Recommended tracks: “Proud,” “Call It What You Want,” “Babydoll”
Artists you may like: Orla Gartland, Clairo, Olivia Rodrigo
America’s Got Talent Season 11 winner Grace VanderWaal is known for her distinctive voice and often accompanies herself on the ukulele. However, she’s now emerging as a rising pop star, reclaiming her story with her second full-length album.
Titled Childstar, the album was released yesterday, April 4, 2025. VanderWaal revealed that she felt “stolen,” and explained that she used the project as “a means of processing these experiences.” The album is filled with intention and honesty about her past, and she is now confidently reclaiming what is hers.
I was astonished by the album’s production and lyricism. Grace not only released an incredible album but also used it as a powerful vehicle to tell her story. Childstar is full of twists and turns, with a wide range of sounds that keep listeners engaged throughout.
The album begins with a soft introduction through her song “Proud.” The track opens with what sounds like bells from a child’s music box. The vocals represent a dialogue between young Grace and an authoritative figure in her career: “Ground yourself, remember your place / You don’t have a voice yet, you don’t get to say.” After this delicate opening, the track speeds up into a rolling riff, continuing the narrative of how, as a child, Grace had to diminish herself to meet the expectations of those in power around her. Following the opening track is “Brand New.” She speaks on how she wishes to move past the hardships of her childhood and become a brand new person. The song opens with a melancholic string rhythm that leads into Grace’s vocals, which carry a raw strain that underscores the pain she endured.
There is a turning point in the album with the fourth song, “What’s Left Of Me.” At this point in the album, she begins to touch on past relationships she’s had throughout her career. This song delves into the shifts in identity that we go through after love has taken its toll on us. Opening with a piano ballad, the song has a sense of longing and surrender. The track then moves into a more upbeat pattern, layering vibrant guitars and rhythmic percussion that lift the energy. “Call It What You Want” continues the narrative of a painful relationship, but under different circumstances. The track opens with warm acoustic strings and a thumping bass line that moves the song. Grace opens up about the emotional tug-of-war between two people hiding their relationship.
The next three tracks, “Babydoll,” “Beg For It,” and “Behavioral Problems” introduce a new storyline within Childstar. These songs explore Grace’s sense of liberation and the freedoms that come with growing older. “Babydoll,” which features Aliyah’s Interlude, is a pop-forward upbeat standout on the album. With bouncing synths and fast-paced verses, the track captures the exhilarating feeling of sneaking out of your parents’ house at 17. “Behavioral Problems” is about Grace asserting her autonomy and not listening to others anymore. The track has a more sultry vibe, with deep, distorted sounds explaining Grace’s frustration with staying quiet, and in response lashing out with behavioral problems.
The last song of Childstar is “Fade,” where Grace closes the final curtain on her childhood. The track opens with a simple drum pattern along with Grace’s vocals, allowing room for tension to build up to this final goodbye. The song feels like it has a constant buildup, pulling back and forth between anger and grief. It is the perfect track to listen to while speeding down the highway. The outro of “Fade” includes a string section, building up over the last 20 seconds with a final push, indicating a new beginning for Grace.
Overall, Childstar does an incredible job portraying the trials and tribulations of Grace’s childhood career. The album is vulnerable, courageous, and authentic. I hope Grace continues to explore her newfound identity, and continues to share her experiences with us throughout her music.
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