- Words Notion Staff
Grace Kay’s newest single channels biting humour and synth-pop shine to unravel the cost of self-erasure.
On her new single ‘What You Wanted’, Los Angeles-based artist Grace Kay hits a new stride: playful, poised, and pointedly self-aware. Released via Trailing Twelve Records, the track delivers the kind of glossy pop that leaves a bruise.
Built on a bed of groovy drums, tight live bass, and shimmering synths, ‘What You Wanted’ walks a fine line between charm and confrontation. Grace’s voice – both sonically and lyrically – skims with levity while cutting into the deeper ache of people-pleasing. It’s pop with teeth, interrogating the moments we shape ourselves to fit someone else’s expectations, and the liberation in finally refusing to shrink.
Grace’s knack for narrative stems from a background in acting at USC and a childhood steeped in female-led spaces. That lineage – equal parts emotional depth and unapologetic empowerment – runs through her work, which often draws comparisons to MUNA, The Japanese House, and Caroline Polachek. Grace’s sound is gaining a foothold in both the indie and mainstream arenas. ‘What You Wanted’ marks a shift: a reclamation of self with synths, satire, and style to spare.