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Gretel On The Nature Of Success, And Letting Go
Gretel reflects on releasing her debut album, ‘Squish’, and reassessing success after the intense expectations created by early breakthrough tracks. She says a quieter-than-hoped-for response has pushed her to value the music itself over online comparison and external validation, while live performances and real connections with listeners have become especially meaningful.
Released in April, ‘Squish’ addresses femininity, people pleasing, body dysmorphia, grief, the male gaze and belonging. Gretel describes several songs as emerging instinctively, while ‘The Perfect Body’ concerns choosing happiness amid body dysmorphia, and other tracks draw on the deaths of her grandfather and grandmother; she now defines success as earning enough from music to continue making it.
In short
- Gretel is redefining success beyond industry expectations.
- ‘Squish’ explores personal struggles and grief.
- Live audience connections matter more to her now.
Explained simply
Gretel is a musician who released her debut album, Squish, in April. The album explores personal and difficult topics including femininity, body dysmorphia, grief and belonging, with some songs inspired by the deaths of her grandparents.
Gretel's earlier songs had achieved breakthrough success online, creating significant expectations for her debut album. However, the album's reception proved quieter than anticipated.
The story raises questions about how emerging artists define and measure success. For musicians who break through rapidly online, expectations around major releases can sometimes exceed what actually materialises commercially.
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