Gretchin’s golden formula glistens on debut EP ‘When I Was 19’
With blunt honesty and intense relatability, Gretchin’s first EP is the epitome of punchy pop.
Photo: Jody Evans
Capturing the daydreams, loneliness and mental Olympics of living through your early twenties, Gretchin’s debut EP When I Was 19 is an angelically angsty coming-of-age story that listeners can’t help but relate to.
Beginning with the punchy pop tune Petals, the Londoner embraces nostalgic chord progressions, otherworldly musical phrases and breathy vocals to combine the magical with the comfortable in a nostalgic and optimistic ode to being twenty-something. Best described as the perfect opener to the EP; the track candidly establishes the record as a love letter to the ups and downs of growing up, keeping one eye on the past whilst still acknowledging that dreamy magical feeling of having your whole life ahead of you.
Yet through their lyrics, they also draw attention to the discomfort that this period of growth brings, particularly in the fun and playful track 19, which acknowledges what it’s like feeling like a child whilst your friends get mortgages or have babies: “living with my parents, still felt like a kid / 25 now and I don’t feel any older.”
Equipped with such blunt honesty and intense relatability, the record genuinely establishes Gretchin as a songwriter for the younger generations. They continuously come across as an in-touch and assured artist, knowing exactly when to alter the record’s tone with deliciously weighty tracks like Send Me Your Lover, and when best to let their chest voice shine alongside more sensitive soundscapes.
When I Was 19 is truly a golden combination of spirited melodies and candid lyrics, which allows Gretchin to weave a vivid tale of finding yourself, getting your heart broken and struggling with the fear of being left behind; all the while confidently showing their pop potential.
When I Was 19 is out now via The Den Music.