Australian indie pop sensation Gretta Ray is back with her sophomore album, Positive Spin. Her viral cover of Billy Joel’s ‘Vienna’ has provided Ray with an already solid fan base that spans the globe. Riding off the high of her first sold out headline tour and supporting Sam Fender in her home country, Ray feels settled as a woman in pop which can be seen through her honesty that is showcased on this album. Positive Spin solidifies Ray’s masterful lyricism and makes her an artist to watch out for in the future.
The album starts off with its title track, a song that perfectly sets the reflective yet accepting tone of the album. The slow opening to the number allows Ray’s unique vocals to take centre stage alongside her witty lyricism and makes the build up to the peppy chorus that more exciting. The song’s lyrics remind listeners to find the silver linings in difficult situations, similarly to how Ray will in the following tracks: “Embrace a new era / Sink your teeth in / See what you get out of putting a positive spin / On it”. The heavy drum beat mixed with the futuristic synths make ‘Positive Spin’ a brilliant opener to Ray’s pop-focused album.
‘Upgraded’ is not your usual heartbreak anthem like most of the tracks on Positive Spin. The prominent bassline and light synths that back the morbid first chorus highlight that Ray is moving on from this mysterious ex-lover. Ray details her focus on music and bettering her career in order to get arguably the best kind of revenge on her ex: “your ex-lover’s indie pop song’s playing / She’s upgrading”. The airy pop sound of the track provides the perfect instrumental to a song about moving on from a relationship.
‘Nobody Here’ and ‘Heartbreak Baby’ provide listeners a breather from the high energy tracks on Positive Spin. The slightly more stripped back instrumentals of ‘Nobody Here’ gives Ray’s vocals time to shine with her hitting both impressive high notes and utilising her lower register to its fullest. The addition of strings into the second chorus creates drama and makes ‘Nobody Here’ an addictive listen. ‘Heartbreak Baby’ is the Olivia Rodrigo-esque break up track that can easily be screamed on a late night drive. Whilst being in her mid 20s now, Ray is still able to capture the feeling of being a broken hearted teenager that younger fans will relate to.
‘Dear Seventeen’ is one of the stand-out tracks on the album with its contemplative lyrics. Its Taylor Swift-like acoustics and musings on girlhood are sure to make this track a fan favourite. In this letter to her seventeen year old self, Ray details some of the difficulties she has faced in her music career but how it was all worth it in the end: “Dear seventeen, reality’s you don’t make money / It’s never been enough to make you want to throw in the towel, honey”. ‘Dear Seventeen’ will act as a comfort blanket to any young person that may feel a little lost in the world and is a reminder that good things come to those that wait.
The peppy tunes make a comeback with ‘Don’t Date The Teenager’, a track about Ray’s past toxic relationship with an older man. Despite the morbid tone of the lyrics, the song is a pop banger with its catchy bassline and rhythmic lyricism. The track that’s placed at the centre of the album definitely gives the album a little energy boost.
In the middle of life’s chaos, Ray reminds listeners to take a step back and enjoy the little things in life with ‘You’ve Already Won’. The track’s frantic rambling lyrics match the fast pace of daily life until it reaches its climax that leads into the chorus in which the song’s message becomes clear: “Breathe it in / Soak it up / All it is / All at once”. ‘You’ve Already Won’ encapsulates the energy of the LP and its concept of looking for the silver linings in everything by stopping to appreciate every aspect of life.
The album ends with a collaboration between Gretta Ray, British pop sensation Maisie Peters, and close singer-songwriter friend Carol Ades. ‘America Forever’ is a love letter to one of Ray’s musical homelands. With a lot of Positive Spin being written in America and inspired by the energy she feels there, it is unsurprising that she has an entire song dedicated to it. Peters and Ades’ vocals blend perfectly with Ray’s country tone without overpowering her. The trio’s ability to match each others’ musical energy would be wasted if they did not continue to collaborate together on future projects.
Positive Spin does exactly what it says on the tin; it searches for the silver lining in any type of difficult situation. By sharing her deeply personal experiences, Ray creates an almost big sister persona for her younger fans with the album acting as a guide for any teenager. Whilst Ray does not stray from the indie pop sound of the album much, this works for the overall message of the record.
Gretta Ray has definitely made a name for herself in the indie pop scene and Positive Spin will only reaffirm this.
Words by Amy Britton
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