Singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal has released her new album CHILDSTAR on April 4, 2025. The album highlights her artistic versatility and dives headfirst into the raw, captivating story of her past.
Grace VanderWaal‘s CHILDSTAR is a cohesive concept album that makes for a good time, even if not listening for the story. The nine-song album is a reflection of Grace’s experience as a young girl who was thrown into fame, and has described the album as a way to process her past being a “child star”. Grace deemed her album as very visual, which is why it is accompanied by a short film titled “CHILDSTAR: Final Act”. She co-directed and starred in the film which interprets five songs from the album including the single “Proud”.
Watch the short film below:
CHILDSTAR features a wide array of genre influences. It blends the smooth textures of R&B and pop melodies, while tracks like “Babydoll” and “Beg For It” thump with dance-driven drum patterns . Her project resulted in a resilient, authentic, and emotional experience. The production, vocals, and songwriting seems to be in the right place, at the right time, and in the right way. Grace is able to turn the project from emotionally rich and raw to upbeat and catchy. The drums and instrumentals in “Babydoll” and “Beg For It” shows a trend we’ve been starting to see: a fusion of dance music with pop styles. Grace uses this to make a unique and original sound.
To contribute to her album’s rich sound and theme, Grace collaborated with producers Eren Cannata and PomPom. For example, it’s showcased in the euphoric feeling of “Proud”, the acoustic sound of “Call It What You Want”, and the dance-inspired “Babydoll”; which shows the depth and diverse song quality within the album. The album keeps the listener engaged as it progresses. Throughout the experience, the album continually keeps the listener guessing and wondering what’s to come.
Notable Tracks
“What’s Left of Me” is a powerful anthem that tugs at the heart-strings. Grace commented about the meaning of the track:
‘What’s Left of Me’ is a track about feeling as though you’re a breathing legacy of a fallen relationship. Everything about me is in some way either directly or indirectly caused by you. An inescapable touch, acid burned kiss, I’ll never be the girl I was before. It’s a robbery of identity.
~ Grace VanderWaal
Grace’s voice rises above the euphoric and emotional instrumental, commanding attention to every note. She pours her emotions out through every word on the track, most notably when she sings the title near the close of the first verse. Her voice fades into the background just before the beat drops, adding to the tension and emotion of the track as a whole. “What’s Left of Me” is a song that really makes you feel for her and reflect on your own breakups and relationships.
CHILDSTAR contains the perfect tracks to move you in more ways than one. A great example of this is “Babydoll Feat. Aliyah’s Interlude,” which throws us back to the early 2000’s party hit sounds. The song starts out with a mellow synth and bright vocals, then dives into a chorus that’s stuck in your head after one listen. The line “Imma do just what I want to” hits with the energy that seems to transport you straight to a sweaty basement house party, dancing with childhood friends. With her rap verse, Aliyah’s Interlude adds a refreshing shift that ties the track together while blending its diverse genre influences.
Following “Babydoll”, “Beg For It” delivers a phenomenal performance that keeps the vibe going. Although it lacks the pure thrill that “Babydoll” does, “Beg For It” brings its own brand of empowerment and self assured flair. The track shines most in its chorus, where it takes a bright and unexpected turn which energizes and engages the listener. The chorus adds an additional layer of vocals that plays off of the punchy instrumental. You can’t help but want to get out of your seat.
“Fade” wraps the album up with a breathtaking fusion of storytelling, lyricism, and production perfectly capturing the emotional and creative essence throughout the project. The song serves as an emotional rollercoaster, as it’s packed with sadness and desperation. Her vocal inflections convey her pain, more intensely than in “What’s Left of Me”. The production lets her vocals shine, drawing you deeper into her story, just like the entire album does. The instrumental adds its own layer of emotional impact, with the synths and chords in the chorus intensifying the power grace already delivers so effectively.
“Fade” does an exceptional job closing the album and transitions into the opening track “Proud” almost seamlessly. Grace’s choice easily invites replays of the album, yet beneath the surface lies a deeper layer — a possible reflection of her past, caught in a loop yearning to break away. Either way, CHILDSTAR is a thrilling and engaging journey which gets better with each listen.
Conclusion and Tour Updates
CHILDSTAR serves so many purposes for Grace VanderWaal. It also showcases her impressive artistry and creates a powerful message for fans new and old. She uses the concept of the album to process and release the pain in her past. Whether you are a Grace VanderWaal fan or somebody who hasn’t heard of her, this album is worth a listen.
Grace is set to go on a North American tour starting in May 2025, bringing her story and new music to her fans. Tickets and more details are available on her website.
Listen to the full album below, and stay tuned for updates on Grace VanderWaal: