Gray started uploading videos to YouTube in 2013 at the age of nine, completely oblivious to the fact that he would one day explode in popularity. 10.Editor’s Note: This article is a review and contains subjective opinions, thoughts and critiques.Ĭonan Gray’s sophomore album “Superache,” released on June 24, takes us through the longing and loss the 23-year-old experienced in the past years and shows his evolution as an artist since the debut of his 2020 album “Kid Krow.” You can see Conan Gray live in the Oakland Fox Theatre on Dec. Keep an eye out for Gray in the future - he represents the next generation. Gray’s power to understand and channel Gen Z’s frustrations, insecurities, and hopes into music is the main reason why he has skyrocketed to fame and will continue to rise. But, these songs understand that fear and promise that there is a greater future on the horizon. I will have to leave behind my friends, family, and all the physical reminders of the memories that we made. I’m nearing the end of my childhood experience and will, at some point, have to leave the nest and tend to adult responsibilities like taxes, bills, and higher education. I will admit, as a high school senior, the closer graduation gets, the more the old Conan Gray songs speak to me.
“Checkmate” is a revenge-bop worthy of the most jilted lovers, and yet, it manages to do so without coming across as psychotic or, perhaps, too jilted. The first of this transition was “Checkmate.” Gray’s signature style of genuineness tinged with rebelliousness remains apparent without his trademark suburban nostalgia, marking a new era of growth for the singer. “Lookalike” showcases Gray’s narrative skills reminiscent of Red-era Taylor Swift, and Gray does a stellar job of increasing the intensity of the lyrics with the swell of the melody, culminating in a classic heartbreak song for generations to come.Īfter the release of “Sunset Season,” Gray began to evolve his sound, pivoting from dream pop to pop-rock. With minimal production, Gray’s vocals and lyricism truly shine through. The EP opens with “Idle Town,” which perfectly captures the teenage desire to spread one’s wings and explore the outside world.Īnother personal favorite of “Sunset Season” is the song “Lookalike,” a soulful ballad about lost, unrequited high school love.
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Gray has a special knack for capturing Gen Z’s frustration and disgust with the world today and turning it into a relatable narrative about breaking free from suburbia, representing the constricting confines of the status quo.Įvery track of Gray’s debut EP, “Sunset Season,” speaks to a different part of adolescence. And “Crush Culture,” a pop, rebellious song, exposes America’s obsession with love - and Gray’s distaste for it. His song “Generation Why,” serves as a plaintive rallying anthem for millennials and older Gen Z-ers who feel ignored and belittled in today’s political discussions. Part of the magic of Gray’s earlier works is the sense of coming-of-age nostalgia apparent in each song. Then, it all changed in 2017 when Gray released “Idle Town.” It quickly became a hit and, later that year, Gray was accepted to the University of California Los Angeles and signed a record deal with Republic Records. For the next three years, Gray would continue to grow his YouTube channel, talking about college life, vlogging, and amassing an army of subscribers in the process.
Gray started his music career innocuously, first posting covers on his YouTube channel in 2014. In the past two years, Gray has skyrocketed to stardom. in 2019.įrom a small town in Texas to playing in stages nationwide, Conan Gray has come a long way. Conan Gray 2019 / Lucy Films / Wikipedia Commons / CC BY 3.0Ĭonan Gray performs at U Street Music Hall, Washington, D.C.
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