Jessica Riley ’18
Grace VanderWaal, the first 12-year-old winner of America’s Got Talent, recently released her new EP, named “Perfectly Imperfect.” The short album has 5 songs: I Don’t Know My Name, Clay, Gossip Girl, Light the Sky, and Beautiful Thing. All are originals of this preteen superstar, yet they are relatable to people well beyond her years. The songs are organic, with little background interference. Written on a ukulele, most the songs, specifically I Don’t Know My Name, truly let the lyrics speak for themselves, as there is little editing or sound enhancement. Grace’s talent and positivity are reflected through each song, and the journey of finding one’s voice. 
The album is most famously known for I Don’t Know My Name, which landed Grace the spotlight, as she auditioned this song for America’s Got Talent. Still doubting that a 12-year-old could have talent truly worth the listen? After hearing just a few verses of this break out song, Simon Cowell predicted that Grace will be “the next Taylor Swift,” as she has the ability to relate and inspire through her lyrics. This song outlines her change in perspective as she continues to discover herself.
Clay, my personal favorite, is about how a person can be as malleable as clay if they choose to be. In a soft ballot, Grace sings that she won’t “mold to [their] silly words,” because “[she’s] not clay,” a message that we should all take to heart. This song reminds us not to let the words of other people bring us down.
Gossip Girl, the outlier of the album, was the most fun for Grace to make, and has a bit more to it than just the lyrics and a simple melody in the background. This one is definitely the most jazzed-up, in the intercit layering of various sounds to complement the lyrics. Gossip Girl is relatable to any girl (or guy) who has had a disloyal friend.
Light the Sky is similar to Clay in its soft and sweet melody; with a few riffs here and there, it truly captures the feeling of two people, as if they can truly light the sky. This too, was performed on America’s Got Talent, and could be the one that truly won over America.
Lastly is Beautiful Thing, which Grace had dedicated to her sister and the special bond that they share. It tells the story of how life is more exciting with someone just like you to share it with. The love that Grace has for her sister is clear in this sweet and relatable song.
Overall, I truly enjoyed Grace’s new EP, and can’t wait to see what she does next with her upcoming musical career. If you like artists similar to Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, or even Jason Mraz, you should give her new songs a listen!
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