Grace Davies Releases Debut Album “The Wrong Side of 25”
British singer-songwriter Grace Davie released her debut album “The Wrong Side of 25” on July 11, 2025 via Believe UK.
The album comprises 15 tracks, including 5 pre-release singles “A Wonderful, Boring, Normal Life”, “Another Night”, “Do or Die”, "MDE”, and “Super Love Me”, produced by Grace Davies, Paul Whalley and Gil Lewis.
It is her first project in three years since the 2022 EP “It Wasn't Perfect, But We Tried”.
This marks the second time Grace Davies has been a producer for an entire project, following “It Wasn't Perfect, But We Tried”.
Grace Davies said of the album, “What a surreal feeling. I've never been prouder of my work and myself in my life. I love this record with my entire being and I'll be damned if you don't too. I've poured every ounce of my heart, soul and brain (the good and the bad) into these songs; I know it shows but I still wanted to say it because it feels like the sort of thing artist's say in their album release posts. I didn't just make an album, I made an ALBUM. A journey from start to finish, something that was created to be listened to in its entirety... So if you want the full experience, make sure to set aside 53 minutes with your best headphones, lie on your bed and turn the lights off, turn your phone on do not disturb and make sure you have 'gapless playback' turned on on your device. Music is medicine and music is art - people like me are still making it that way. Don't let art die on your watch. Thank you for being here to witness what is a once in a lifetime moment for me.”
Grace Davies told Wonderland about the Album, “The Wrong Side Of 25 is something I said to my Mum on my 26th birthday, after she kindly pointed out that I was closer to 30 than 20. This album takes that age-related panic, along with every life lesson or hardship I've experienced in my (now) 28 years on earth and turns it into a therapeutic (for me, at least) exhale. I'm not a big talker when it comes to feelings, I don't go to therapy, I don't like to bother anyone with my problems so, for me, writing songs is a way of getting stuff off my chest - and if that can make anyone going through the same stuff feel a little less alone and take comfort then... It makes it a little bit more worth it for me too!”
Grace Davies explained some tracks for the album.
“Youngest That I'll Ever Be” via Wonderland “I call this one my overture. For anyone who doesn't know me, it's a great introduction to who I am as a person, what I've been through in my life / career and what's led me up to this point. I think it sets the tone of subject matter for the rest of the album. I've always had a freak out about the concept of time and aging; the fact that right here, right now, is the youngest we will ever be and life is constantly moving forward and everything behind you is permanent is a terrifying thought to me. One of my favourite films is About Time, where they can go back in time and change how events unfolded by reacting differently. This is something I spend far too much time thinking about. “If I'd have just done that or said this then maybe that wouldn't have happened” but it's such pointless thinking – we can't. Hence why I then work myself up into a frenzy. It's a heavy song lyrically and I wanted the production to feel equally as turbulent and intense as my emotions – but we get all the heavy stuff out of the way first, then move into party central.”
“Super Love Me” “In 2020 I got into a very fast-moving, 'covid bubble' relationship, where one day I was facetime dating someone, then we were going on socially distanced walks - and then suddenly he lived in my flat for weeks with me. But alas, one day he woke up, left the flat and I never heard from him again... Sometimes I have to remind myself of what this song is about, because I just want to boogie round my bedroom, but really - it is a classic Grace sad girl anthem.”
“Do Or Die” “It's about knowing a relationship has run its course but not having the courage to end it. You selfishly keep that person there while exploring other options. It's not a proud thing, or a romanticisation, but guilt can eat you alive and sometimes you think it's better if they never find out.”
“Hotel Delilah” via Wonderland
“This song was some of the most fun I've ever had when writing. I started off the day by listening to “Gimme Gimme Gimme” (as everyone should) and this is what followed. Combining my love for epic strings & drama with a 70s/80s Donna Summer bassline, I've never had a 'floorfiller' track before and it felt about time I did... She's jam packed with sexual innuendos and lyrics that made me die with laughter when they were coming out of my brain. Nothing too deep (unlike most of the album lol) but a lighthearted, sexy boogie!”
“Lonely Long Enough” via Wonderland
“'Lonely Long Enough' is about the fear of getting back into a relationship after a failed one. Some break ups can be so traumatic that they leave genuine scars - and instead of thinking about all of the good bits from that relationship and wanting to find that in someone else, you think about all the pain & hurt and it deters you from ever dating again. Healing takes time, so this song is saying 'I don't think I've lived with the pain of what happened last time long enough to be able to recover and move on.' The feeling of being lonely is better than the feeling of being heartbroken, so I need to sit in that space a bit longer before I can even think about allowing myself to fall in love again.”
“A Wonderful, Boring, Normal Life” “This was really the song that saved me from giving up and reminded me why I love, so very much, what I do. When life gets stressful and you feel like you've lost your sense of direction, you find yourself craving the mundane and ordinary.
Maybe that's where the concept for this track began; imagining a life where you have your shit together, you're financially secure and have everything you need but could also picture someone else within that. I think it's possible to be alone and not lonely but still want to share life and argue over who's turn it is to wash the dishes. It's not a necessity, you don't need a fairytale – but it might be nice.”
“Butterflies” via Wonderland
“I wrote this one about my grandparents; they both suffered from Alzheimer's and dementia before they died from it in recent years. As a grandchild it was a horrible thing to see happen, watching the people you once knew die before the actual body does – it's soul destroying. But every now and then you would catch a glimpse and they'd come back, even if just for a minute – and in those minutes you'd see their love for each other and their memories flood back. It's such a touchy subject, something I've never written about before out of respect for my family; it doesn't feel like my story to tell, so I decided rather than make it a sad song about losing hope that I would incorporate it into a love song they would've sung to each other through their better days. A song that says I will always love you no matter if this happens, and even when the signs start to show I will never let it be known, I will love you just the same. 'For better and for worse', I guess? I remember my Mum telling me (after I'd written the song) that when she went to visit my Grandad in hospital they'd put a little butterfly symbol on his wristband and on his paperwork. Reading into it, a butterfly is the symbol used in health care to state that someone has memory loss and therefore needs extra care – it's called “The Butterfly Scheme”. It was a complete coincidence that I happened to title the song “Butterflies” but it feels so perfect.”
“Another Night” “I never work like that, normally. I usually have a specific topic I want to write about, come in with lyrics pre-prepared, and then find a melody. This time 'Producer Paul' had the piano part already in his voice notes and I just mumbled gibberish over the top that happened to sound like the words 'Another Night'. It was really fun to imagine what the song could be about from a title, rather than picking from past experiences.”
“Look How You've Grown” via Wonderland
“I've been through an absolute world of shit in my twenties but I don't think I always process it or recognise it because I sometimes think I don't have any other choice than to just plough through and keep going - particularly in my career working in an industry that waits for no one. I think this song was my opportunity to really sit down with my emotions and be like “ok… you're actually stronger than you think”. I have my vices, I have my insecurities and 9 times out of 10 I let them rule my life, but I've never let them stop me from keeping going. I've always managed to dig myself out of holes without accepting help from anyone else; that might be a pride thing or a sense of shame, I'm not sure - either way I get through the shit bits on my own and that's something I should acknowledge and take pride in… So this song is a pat on the back in some ways. You thought that was the end but now you're here – look how you dealt with it and look what it taught you. Look how you've grown.”
“MDE” “This song makes me feel like I'm ready to take on any man who dare speak. A whole lot of fun and chaos. It's essentially the dialogue that goes on in my head when I'm on a night out with friends and we get chatted up by some sleazeball who won't stop talking about crypto / stocks and shares. It encapsulates the phrase 'chewing your ear off' pretty well, I'd say!”
“I Hope I Never Live To Love Again” via Wonderland
“I suppose this is the song that would technically come before 'Lonely Long Enough' (in the running order of “how to deal with a breakup”). It's that initial gut reaction you have when someone has let you down time after time and you just feel like there is absolutely no hope anymore – there's a complete refusal to even try or crave romance again. I. Am. Done. I will die alone happily with my 7 cats knowing my heart was better off for it. It's the most dramatic sentence to say “I hope I never live to love again” (very moi x) but it do be feeling like that.”
“It's Mean When You Don't Mean It” via Wonderland
“There's a theme of lovebombing and then ghosting on this album (cough Track 3 cough Track 13 *cough Track 14) but I think this one sums it up pretty well in a 'straight to the point' way... It's just a bit mean, innit. There's a lot of funny lines in this one and I think that's just very me to disguise something quite traumatic in humour - we all have our coping mechanisms, but deep down in the song there is a hurt person who wants answers. If you tell me 'forever' - why wouldn't I believe it? If you're being straight up wonderful to me and giving me nothing but good vibes and reassurance and then pull the rug and go 'actually, changed my mind, no explanation, cya!' - what else am I supposed to say / react to that with, other than… Well that's just mean! And I'll be daaaaaamned if you call me crazy !!!!!!! “Who says forever like right as they're leaving? To you they're just words, but careless words hurt – it's mean when you don't mean it”. Yeah, suck on that.”
“25” via Wonderland
“'25' is like the bookend song of the album, with “Youngest That I'll Ever Be” matching it on the other side. Running on the same themes of time running away from you and fearing ageing (“someone blew my birthday candles out and I wasn't ready”). I really wanted the song to represent how my brain feels whenever I get deep into my existential crisis'. It's peace and calm (like the ballad parts) and then suddenly AHHHHH. It's a feeling that comes out of nowhere and hits hard and fast, so I wanted the chorus' to match that same level of panic and discomfort. In terms of production - I really wanted this to be my 'grand finale'. You see, I may never get to play Wembley Stadium in my lifetime, but what I have done is made an album – and unfortunately that is not something every artist in today's industry gets to say. So, I wanted to end my album on a proper 'thank you Wembley and good night!' instrumental outro – because that's what it, and I, deserve.”
