Grae unveils her boldest era yet with 7 Minutes 'Til Heaven

Toronto’s Grae returns with 7 Minutes 'Til Heaven, an album that marks a confident step forward in her evolving alternative pop sound.

The record blends bold lyricism with experimental production, weaving together nuanced reflections on vulnerability, identity, and emotional survival.

INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK

From the outset, the title track sets a charged atmosphere — restless synths and taut percussion underpin Grae’s distinctively textured vocals. The song encapsulates a tension between urgency and restraint, a thread that runs through much of the album. Her voice balances a raw, almost fragile timbre with a grounded, assured delivery that invites listeners into her inner world without oversharing.

7 Minutes 'Til Heaven occupies a space where indie pop’s emotional directness meets artful soundscapes. Tracks like ‘Confused’ layer shimmering electronic motifs with syncopated rhythms, while ‘The Friend Zone’ explores relational ambiguity with a dreamy yet uneasy cadence. Grae’s songwriting is conversational, at times dryly witty, often evoking moments of awkwardness or uncertainty with remarkable precision.

What truly sets this album apart is its embrace of imperfection. Grae refuses glossy polish, favouring textured production choices that emphasise the raw edges of emotion. The subtle shifts in vocal tone — from breathy whispers to biting clarity — create a dynamic sense of movement, as if she’s grappling with herself in real time. This vulnerability is paired with a sophisticated sense of arrangement; the instrumentation is minimal but meticulously crafted, giving space for the lyrics to resonate.

7 Minutes 'Til Heaven feels like a late-night diary entry, full of complicated feelings and unresolved tensions. It captures the hazy limbo of young adulthood — the blurred boundaries between friendship and romance, the oscillation between hope and cynicism, and the slow, sometimes painful process of self-discovery.

Grae’s unique ability to fuse personal storytelling with inventive pop sensibilities places her in a rare category of artists who challenge expectations while remaining accessible. 7 Minutes 'Til Heaven isn’t just an album; it’s an invitation to embrace complexity — to sit with discomfort and find beauty in it.

This bold new chapter confirms Grae as a distinctive voice in contemporary pop, one unafraid to turn vulnerability into strength, and emotional uncertainty into compelling art.

Photo by Mariah Hamilton