Ellory Grace Gets Stuck in Her Feelings with the Cinematic Pop Single “Gum”
Ellory Grace returns with a new single that is brilliantly metaphorical and centers on being over someone that you can't quite seem to get away from. There are always remnants of that person sticking around somehow, and as much as you try to forget about them completely, there they are once again. Or something reminds you of that person still.
The way she puts everything together lyrically is articulately blunt, but again, she uses the metaphor of gum being stuck in her hair to explain not being able to get rid of that person.
What's cool about this is that I think a lot of us have been there. We can all totally understand where she's coming from, relate to this, and connect with it, simply because at some point, we've all been in that same spot.
It could be a friend or ex-friend, co-worker, boyfriend, girlfriend—whatever it is, it's something that is quite bothersome when you can't get away from them.
Now, the way I interpreted the song could be different from how she meant it or how other people might take it in as well.
I think it's one of the smartest metaphors I've heard in a song in a while.
The song is called "Gum," and it's definitely a pop single, but it also has this sort of spacious underbelly to it that makes it feel filmic.
It's not exactly stripped down, but the cool thing about it is that it doesn't explode into any kind of heavy-handed beats or glimmery choruses.
Instead, it's focused on this great guitar riff that's very current and radio-friendly, bringing elements of R&B to that pop table, and her vocals are harmonious, super addictive, lush, and sort of elegant, anyway.
There are loads of gorgeous vocal harmonies throughout the track, sort of scattered about, and those elements help build the intensity to certain parts of the song, but all in all, this is kind of like a steady flow.
It's a song that you listen to with headphones so you can swim along with it.
It's almost dreamy. It's meant for you to soak in those lyrics and be a part of that first-person perspective story.
I like how the song does have some emotion to it, but it's light-hearted. It's nothing serious, and as I said earlier, it's more of a bother. She's trying to figure out how to get away from that person, but it's proving more difficult than she expected.
Some vast synths and keys fill the space and give the song an expansive aspect, too. It does have a bit of depth to it, and there's a lot that you can sort of pick up on with those layers of tones.
You can fall into the track. What I also really enjoyed was how the combination of her vocals, the guitars, and those keys really gives you a well-rounded but sort of immersive soundscape to take in.
There is a beat to it, but it's almost drowned underneath all of the other instrumentation and vocals. It's not meant to be up on the forefront, cutting through everything. It's meant to be sort of buried and barely there, giving the song that little hint of drive but pushing the cinematic aspect further.
By the second half of the song through to the end, the vocals are just massive. She uses backing vocals as instruments; they bend and flourish, combining with the main vocals, giving things a beautiful aesthetic, and the way she delivers some of those backing vocals is almost haunting.
She's brilliant at layering harmonies and creating melodies that sit in with each other perfectly, all with her vocals.
I feel like towards the end, at least five or six vocal tracks are floating around, and they all come together and fit perfectly somehow.
This is definitely an example of how Ellory can branch out and really focus on her vocals as something that builds the atmosphere of a song.
As I mentioned earlier, it's got loads of pop sensibility; it does have a bit of radio-friendliness, too; it's more indulgent and engulfing than her other stuff.
Now, don't get me wrong, songs like "Seventeen Years" most certainly still deliver that vastness and cinematic feel, but this one takes things to a different level.
While she has her staples, "Gum" expands her vocal showcasing to an elevated place that really can intensify things while still remaining somewhat colorful.
Most importantly, I think the way that she always delivers big personality in her songs is a huge attribute to why her songs have the impact that they do.
As I mentioned before, she's just very relatable, super honest and upfront, and amazing at articulating lyrics in a way that you get exactly what she means, even when she's being metaphorical.
After listening to the track, we wanted to dig into where it came from with her, so we were actually able to conduct an interview with Ellory about the song and more.
Listen to the track and check out our interview with Ellory Grace below.
Remember where you heard it first.
This song feels a bit personal, for sure! What is this track about exactly?
“GUM” is basically about being done with someone, but still having to deal with everything they left behind. I kept thinking about gum getting stuck in your hair. It sounds like such a small, stupid thing until it happens, and then suddenly, it’s impossible to ignore. Some people can be like that, too. You can know you’re over something and still be stuck cleaning up the mess from it.
I am loving all the vocals on this! Did you always have the idea to layer on those vocals, or did the song start more stripped down?
Thank you! It started a lot more stripped down. When I’m writing, I’m usually focused first on the lyric and the feeling, and then production is where we start finding all those extra vocal moments. I love layering vocals because sometimes the background parts can carry a feeling that the main vocal isn’t saying directly.
Do you normally write songs based on life experience?
Usually, yes. Even if a song isn’t about one exact situation, there’s almost always something real underneath it. I’ll sometimes combine different experiences or exaggerate one feeling, so it’s honest without necessarily being a play-by-play of my life.
Do you find it hard being that honest when writing?
I think the vulnerable part usually hits me later. When I’m writing, I’m focused on getting the feeling into the song and making it as real as I can. Then, when it’s time to release it, I suddenly realize other people are going to hear something that felt really personal. That can be a little scary, but I’ve found those are often the songs people connect with the most.
You’ve got over 185K followers on IG alone! Do you find it difficult to balance that presence with creative life?
Sometimes, definitely. I love creating content and connecting with people, but I also don’t want to feel like everything I do has to become a post. I’m still in high school, writing music, acting, and figuring things out like everyone else. I think some of the best ideas come from the moments when I’m not thinking about content at all.
Are you doing live performances at the moment, or planning any?
I’ve been really focused on writing, recording, and building my catalog this year, but performing live is definitely something I’m excited to explore. I’ve released several songs this year, and I love the idea of eventually bringing them together into a live show. I think hearing people sing the words back would be pretty surreal.
When you write a song like this one, do the lyrics come before the instrumentation normally?
A lot of the time, yes. Usually, there’s one phrase or idea that gets stuck in my head, and I can’t leave it alone. With “GUM,” the metaphor itself was such a strong visual that it gave us somewhere to start. But every song is different. Sometimes the melody shows up first, and the words follow it.
Are you planning on any upcoming releases?
Yes! I’ve released a lot of music this year, and I definitely don’t want to stop now. I like putting songs out while I’m still growing into my sound because people get to hear that evolution with me. “GUM” feels like a slightly different side of what I’ve been doing, a little sharper and more playful, and I have more music coming that keeps pushing in new directions.
Do you have other passions or creative outlets?
Definitely! I’ve been acting and modeling since I was little, and acting is still something I really want to pursue alongside music. I’m also writing a book for teens. I think I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, whether that’s stepping into a character, writing a song, or putting something into words. They’re all different ways of connecting with people, but music is probably where people get to know the most personal side of me.
When was it you realized you wanted to write songs?
I think it really clicked when I realized I could put things into a song that I didn’t always know how to explain out loud. Once I figured that out, I became kind of obsessed with it. I love taking one random thought or weird little feeling and turning it into something another person might hear and think, “Wait, I’ve felt that too.”
Do you come from a creative or musical family?
My family has always been really supportive of me creatively, but music wasn’t something that was mapped out for me. I kind of found my way into it on my own, which I think made it feel even more personal. My family has supported a lot of different creative things I’ve wanted to try, and music ended up becoming the one I felt the most connected to.
Is there anything you want to add?
Just thank you for listening! “GUM” was really fun to make because it’s a little more sarcastic and has more attitude than some of my earlier songs. I’ve spent a lot of this year releasing music that shows different sides of me, and I think that’s what makes it exciting. I’m still figuring out exactly what my sound is, and I kind of love that people get to figure it out with me.
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