In recent years, Gracie Abrams has become an extremely powerful voice for change. Gracie Abrams has quickly become one of the most influential young female artists and is still on the rise. Abrams, an American singer-songwriter, was born on September 7th, 1999 in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in the spotlight, as her parents are film and television producer Katie McGrath and filmmaker J.J. Abrams. Abrams has always been interested in music, and at the age of eight, she began songwriting. Abrams attended the Archer School for Girls in West Los Angeles, and after graduating high school in 2018, Abrams furthered her education at Barnard College in New York but took a break after freshman year to focus on her music.
Abrams began to make her mark in the music industry with the release of her two extended plays, Minor (2020) and This is What It Feels Like (2021). Minor included singles which skyrocketed her career, including “I Miss You, I’m Sorry.” This leading single became one of her most famous songs, with over 445 million streams. In 2023, Abrams released her debut album, Good Riddance. Throughout 2023, Abrams performed a set of songs from Good Riddance as an opener of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, while also embarking on her own tour. She was also nominated for Best New Artist for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, as well as marking her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at #79. On June 21st, 2024, Abrams released her sophomore album, The Secret of Us, and embarked on her current tour in support of the album.
Throughout her career, Abrams has continuously broken the stigma towards mental health and illnesses with her openness towards her struggles with anxiety, depression, and OCD. “Camden” is the fourth track of Abrams’s second extended play, and this song capitalizes on her struggles with depression and the intrusive thoughts that continuously haunt her on a day-to-day basis. Abrams says, “In general, I am like, ‘Oh I love being vulnerable with the people that listen to my music because it makes me feel closer to them,’ but when I wrote ‘Camden’ I definitely felt a slight hesitation just because… it’s about the inside of my head, versus me in relationship to somebody else, so I was quite nervous about that one.” The transparent vulnerability Abrams has in her songs creates a sense of connection and understanding for listeners who may be going through something similar, and this has encouraged others to talk about their own mental health and seek support. On her social media and interviews, Abrams constantly talks about her experiences in therapy and medication and normalizes seeking help. “I think vulnerability is the most powerful tool we have… It’s okay to not be okay. It’s important to talk about.” By sharing her journey so transparently, she contributes to the increased normality of mental illness: mental health struggles are common and should not be hidden.
In addition to her work in mental health advocacy, Abrams has been a very vocal supporter of women’s reproductive rights. In 2022, after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Abrams sold a limited-edition t-shirt, with all money going to the National Network of Abortion Funds. Also, on her current tour, The Secret of Us Tour, Abrams has partnered with Planned Parenthood to raise money and awareness on reproductive rights, which emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare for women. Abrams’s advocacy has increased in response to recent legislative acts against reproductive freedoms in the U.S. She continues to use her social media platforms to call for action, whether it’s calling for donations, protests, or simply spreading the word.
Abrams has also used The Secret of Us Tour to address other important topics. During her concerts, she takes moments to talk about the importance of voting and being active in the government. Her tour has also partnered with the organization, Headcount, which has a booth where the audience can register to vote for the upcoming election, making it easier for her fans to get involved and motivate young people to get involved in the democratic system.
Through her personal lyrics and exceptional storytelling, Abrams has advocated for the stigma around mental health and connects with thousands of fans across the globe. With the platform she’s gained, she promotes topics such as reproductive rights for women and the importance of voting, which is slowly but surely making an impact around the world.
