- 2023-11-19
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MUSIC
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Wrabel Releases New Album “based on a true story”
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Wrabel released his sophomore album “based on a true story” on November 17, 2023 via Big Gay Records/Nettwerk.
It is his first album in two years since the 2021 debut album “These Words Are All for You”.
The album consists of three parts, including the previous two EPs “chapter of me”, “chapter of you” and four new songs, with a total 13 songs. Produced by Austin Ward, Davis Naish, Drew Pearson, Eric Leva and Sam de Jong.
Wrabel told Billboard about consisting three parts, “The positives of that Wild West mentality is it allows me to really take advantage of the fact that I am independent, and I can do literally whatever I want. Normally, a song like ‘Beautiful Day’ would be buried as track number nine on the album, where it wouldn’t get its day to shine. This felt like a natural, easy way to give these great songs a moment of their own.”- Wrabel said of the album, “I had a very clear intention with the album to try and offer some hope. Like a shoulder to lean on, a friend to confide in… sharing parts of myself that scare me. Sharing things I’ve been through in the hopes that it may make you feel less alone. The last group of new songs I feel ties together the previous chapters and offer some more depth. If I had one dream for the album as a whole it would be simply that I hope it brings you comfort and hope. I put a lot of heart into this and I hope it reaches yours. And as always I couldn't have done it without my incredible friends and collaborators and my incredible family team around me.”
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Wrabel shared on social media, “The album is out. 'based on a true story'. And we have our first album/release billboard ever. I say “we“ and “our“ because there are so many incredible people not only writing this music with me and producing it and mixing and mastering it, but also working endlessly on the *business* side (which is equally as creative I will say !) to give it its best shot out there in the world at being heard.”
Wrabel explained about some tracks for the album.
“abstract art”
“I wrote 'abstract art' with Eric Leva and Sam de Jong. This is a song for everyone that's ever felt like an outsider...like a weirdo. It's for us. Not everyone is gonna understand us, but I'm here to tell you that you're beautiful in the most special and unique way. You bring the world joy and love, and you change this world simply by existing in it as your true and authentic self.”
“beautiful day”
“I wrote 'beautiful day' with Eric Leva. When we wrote it, I didn't think it would end up being a song for me, but as we finished it it just felt too good (and too sad) to not record it. Eric and Sam de Jong produced it and Stevie Blacke played the absolutely gorgeous strings all over it. It's the feeling of a heartbreak ruining something so simple as a beautiful day; the lush music representing the sun beaming over a clear blue sky, not a cloud in sight, and the lyrics and melody cutting through like a storm coming in.”
“on the way down”
“I wrote 'on the way down' with Davis Naish, and it came from a place of reflection on the darker moments of my life, the moments that felt like I was in the most despair and how it's important to try and find that sliver of light to guide you out. For me, that was getting sober, leaning on my family and my friends... not being afraid or too proud to grab the hand extended to me from the other side, asking for help, and taking it when it was offered.”
“one drink away”
“I feel like we’ve come so far in our understanding and destigmatization of addiction. And I think that’s in large part because we as addicts have shared ourselves and our stories more. It’s not an easy path… some days I don’t notice it, I don’t even remember who I used to be. And other days it’s like a robotic woodpecker pecking away at my brain, reminding me, tempting me, poisoning me from the inside out. The honest truth is I’m one drink away from who I was. The flip side of that is I never have to be that person again, I never have to take a sip or draw a line or take a hit. I am alive today because I am sober. And I’m both terrified and so very proud of that. If you are struggling right now, I just want to tell you that you are not alone.”
“we could all use some help”
“I wrote 'we all could use some help' with Drew Pearson. He was playing some chords, and I just started kind of mumbling 'oh you don't have to do it all by yourself... we all could use some help.' my first thought and question to him was if it could really be that simple? But we had a talk about how sometimes the simplest thing is the truest thing. This song is intended to feel like a shoulder for you as you listen. Like a friend just talking to you and reminding you that you're not alone.”
“happier”
“I’m so used to writing about unrequited love, break-ups, the break up. But I wanted something that just states what was and what is. Being happier isn’t always easy. It’s complicated. But it’s a beautiful realization to have with yourself. This song is a marker of that.”
“lost cause”
“The more I listened to it, the more it started taking on such deep meaning for me. I think that I just started feeling the weight of it, and it ultimately took on this other meaning where I was telling myself, ‘Whatever anyone thinks of me, like, leave room for.'” - source : Apple Music
