Pale Waves takes a different route on ‘Who Am I’? in comparison to their earlier releases.
Manchester-based quartet Pale Waves open up about mental health, love and sexuality in their latest album ‘Who Am I?’. An incredible album written by the front womxn artist Baron-Gracie which consists of 11 tracks. Album cover finds drummer Ciara Doran, guitarist Hugo Silvani and bassist Charlie Wood.
Pale Waves were originally named Creek and they were formed in 2014 when drummer Ciara Doran met Heather Baron-Gracie while attending BIMM Manchester.
‘Who Am I?’ starts with the lead single ‘Change’, a nostalgic catchy tune where the singer Baron-Gracie expresses her frustration towards the behaviour of the person that she loves due to the high expectations. ‘Change’ is about a heartbreak and how being in the wrong type of love can break you as a person. Baron-Gracie’s vocals are full of passion and emotion. It’s clear that the artist was inspired by the Canadian pop-rock artist Avril Lavigne on this song.
The band’s first album ‘My Mind Makes Noises’ was influenced by the 80’s music. But not this album. ‘Who Am I?’ calls back to the 90’s and 2000’s, hence why most songs on the album may sound like Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift and Liz Phair.
"'She's My Religion' is one of the darkest sounding songs in the album where singer-songwriter Baron-Gracie opens up about her sexual orientation."
‘She’s My Religion’ is one of the darkest sounding songs in the album where the singer-songwriter Baron-Gracie opens up about her sexual orientation. Despite picking up the darkest sides of her relationship, lines like, "she’s cold, she’s dark, she’s cynical, she’s forever angry at the world, she’s no angel, but she is my religion," shows the importance of her partner in her life, as she has helped her to accept herself. The front womxn of the English indie pop-rock band, Pale Waves reveals a more personal side of her which represents the LGBTQ community.
The growth of Pale Waves is undeniable, the band have perfected their sound by stepping out of their comfort zones.
Songs like ‘Easy’ has demonstrated the band’s versatility. ‘Easy’ is different compared to the types of songs that Pale Waves have been producing, it sounds like Avril Lavigne on her lower tone and doing the falsetto voice. This song has some late 90’s going into 2000’s vibes. In the song, Baron-Gracie describes how easy is to love the person that she is in love with despite living on a sour world, and how her partner makes it sweet for her.
"Sexuality isn't a choice."
‘Who Am I’? may feel like a love declaration album but ‘Tomorrow’ an impact pop-punk song says otherwise. On this song, the front womxn Baron-Grace describes how society expects you to be a certain way and she tries to say that it is okay to be different and to also love someone from the same sex. ‘’Sexuality isn’t a choice’’, ‘’Don’t listen to society’’ and ‘’Don’t let anyone say it’s wrong’’ are versus that artist uses to advocates the importance of the LGBTQ relationships.
"The song tells the story of how society judges womxn on a daily basis expecting them to act, look and behave in a certain way."
And yet the song ‘You Don’t Own Me’ portrays the powerful manifesto empowered by independent womxn. The song tells the story of how society judges womxn on a daily basis expecting them to act, look and behave in a certain way.
"I’d rather pull out my teeth than be what you want me to be", "Don’t show too much skin" and "Don’t cut your hair too short, cus' it looks better straight and long."
Following by the songs ‘Run To’ and ‘Who Am I?’ last two songs of the album, the singer Baron-Gracie opens up about her mental health problems and expresses how she feels in both tracks.
Baron-Gracie sounds stronger than ever across the 11 tracks and communicates an important message that society needs to hear. She embraces her sexuality in an open way so people in the same situation can relate to her and feel comfort in it while listening to the album.