“All my life I have turned off my emotions for the sake of self-protection, but in the last year I have decided that is a devastating waste. Let go of the idea that the only way you could find happiness in life is within a white picket fence with that golden retriever. Let yourself cry about that too. Because the fact that you were brave enough to feel anything at all should be a celebration in itself.”
That’s how Conan Gray introduced his newest album Found Heaven, which was released on April 5, 2024. Compared to Gray’s past albums Kid Krow (2020) and Superache (2022), Found Heaven stands out as drastically different in both tone and sound. The album takes heavy inspiration from 80s songs and style, and is much more upbeat and dancey overall, while still tackling difficult and heartfelt topics, a staple of Gray’s discography.
Title track “Found Heaven” opens the album, and does an excellent job at setting the tone Gray is going for. The song deals with themes of finding one’s identity and the fear many queer people experience when not only coming out, but facing the world. The song has a very comforting tone to it, while still being hard-hitting and powerful. Gray sings “Don’t be scared little child, you’re no demon” a sort of retrospective message to his younger self regarding his own identity, but which also gives the song this hauntingly beautiful tone.
“Never Ending Song” and “Lonely Dancers” both released as singles prior to the full album and are some of the catchiest songs on the entire album. On both, Gray sings in a deeper octave than most of his other songs, making their initial release sound more experimental but good representatives of Found Heaven. Both songs are also very fun and upbeat in tone, making them perfect soundtracks for late night drives or dancing alone in your room.
Gray’s self-proclaimed “silly song” of the album “Bourgeoisieses” has by far the catchiest chorus, with it’s almost chant-like style. Acting like an older sibling to “Affluenza” a song released on Kid Krow, “Bourgeoisieses” discusses the absurdity those with an overabundance of wealth have.
The album’s upbeat songs pair perfectly with its slower, more ballad-like songs. “Alley Rose,” the last single released prior to the album, tells the emotion-filled story of heartbreak and vulnerability in Gray’s own relationships, while “Miss You” mixes techno and synth sounds with lyrics such as “Is it wrong to now decide that I miss you?” which show off how, after losing someone, their impact and ghost still haunt you.
Several songs on the album fall into this gray area of not being outright upbeat or slow, and those often work to flesh out the album’s overall sound and feel. “Eye of The Night” sounds like the kind of song that someone in an 80s movie would play standing outside in the rain holding a boombox trying to win their love back, while “Final Fight” feels like it would fit perfectly at an 80s prom.
Throughout Found Heaven, Gray shows off his range and musical ability mixing slow and upbeat songs throughout, but keeping a consistent sound and tone. Every song feels like it could soundtrack an 80s movie–from heartbreaking scenes to training montages, and each does a good job complimenting the others. While Gray’s previous albums had their upbeat dancey songs, they felt much more mellow compared to Found Heaven, which has an elevated energy level that’s clear throughout. Overall, Found Heaven does an excellent job complimenting and expanding Gray’s discography, and a must listen for old and new fans.
Emily Imanishi is a Senior Writing for Film, TV & Emerging Media major who would love to find a random supermarket and recreate the “Never Ending Song” music video. She can be reached at [email protected]