Izabelle Valdez
Conan Gray Performing on Wishbone Tour
On Aug. 15, Conan Gray released his brand new album, Wishbone. Filled with themes of longing, mixed emotions, and the slow process of healing, the album feels like a step forward in maturity and artistry. These songs showcase Gray’s vocal span and lyrics as they come together to create a well-developed story. For fans—and anyone who’s ever been stuck between holding on and letting go—this album hits close to home.
Listening for the first time, I noticed how the album presents a musical atmosphere in which the tracks feel dreamy and emotional. The production of some songs makes you feel at ease and calm, while the lyrics showcase the inner challenges within the story. The dreamy quality makes it easy to get lost in, but the emotional depth keeps you grounded, making you want to hear what comes next. The overall production shows his growth in vocal confidence and comfort in his work.
The standout track, “My World,” captures the bittersweet feeling of owning your life. The song opens upbeat, with drums playing in the background, making you feel excited and ready for what’s next. When he sings, “It’s my world and it’s my life,” it immediately resonates with me, reflecting my journey of self-discovery. Over time, I’ve developed a personal connection with the song as it connects to many of my own experiences. It has encouraged me to embrace who I am as a person.
But it’s not all sunshine. Other songs like “Care,” “Eleven Eleven,” “Vodka Cranberry,” and “Caramel” explore themes of yearning and complicated feelings. These songs reveal his personal discoveries about his own complex emotions and showcase his raw vocal delivery. The song “Eleven Eleven” showcases a soft, deep, and melodic sound that captures Gray’s raw vocals.
Talking with students around the school, freshman Sierra Gomez said, “The emotions behind all the songs made it even easier to feel a strong emotional connection to it [Wishbone].” Freshman Charmaine Briana Pajara added, “It’s like he put teenage heartbreak into words.”
As someone who’s been following Conan Gray’s music career, I think this album shows his growth not only as an artist but as a storyteller and songwriter. This album shows how he can turn music into a story by making each track have something new to uncover.
It is an album that tells a story in a way where the audience feels invited into his world—experiencing the highs and lows of being indecisive about someone or something, like in “Care,” where Gray expresses his feelings of moving on but still secretly caring. Each track feels like a chapter that the audience can experience without actually living it.
In the end, Wishbone is more than just Conan Gray’s newest album—it is a reflection of the complicated emotions that come with growing up, moving on, and finding yourself again. With its balance of dreamy production and raw vulnerability, it captures the highs and lows of life in a way that feels both deeply personal and relatable.
I think anyone who is going through self-discovery or who loves emotionally honest pop will really connect with this album, whether or not they’ve listened to Conan Gray before. Its lyrics and melodies capture feelings that are hard to put into words, making it both comforting and empowering to listen to.
Whether you are listening while walking through the halls at school, studying late at night, or just needing a song to match your mood, Wishbone has something for everyone—whether that is finding yourself or navigating through a heartbreak.
For me, Wishbone isn’t just an album—it is a reminder that music can say things we can’t always put into words. I would give it a 10 out of 10 for its dreamy production, raw vulnerability, and the way it manages to feel both personal and relatable.