SINGLE REVIEW: Pale Waves Release 'Easy'

FOR FANS OF: The Pretty Reckless, The Cure, Paramore

Pale Waves shot by Jordan Hughes.

Pale Waves, an English indie rock band from Manchester, released new track "Easy" on January 15th, 2021. The track is taken from the band's upcoming record, their second album, Who Am I?.

The track is about love. It's a song reminiscent of soundtracks of 90s-rom coms such as 10 Things I Hate About You and The Princess Diaries. It's about a love that is healthy and gentle, an easy love. Healthy, happy, soft love can change your whole life. When you're in a good relationship, as opposed to all of your previous toxic ones, it can feel like the sun is finally shining on you. You don't want to let it go, you're shocked that a love so beautiful and kind like this, especially after you've come from a string of bad, painful romantic relationships.

“Love can change your whole perspective, not only of yourself but of life too,” says lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie on the inspiration for the song. “It’s the most heartfelt moment throughout the album and it is a genuine, feel-good love song. Originally, Easy was a piano ballad but I wanted to put more energy behind the instrumentation to enhance how love can uplift, drive, and inspire you hence the dramatic musical change."

The song might be upbeat, inflicting images in your head of sunshine and light colors, but the music video is in classic Pale Waves style: gothic & grungy. Heather Baron-Gracie says of it "The video visually brings to life one of the main lines of the chorus "You keep the lights on for me." The whole video’s theme is a wedding, I wore a wedding dress throughout and we shot the video in an old, abandoned church. I am really inspired by the gothic medieval aesthetic and, at the time I was thinking of the video, I was watching a lot of Tim Burton films. His creativity really inspires me.” It personally reminds me of a mix of Paramore's "Decode" video and Tim Burton's film, Corpse Bride.

I adore this track, and I just love Heather Baron-Gracie's voice. She has an addictive, unique sound, which makes all of Pale Waves' music distinct. "Easy" is the kind of happy, upbeat rock songs that remind me of the very start of summer, when the heat is broken up by the rain for the first time. It's refreshing and makes me glad to be alive, makes me want to experience an easy love like this track suggests. Their full record, Who Am I? can't come sooner.

Tracklist for Who Am I?:

1. Change

2. Fall To Pieces

3. She’s My Religion

4. Easy

5. Wish U Were Here

6. Tomorrow

7. You Don’t Own Me

8. I Just Needed You

9. Odd Ones Out

10. Run To

11. Who Am I?

Listen to "Easy" on Spotify here, or on whichever streaming platform you prefer. Follow Pale Waves on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.