In Conversation With #260 - Gretta Ray
Last month Gretta Ray released her golden new album ‘Positive Spin’ - a piece of pure pop delight that blends together love and heartbreak, growth and understanding.
The beats on Positive Spin are electrifying, holding time and building momentum for the lustre of the melodies and the power of Ray’s vocals. Seemingly effortless and often playful, Ray knows just when to be soft and conspiratorial, and when to soar; finding perfect pop-coated moments to lift you up again and again. The album's production strikes a delicate balance, blending textured layers of sound without feeling too busy.
Her debut album, 2021's Begin to Look Around captured the magical sound of an artist coming into the world. Positive Spin matches the energy and melodic-high of the successful debut with a new layer of complexity. Ray’s confidence, and capacity for reflection and grace resonate across her second full-length release. Positive Spin is charged with the rosy glow of “optimism… Songwriting is so therapeutic, and my way of moving through my emotions has been to put a positive spin on my experiences”.
She took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Gretta - how are you? So your album is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Hi! I’m really well thank you. It feels amazing and still a little surreal, having the album out in the world now! It’s been out for 2 weeks today, and I’m over the moon that people are finally getting to immerse themselves in the full album.
It is called ‘Positive Spin - what is the meaning behind that?
I called the album ‘Positive Spin’ due to my habit of always including some kind of silver lining in my songs - I’m quite a hopeful person and I think this is easy to recognise in the way I write lyrics. Even the songs on this album that are a little sad are still uplifting somehow, so that’s why I went with that name for the record.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
I wrote this album in London, America and Melbourne, but recorded the bulk of it in Melbourne last summer. We worked out of a studio in Collingwood, which is close to where I live. In between vocal takes or production sessions, we would often go and get lemon sorbet, or salad from this amazing cafe up the road… I was fortunate enough to make this album with some of the dearest friends and also band members! We had a lot of fun.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
I would say the key themes are honesty, ageing, self-reflection, confidence and romance. My debut album Begin To Look Around was very much a coming of age record, while Positive Spin to me feels like an arrival record - I have a much stronger sense of the artist I am now.
If the album could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Oooh great question! I think there are a few Barbie-coded songs on the album - the title track, as well as Upgraded feel particularly empowering. I also have a lyric in a song called The Cool Boy, ‘I’m the exception to the rule’, which is a direct reference to the romantic comedy ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ - so maybe something in that world!
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album - if so, which one and why?
I love the lyric ‘museum self-guided tours, music is mine and it’s yours’ in a song called You’ve Already Won. I wrote it about wandering around the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville - I was lucky enough to go twice last year. I loved going there on my own, buying a ticket and soaking up as much music history as I could. Being there is so inspiring, and puts a lot of things into perspective for me - I am reminded of why I started making music in the first place. I feel so proud to be even the tiniest part of the music world that holds such magnificence.
Now the album is out there - what next?
I have a headline tour this month, and hopefully with this album, I can play as many shows as possible. My big dream is to tour more regularly! Eventually I’ll start writing for the third album, but before then I think I need to refill the creative ‘well’ of inspiration, so I have fresh ideas to write about for whatever comes next. I’ve dedicated all of my time and energy to this album campaign - I think I need to go and get inspired again now.
