With the countless young adult singers that have made themselves a name recently, getting lost in the many names and songs becomes very easy. Notably though, on October 18th Gracie Abrams released the deluxe version of her greatly loved album The Secret of Us. Released amid her concert, the album includes four songs alongside the original thirteen. 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, despite her father’s fame as a filmmaker, Gracie Abrams pursued a career in music. This was inspired by growing up playing piano and a fascination with writing from her third-grade teacher. This was followed by Gracie Abrams using social media as a digital diary with short clips of songs she wrote. As an amateur during this point, her voice was whispery and the songs were not release-quality. A song most notable from those short clips is “Close to You,” which finally found its place in The Secret of Us. Beforehand, many fans requested several times for the song to be released (Vogue). Gracie Abrams’s popularity would increase further when she opened for Taylor Swift’s iconic Eras Tour in 2022. 

Gracie’s music from her debut has been defined as bedroom pop, giving it a more laid back feel. The Secret of Us embraces that atmosphere with songs like “Blowing Smoke” and “us. (feat. Taylor Swift).”Among these popular releases from the original, the deluxe has new songs such as “Cool,“ ”That’s So True,” “I Told You Things,” and “Packing It Up.”

“Cool” explores the indecisiveness of how to feel following a crushing break-up, and coping with the heartbreak by appearing cool and unbothered after giving too much to someone who didn’t deserve it. Although Gracie isn’t as cool and unbothered as her facade makes her out to be, she appears to be making steps toward healing. “That’s So True” follows Gracie’s experience of her hyper-fixation on her ex’s new girlfriend, following a bitter split with someone she would’ve fought for. “I Told You Things” expresses the grief of sharing unspoken thoughts with someone she yearns to return to. In the end, she regrets the vulnerability she shared with her lover and the fantasies she dreamed of him. Finally, “Packing It Up” is about being on the verge of giving up on love when someone appears and it seems everything makes sense. It’s a beautiful song that describes the hope of a blooming relationship that appeared out of nowhere, yet it looks so perfect. 

On her first listen, Krishaa Seth (10) finds, “My first thought about The Secret of Us (Deluxe) album by Gracie Abrams is the improvement on her songwriting. I thoroughly enjoy listening to her creative and thoughtful lyrics, especially for the bridges of her songs. While I don’t like the live version of “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” the live version of “I Knew It, I Know You” is a song that captivates its listeners and forms a personal connection. All in all, the deluxe version of The Secret of Us is an inspiring and thought-provoking album to listen to.” Overall, the album is perfect when you’re in your feels and need something to listen to while leaning out the window to enjoy the view.