On September 26th, breakout pop star Molly Grace released her highly anticipated debut full-length record, Blush. Recorded between Nashville and Los Angeles, the album arrives on the heels of a highly successful year, with the release of her viral single “F.E.M.M.E.” and her extensive touring across the country. As she bopped across the country on the Lovesick and But I’m a Popstar tours, she began to tease tracks off Blush, including singles “Mad at Her Forever,” “Do Me (Feels So Good),” “Heaven Sent,” “Soprano,” and “WYKYK.” As the singles from the album accumulated, Grace’s vision and the album’s final form in terms of genre and production began to take shape. Blush is a showcase of Grace’s ability to balance upbeat, flirty, and empowering anthems with vulnerable, emotionally authentic ballads, bringing the lead-up of the last two years of Grace’s career full circle, and is a true triumph for the pop industry.
Blush is about being unapologetically in love with love. While the first half of the record focuses on the excitement and fun of loving another, Grace’s debut ultimately emphasizes the importance of self-love, particularly in recognizing when a relationship becomes unhealthy. The album is coherent and narratively interesting, as Grace enters and exits different types of relationships and learns from each of them. The first few tracks are sexy and charming with “Lemme” and “Do Me (Feels So Good),” and as the record progresses, we get Grace’s raw, emotional side and hear her vocals truly shine in “Wearing My Ring” and “Soft (Voice Memo).”
In a nod to how the album started, live on tour, Grace has also included clever, interactive aspects in her songs, as heard in the “Heaven Sent” bridge with a cheeky play on being biblically “saved” by queer love, and in the echoing callbacks during “Wearing My Ring,” which are even more fun to hear and participate in live.
As Grace embarks on a full North American tour this Fall, fans are eager to experience Grace at her very best. As displayed in her last few headline and festival performances at several Pride events this past summer, along with her first appearances at both Bonaroo and All Things Go in Washington, D.C., Grace’s tour team has pulled out all the stops for the Blush Tour, with specially designed custom costumes, whimsical makeup, and backup dancers.
Blush is a triumph of a record, and the Blush Tour is sure to entertain and exceed expectations. After all, Grace’s undeniable talent and charm are certainly best experienced live. With Blush, Grace has blossomed fully, ready to take her well-earned spotlight in the pop scene, proving she is here to stay.
Featured Photo Credit: Elizabeth Marsh