Grace Gaustad – ‘Are You Happy’
Alongside breaking boundaries with their multimedia concept album ‘PILLBX: whts ur fantasy’, Grace Gaustad secures themselves as pop’s latest trailblazer with new single ‘Are You Happy’.
At only 21-years-old, Grace Gaustad has amassed an impressive global audience consisting of over 300,000 Spotify listeners and 220,000 TikTok followers, as well as recognition from some of the industry’s biggest names including Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger. Through bringing light to the experiences faced by young people and marginalised communities in the form of catchy pop hits, the LA-based artist quickly shot to fame. Since the success of their self-released debut album ‘BLKBX: wht r u hding’, Gaustad has caught the attention of music heavyweights in the likes of Billboard, HUNGER, Notion, and more.
‘Are You Happy’ is Gaustad’s second release of 2023, shortly following coming of age anthem ‘The Cloud’. Centring around the aftermath of a breakup, the new track explores themes of vulnerability and loss. The sound of the track is certainly not sombre though, with electronic instrumentation and infectious upbeat production which is reminiscent of 2010s Gaga. Raw and powerful leading vocals cleverly capture the emotional intensity of conflicting feelings following heartbreak, while providing an almost tangible sense of catharsis which is sure to resonate with Gaustad’s passionate fanbase.
Despite its deeper underlying meaning, ‘Are You Happy’ seems to be the perfect record to soundtrack a carefree night out, with a feel-good energy which is guaranteed to uplift the mood in almost any room. The infectious danceability of the track is showcased in the accompanying music video, which pictures Gaustad alongside Loren Gray and Katie Kelly in the middle of a booming nightclub.
With ‘PILLBX: whts ur fantasy’ culminating with a cinematic film this summer, as well as projects both in and outside of music already in the works, Grace Gaustad shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Words by Emily Savage
