The last few weeks have brought on a whirlwind of emotions for fans of singer-songwriter Conan Gray. Since May 13, there had been something lingering in the air, with fans speculating a new album brewing based on two images the artist posted on his Instagram with the caption ‘Spring’. On May 22nd, everything came crashing down with Gray officially announcing he would be putting out a new album this summer and that the project's title track would be out on May 30th.
[ Wishbone Album Cover Shot By @dillonmatthewc ]
Wishbone is the title of Conan Gray’s upcoming album, set to release August 15th, just over a year after his last album, Found Heaven. Unlike Found Heaven, which seemed very 80’s 80s-centric, utilizing synths and bold colours, Wishbone seems to lean back towards Gray’s earlier eras of music, with some saying the promo we’ve gotten so far is Kid Crow-esque. The album's announcement was accompanied by a long and emotionally charged introduction from Gray, who broke down the meaning behind Wishbone's existence. You can read a small excerpt of his statement below, and check out the rest on his Instagram page.
“over the past two years, i’ve been secretly writing songs. after shows in the basements of the venues, in the sheets of my hotel beds, in narrow gaps between tours— i’d come back home and write all the things i felt nobody wanted to hear. maybe even the things i didn’t want people to hear… it felt like the music was reminding me who i am, at an experimental time in my twenties where “who i am” had no definition at all. my driftwood childhood in texas. my lucid summers in london. my blue striped bed sheets in my college apartment.”
[ Wishbone Tracklist Shot @dillonmatthewc ]
The album's lead single, ‘This Song’, hit streaming platforms on May 30th, joined by a gorgeous music video. With the help of producers Ethan Gruska and Dan Nigro, Gray has crafted this authentic love song. The lyrics relate to the universal and difficult experience of yearning and admiring someone so deeply, but being unsure if the person of your desire reciprocates these feelings. ‘This Song’ acts like a soft confession, with Gray using the track to admit his feelings without confronting the person. The direct and specific imagery littered throughout the song makes it unmistakable that Gray is speaking of one particular muse who’d be sure to pick up on the fact ‘This Song’ is about them.
‘This Song’’s music video stars Gray himself and Corey Fogelmanis, who may be most familiar to you as the actor who played Farkle in Disney’s Girl Meets World- though he is now a model, actor, and slight travel influencer. The entire music video was shot on film, in a small town in Gray’s home state of Texas, with the video depicting to a tee what a small town romance looks like. Both Gray and Fogelmanis play these queer boy’s who are trying to navigate their relationship, with queer subtext being heavily implied, yet not openly acted on until the last minute of the video. Until then, we watch the two build this believable bond by swimming in strange ponds, driving aimlessly on bikes and in cars, and lounging around in bedrooms, each moment capturing this essence that may only be familiar to those who grew up in a no-name small town.
The Music Video is not only visually stunning, capturing these rich golden tones and raw natural colours, but it is also beautifully acted. Both Gray and Fogelmanis leave you wondering where exactly the characters stand with their dynamic. Gray spends the length of the video clearly pining, catching stolen glances, and going out of his way to spend time with Fogelmanis’ character. Fogelmanis, on the other hand, seems to be more oblivious to Gray’s feelings, with his character feeding into the borderline romantic behaviour the two carry while simultaneously flirting with a girl. Yet, his character is the one who initiates both of the on-screen kisses, revealing that perhaps his feelings have always aligned with Gray’s character. Despite the blatant confirmation of feelings, the two’s relationship is still left in this liminal space, allowing for viewers to pick their own adventure on what will happen next- maybe some will see the two as romantic partners, others a summer fling, depending on where your head is at.
To round out the month of announcements, Gray has revealed he would be hitting the road this fall with special guest Hemlock Springs! The Wishbone Pajama Show is sailing to you beginning on September 11th in Ohio before ending in Mexico on October 19th. Artist Presale will begin on Tuesday, June 3rd, with General Sale occurring on June 5th. If you can't catch Gray at any of his upcoming Headlining Shows, you can catch him at his Summer Festivals. For all Tour Dates, you can check his website HERE.
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