On the deluxe version of her last album, singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams sings “We could go yellow to black overnight” in “Two People.” Coincidentally, her new song, preceding the black and gray “Good Riddance,” is themed in a bright, contrasting yellow. 

On May 1, Abrams released her newest single “Risk.” Abrams announced the release on an Instagram post as the lead single for her sophomore album “The Secret of Us.” 

Known for her acoustic, bedroom pop music, Abrams made her debut with the EP “minor” in 2020. After releasing her second EP, followed by her first album “Good Riddance,” Abrams had made quite a name for herself, with around 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

“Risk” was co-written by Abrams’ longtime friend and writer Audrey Hobert, who also directed the single’s music video. Musician Aaron Dessner of The National, who worked with Abrams on producing “Good Riddance,”  also “produced the s*** out of [‘Risk’]” as Abrams wrote on Instagram.

Diving into “Risk”

“Risk” begins with a tight acoustic guitar, strummed with a punchy, rhythmic bounce.  Opening with a fast-paced, flowy verse, her vocals are whispery and close as if she’s telling you a secret. Abrams sings, “Look at me now/Said I wouldn’t do it, but I hunted you down.” The song’s production and melody instantly feel more upbeat than her previous ballads, which is refreshing. Still, Abrams’ trademark talent, her storytelling, remains at the forefront of the song, beginning a narrative of wanting to be with someone she doesn’t yet know.

In the pre-chorus and chorus, listeners are met with more melodic lyrics. She recalls, “I wake up in the middle of the night… you’re not here, and it don’t feel right.” A kick drum alongside backing harmonies then fill the song with playful warmth — although the lyrics convey a different message. Abrams debates the risk of “jumping in the deep end” with this person,  portraying the feeling of a captivating, fanatical crush perfectly. The tagline of the chorus hits, and it hits hard: “Heard the risk is drowning, but I’m gonna take it.” 

It’s catchy as instrumentals cut out after the tagline, which, honestly, does not get old — though it’s a familiar tactic in today’s pop music scene. Listeners are continually drawn into Abrams’ emotion, pulled in more and more with every line. As Abrams’ feelings grow more intense, so does the song in both production and vulnerability.

The story behind the song

Abrams is obsessively dramatic in her lyrics, and it feels… real. Exploring these emotions is difficult with the risk of sounding cliche or immature, but Abrams captured hers in a unique way. The song feels like an internal battle,  a “which emotion can win?” kind of fight. Times when lyrics are shouted feel like a declaration or an outward confession, while toned-down, cadenced verses come off as racing thoughts. When the musicality of a song can escalate the feeling being portrayed, it works so well. 

Overall, Dessner made a compulsive and surreal scenario into a memorable, upbeat song, and as usual, Abrams is on point with her lyrics. You can tell she’s having fun with the song, and that makes the intensity of it much more digestible. It’s inspiring to hear an artist be dramatic with emotion and capitalize on that to the point where the track is relatable to whoever picks it up. “Risk” feels youthful and relevant, and songs that capture that youth will always find themselves with an invested audience. The song is dynamic in all the right ways, and most importantly, feels like the perfect step forward for the singer-songwriter. “Risk” is a fantastic lead single and a perfect summer song, and the track should find listeners anticipating “The Secret of Us” in June. 

The Pathfinder rates this song a 9/10.