Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.
In this Love Letter To A Record series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.
Pale Waves’ Heather Baron-Gracie – Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour (2018)
Dear Golden Hour,
You captured my heart. My 2020 was soundtracked by this album. 2020 was such an eventful year – for not only me, but the whole entire world – and music brings me such great comfort and escapism.
I remember driving along the PCH in L.A., taking in the beautiful scenes, but also listening to Golden Hour. My love for country music was born in the past year and a half, and Golden Hour is perfect for me, as it produces both pop and country – it stole my heart. I hope one day I can listen to this album live and drunkenly scream the lyrics to each song.
I’ve learnt how to play pretty much every song on this album – I sometimes like to pretend I’m a country singer from Nashville. My favourite tracks are ‘Space Cowboy’, ‘Love Is a Wild Thing’ and ‘Butterflies’, but the whole album is so incredible.
I love how nostalgic I feel when I listen to this album. I’m listening to it right now as I write this and it’s taking me back to so many amazing memories.
Love u always, Heather
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Pale Waves’ new album ‘WHO AM I?’ is out now. The album was inspired by themes of inclusivity and self-discovery, and sees Baron-Gracie’s songwriting explore themes like identity, sexuality and mental health. It was recorded primarily in Los Angeles with producer Rich Costey prior to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the album’s making to go virtual – Baron-Gracie and bandmate Ciara Doran staying in LA while the rest of the band returned home to record their parts in their bedrooms.
