Gretta Ray Releases ‘Begin To Look Around’.
Written by: Jessey Napa
It’s time for a pop quiz. Question 1: Does the perfect record exist? If you answered no to that question, you have failed the quiz (better luck next time) and need to listen to Begin To Look Around immediately.
Begin To Look Around is the debut album by Australian pop singer-songwriter Gretta Ray. With 15 tracks, you may think there may be a dull moment or two on the record. But, yet again, you’d be wrong (have you learned nothing). Begin To Look Around is filled with beautiful melodies, ear catching production and lyrics you’d expect from someone far older than 23 year old Gretta.
Having won both Triple J’s Unearthed High and The Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition for her song Drive (which she wrote when she was only 17), the brilliant songwriting will come as no surprise to fans of Gretta. What may come as a surprise is the new pop direction which is a departure from the indie-folk vibes of her previous releases.
Leading up to the release of the record, Gretta revealed songs in pairings she called Duologies. Each Duology featured two songs that share a common theme or story. Released in March, Duology One featured “Bigger Than Me” and “Readymade”, two songs about the creative process. This was followed by the Intimacy Duology which paired previous single “Passion” with a brand new song called “Human”. The final Duology before the release of the album was the Heartbreak Duology which paired “Cherish” with “The Brink”.
“Worldy-Wise” is a song that features guest vocalist David Le’aupepe from Australian band Gang of Youths, a band that Gretta toured with through much of 2019. Along with Paris and The Cure, “Worldly-Wise” takes part of the indepence trilogy.
With so many songs to sink your ears into, Begin To Look Around will make you incredibly impatient for more Gretta Ray.