as potential earlier than a present begins in like, “What’s the pure panorama? What’s the ecosystem of this explicit metropolis that we’re in? The place can we go hearken to birds and be with the fairies (Laughs)?” … As a result of particularly on tour, it’s such as you’re in darkish rooms, you’re on a bus otherwise you’re in a venue 99 % of the time. So it’s actually sick to have the ability to see the bushes, see the animals, get some air.
As somebody within the highlight, how do you discover the stability between your public and private life?
I really feel fortunate that I’m not at a degree the place I really feel like each time I am going anyplace or if I stroll outdoors, it’s not like the very first thing that involves thoughts in any respect. I don’t really feel just like the notion of any form of invasion of privateness, it doesn’t dictate the best way that I do something proper now actually. I’ve been extremely fortunate the place the massive majority of my experiences with strangers out on the planet, the very giant majority, has been beneficiant and type and heat and never wildly boundary-crossing. I believe the instances that I’ve skilled the opposite model of these sorts of interactions, it’s undoubtedly jarring and might really feel unsettling. I’ve undoubtedly felt like, whoa, holy shit, at instances. There’s simply this humorous line that’s perhaps not very humorous truly the place folks neglect that when you’re a stranger, you don’t lead with grabbing somebody or touching them first, you understand what I imply? There’s been cases like that the place I’m typically spooked, I suppose, however more often than not it’s simply actually variety, beneficiant, considerate, respectful people which might be beneficiant sufficient to care in regards to the music that I make and let me know that. However I really feel fortunate to not have or not it’s high of thoughts anytime I go away the home.
I believe the para-social relationships are actually freaky. They are often actually freaky and so they additionally will be such a big issue of what builds these actually lovely communities of individuals, particularly round music. And I can really feel that at exhibits, you understand what I imply? Like once we’re truly all in the identical place and I can see all people’s faces and I get these glimpses into their lives and it’s an actual privilege for me. And I believe it’s essential for everybody to do not forget that we’re all folks and everybody’s obtained their very own historical past and, yeah, grabbing folks on the street isn’t good or variety. So much less of that, however all the heat is so, so appreciated and I completely try to weave their [fan’s] generosity into my songs and tales. I take into consideration them on a regular basis, they’re such wonderful folks, so I’m very fortunate to know them.
Gracie Abrams performing.
Sarah Morris/Getty Pictures for The Recording Academy
Is there anybody significantly you look as much as within the business or somebody you’ll be able to lean on for recommendation?
The primary individual that involves thoughts is Ella [Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor], Lorde, who’s a very expensive pal and I simply love her as an individual a lot and I’ve all the time revered the best way that she’s navigated her profession from day one. She’s somebody that, once we do find yourself in the identical place and get actual time to catch up, I all the time go away feeling extra centered typically, particularly, all the time extra centered round tiny stressor in terms of the business or music or no matter. Even earlier than we have been good mates, the best way that she is aware of herself is infectious. So yeah, Ella is somebody that I all the time actually worth connecting with once we obtained to. She’s simply the fucking greatest and is only a hilarious human.
Figuring out so many younger ladies and different girls take a look at you as their function mannequin, what do you make of that and do you’re feeling any strain?
I’m so grateful that anybody could be underneath the phantasm that I do know what I’m doing in any respect. I believe it’s identical to I’m making an attempt to be extra intentional as I develop up with my phrases and my actions clearly. I don’t really feel prefer it’s strain in a destructive means. I believe it’s actually virtually a stupendous alternative for me to quiet myself extra even and be extra considerate about what it’s that I share and the way I select to assume.
And simply because it’s so topical simply being on tour proper now and with the ability to share areas with a whole lot of youthful people who find themselves so open, I all the time look out at a crowd and see the faces of the people who present up and I do genuinely have this sense of like, ‘Oh, I wanna be extra like them,” as a result of I’m actually moved by how they lean in, I suppose. I don’t assume strain is the proper phrase essentially. I believe I simply wanna be considerate about it as a result of I get to see them and I get to know them and in the event that they’re wanting as much as me for any cause, I need to attempt to present up in a means that may be significant for them.
You’ve all the time used your platform to advocate for what you stand for, notably with the upcoming election [Abrams has previously announced her endorsement for Kamala Harris], and inspiring folks to register to vote. Why is it essential so that you can converse out?
As a result of our nation is burning and since I get to face on an elevated floor each different evening for the following six weeks forward of the election this fall. There’s so many first-time voters at my exhibits and it’s actually fucking thrilling to have the ability to take part in our democracy whereas it nonetheless exists. So it’s a very wonderful alternative being on tour this yr, with the ability to companion with HeadCount and Deliberate Parenthood. I believe it’s so essential and actually, it makes a distinction to have the ability to have conversations head to head, and the reps from each HeadCount and Deliberate Parenthood are so wonderful at their jobs. The response from my viewers by way of precise participation on the exhibits, preshow registering to vote with their mates, it’s taking place and so it’s actually thrilling. It’s one of many causes that I’m most stoked to be on the street proper now’s the flexibility to talk face-to-face with the folks that can have a large say in the best way that this election goes, you understand what I imply? Like younger folks really want to point out up, so I believe all of us doing our half to guarantee that occurs is essential.
In case you may return and inform little Gracie one thing, realizing the place you at the moment are, what wouldn’t it be?
That like an important factor is the way you make any person really feel, like simply actually fascinated with that, and likewise to go simpler on herself most likely and likewise to place her cellphone away 99 % of the time.
Everybody faces their very own battles sooner or later in life so may you share one of many greatest challenges you’ve been capable of overcome to get to the place you at the moment are?
Everybody’s going via their very own shit in additional personal methods than most individuals can see. … I really feel like rising up, you’re studying about your self always and all the pieces is altering each 5 seconds, and my reply is way extra private than I truly actually want to get into, however I believe having grace with your self as you learn to be on the planet whereas additionally making an attempt to do the factor that you simply love. And realizing that folks will connect your title and your face to music and imagine you to be one factor when actually you’re feeling form of like a twister or a chameleon or a bizarre creature alien like morphing into herself in actual time.
I’ve not all the time had such thick pores and skin and I believe there’s this humorous form of relationship between being any person who’s within the public eye in any respect, the place what you hear on a regular basis is you need to have actually thick pores and skin, such as you gotta be powerful with a view to deal with x, y, z, but additionally as a author and an artist, it’s your job to even be uncooked and like lower open to all the pieces and to really feel all of it. And I believe balancing the 2 has at instances felt shockingly difficult. It’s a studying expertise and it’s a muscle and it’s form of like you need to work out how one can stability the 2 issues and I’m studying how to do this each single day. I’d not essentially say it’s the largest problem, however of the a number of paths of solutions that got here to thoughts, that’s what I can share.
I do know you’ve mentioned you’re having fun with this present chapter of life however do you ever take into consideration the place you wish to be in 5 years?
I’ve earlier than and it morphs on a regular basis, which I believe is cool. I really feel very open to the universe proper now, and by way of what I are inclined to chase, it’s all the time regardless of the feeling is that can lead me to writing what I’m most enthusiastic about. So I hope that the folks will nonetheless have me in 5 years and that I’ll be on a tour and that I’ll be actually thrilled about my album, no matter it seems to be like in 5 years. However I even have non-music associated targets (Laughs) that really feel equally if no more essential after I take into consideration the following 5 years. So who is aware of, actually? It’s all up for grabs.
If somebody requested you to explain what makes Gracie Abrams, Gracie Abrams, how would you reply?
I really feel curious and delicate day by day (Laughs). That’s my reply on Sept. 9, curious and delicate.
