https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/02/gracie-abrams-good-riddance
Gracie Abrams, the voice behind TikTok famous song “I Love You, I’m Sorry”, is an up and coming indie-pop singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, California. Since the release of her first single “Mean It” in 2019, Abrams has come out with three albums (“This is What it Feels Like”, “Good Riddance”, and “The Secret of Us”) and one EP (“minor”).
Even before the singer broke through on TikTok, her music was steadily gaining traction in the alternative music scene. Abrams’ soft voice and dreamy ambiance carries throughout her songs, and has stayed constant throughout her music career thus far. Her melancholic yet comforting lyrics attracted a wide audience of teenage girls, who relate to Abrams’ take on heartbreak, regret, and love.
Additionally, the singer rose in popularity when she opened for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour, before going on her third world tour. In the fall of 2024, her song “I Love You, I’m Sorry” took TikTok by storm, now surmounting to around 200k posts.
In the digital world, TikTok is one of the most essential deciding factors in the trajectory of musicians’ careers. Funnily enough, having a viral song did more to promote Abrams’ music than years of touring. People who haven’t even heard of Gracie Abrams now know her song’s chorus by heart.
Despite the thousands of videos, and impact of the song, online listeners are locked in a debate over whether or not Abrams deserves her fame. A Los Angeles native, and daughter of J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath, she was raised in an environment that promotes success in the music industry. Conversations surrounding “nepo babies,” or children of famous public figures, have become more frequent as more and more artists have come from famous families.
The privilege of being connected to the industry and having ‘an in,’ has posed questions about if these artists really deserve their fame. Many believe that it’s an unfair advantage compared to those who grew up outside of Hollywood. Because of this, Abrams’ music has faced controversy. From commenting on her voice, to criticizing her live performances, Abrams has been scrutinized under the public eye.
However, she continues to release new music that is growing more and more popular within younger generations. By gaining a loyal audience from an age group who may not even know of her parents’ work, it is clear that Abrams’ art has surpassed any help her upbringing gave her. As her discography and talent grows even more, Abrams is moving away from her family name to make her own.
