Grace Davies – Wrong Side of 25
Grace Davies’ debut album The Wrong Side of 25 is more than just a debut project, it’s a defining milestone, years in the making.
This album is a bold, emotionally-charged body of work that showcases her growth as a singer, songwriter and producer. Packed with standout tracks and fierce honesty, it captures the highs, lows, and messy in-betweens of your twenties with lyrical precision.
Vulnerable, raw and fearless whilst stepping into her power, Grace Davies is her most authentic self yet. Grace has crafted a record that not only cements her as a rising pop force, but connects deeply with a generation figuring it all out in real time. With dynamic shifts from magical, haunting and heart wrenching ballads such as ‘I Hope I Never Live To Love Again’ and ‘Butterflies’ to floorfiller anthems like ‘Hotel Delilah’ and ‘Super Love Me’ – it is clear this album has something for everyone.
The Wrong Side of 25 is a collection of songs driven by painfully honest lyrics – detailing Grace’s fear of getting older, time moving too quickly and the difficulties we all face whilst realising adulthood. Alongside trying to stay afloat as an independent artist in a ferocious industry, and with TV talent shows branding anyone over the age of 25 ‘past it’, at the age of 28 Grace describes the overwhelming feeling of being ‘too old to be a pop star’ and her findings of life on ‘The Wrong Side of 25’.
The record’s 15 tracks take you on a journey of self-deprecation, self-awareness, self-blame and self-discovery. ‘Welcome to the Wrong Side’, the opening track is a drama fuelled instrumental piece which consists of emotional piano melodies and edge-of-your-seat string crescendos with cliffhanger reverbs. The track flows effortlessly into ‘Youngest That I’ll Ever Be’, an atmospheric, self confessional and unapologetic song – which Grace describes as her ‘overture’. The song invites us to take a deep dive into Grace’s personal life and sets the tone of the subject matter for the rest of the album. Grace sings ‘I tell myself I’m out of time, I’m scared I’ve crossed the finish line, now I’m on the wrong side of 25’.
Focus track ‘Hotel Delilah’ is packed full of clever sexual innuendos and dance breaks, highlighting in bold Grace’s fun-loving, playful writing style. With exuberant strings, 70’s disco basslines and even a trombone solo, the single is a brilliantly euphoric addition to the LP. A sonic follow up to her singles ‘Another Night’ and ‘Super Love Me’, with nods to ABBA and E.L.O and her love for anything orchestral, ‘Hotel Delilah’ is just one of 15 timeless pieces Grace has co-produced on this record – alongside classically trained producer Paul Whalley who is best known for his organic and live production style. Grace will also be sharing an exclusive music video for this single on 15th July.
‘Butterflies’, track 8, is an incredibly moving, poignant and delicate love song, written about her grandparents’ battle with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Starting with acoustic guitar, the minimal production is both meticulous and intimate, making space for the lyrics that come straight from the heart. Grace sings ‘When you’re tired of getting older / There’s creases ‘round your eyes for all to see and when memories disappear I’ll still hold them dear ‘cause butterflies don’t fly away with years’.
Losing years of her early twenties to COVID lockdowns, paired with being thrown into the spotlight at the start of that decade, Davies talks us through her life as a twenty-something, the good and the bad. She touches on her wrong-doings amid past relationships, the pressures on settling down and her incredibly personal mental battles – all while coming to grips with life being permanent and passing quickly.
‘Nothing’s Forever Baby’, track 10 on Grace’s album, is a stunning orchestral interlude with dramatic strings – building anticipation for conjoined twin song and self-help anthem ‘Look How You’ve Grown’. The track recalls Grace’s mental battles and notes how she deals with them, as she praises herself for moving through the tough times towards light at the end of the tunnel. Grace sings ‘Come on, try for me, fight for me / Keep getting better / Nothing’s forever baby, look how you’ve grown’.
Grace Davies’ debut album ends on ‘25’ – a power ballad with texture and depth showcasing her incredible vocal ability. Opening the way the first track on the record did with stunning, melancholic piano melodies – Grace has created a real bookend experience and full circle moment for the start-to-finish listeners. ‘25’ builds into a grand, climactic wall of sound – perfectly melting together bold kick drums and thick, heavy electric guitar. Finishing the album lyrically with its very own title, then heading into a larger than life brit-pop inspired instrumental, ‘25’ is the perfect “thank you Wembley and good night!” closer to a truly spectacular record. Singing ‘I’ve said it so many times I’m on the wrong side of 25. Am I being petty or petrified, on the wrong side of 25?’, ‘25’ sums up the album beautifully, accepting that the only way onwards is forwards.
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