Social Media Generation - Grace Calver
Early single review
Finally someone is being honest about craving attention and validation through social media. Through her new single Social Media Generation, Grace Calver admits to her obsession to mentions and tags on social media, as a way of validation and possibly a much needed confirmation of someone’s commitment to a relationship. Because if they’re serious about you, what stops them from tagging you on social media to let everyone know? If they’re not tagging you, what should you make of that?
Grace Calver has a long catalogue of songs talking about her love life. Across that catalogue, there are songs with a range of approaches and levels of seriousness, but at the end of the day, they are all just different aspects of love life concerns. Sometimes she’s over-confident about getting someone. Sometimes she’s worried about losing someone. In her last single Hotter Than The Sun, she was just expressing her admiration about the person. This time, it’s about the insecurity and the need for a relationship to look a little bit more confirmed and official, through mentions and tags on a story. That’s clearly reflected in the line “Do your followers even know we’re dating?”
The 20-year-old singer/songwriter is not going to claim this is the most serious of her songs. She’s totally unapologetic about coming up with a song that is just a bit of fun. There is a strong element of self sarcasm, which is great to see in an artist, especially a songwriter who sings their own songs.
Social Media Generation is a song that reflects what a lot of people are thinking, but wouldn’t admit in public. Through this fun approach, there are some undeniable facts. Everyone is looking for that validation and nobody wants to see the exes coming up in “suggested for you”. Here’s where you can insert an angry emoji.
Grace has stepped up as the producer of this song, which means the track has her own stamp on it, more firmly than ever. The light pop approach reflected in the lyrics, is brilliantly combined with the sound of the electric guitar, with the riffs, the power chords, the bends and the slides. The result, is a feel-good fun pop-rock song, which a lot of people can (secretly) relate to.
Towards the end, there is a part with a combination of singing and spoken word, which is brilliantly done, especially when it goes from speaking the phrase “why can’t you” into singing the same phrase at the end of that part. That’s probably the point which showcases the fine tone of her voice the most.
The first 2 lines of the song are repeated twice in the end, possibly in a deliberate move from Grace to highlight those words even more and keep them as a lasting thought in people’s minds. Those words definitely sum up the subject of the song.
Social Media Generation by Grace Calver is out on Friday 4th October.
Grace Calver is a 20-year-old singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Suffolk/Essex border. She has already caught a lot of attention as a young upcoming artist. She was named as “one to watch” by BBC Introducing in Suffolk for 2023. Just a few days ago, she won the Breakthrough Artist award at the NMG Awards, covering Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire. She has supported artists including The Lottery Winners, Alfie Templeman, Sour Kix, King No-One, Apollo Junction, Low Girl, Gemma Rogers. She has songs which will enable you to fully enjoy her tone and vocal abilities, like Addicted, as well as songs that will get you in a happy mood like Hotter Than The Sun and now Social Media Generation.
Grace Calver will play live on the day of the release, 4th October at the Hunter Club, supporting Loome. Followed by Colchester Arts Centre on 2nd November and The John Peel Centre in Stowmarket supporting Freya Beer on 8th November.