On her newly released debut album “Vertigo”, honest confessions of loneliness, longing, reflection shine proudly on the boldly insular project. After nearly five years since her debut and being named the BRIT’s Rising Star of 2021, Griff’s career has all led up to the very declaration of her uniqueness. With a craft and style that takes artists numerous albums to find, Griff comes out defined, bold, and original on her first go around. With a majority of the tracks masking emotionally loaded music over bouncy, intricate production, a listen of this album feels like the most blissful sense of vertigo possible. Beginning the album with the title track, “Vertigo” sets the tone for an introspective look into both inwards and outwards emotions. Following suit, stand out track “Miss Me Too” reflects on being unable to find your back to a past version of yourself over an infectious dance-pop beat . On “Into The Walls”, haunting production and melodies express a desire to disappear to see if anyone notices and for a moment to try and build yourself back up.
Tracks like “Anything” and “Tears for Fun” stand as masterclasses in anthemic pop choruses over bouncy synth-pop, while the Steve Martin assisted “Astronaut” shines as a breathtaking ballad tackling the conflicting feelings of watching someone grow away from you (“You said that you needed space, go on then, astronaut”). On the album closer “Where Did You Go?”, Griff brings things full circle by continuing the story that was started on “Miss Me Too”, posing the question “Where did I go?” once more. Rounding out the range of emotions on the album over a vocoder driven track reminiscent of Imogen Heap, the intricately built track ends the album on the perfect parting note. Whether it’s her artistic growth that stands out on tracks that are reminiscent of Griff’s early solo produced work (“Pillow In My Arms” and “Hole In My Pocket”), or an exploration of new sounds (the folky “So Fast” and the dance-driven “Cycles), each moment of “Vertigo” feels like a confident declaration of artistry. With her distinguishable vocal deliveries and recognizable production quirks, Griff offers an elaborate and real expression of an emotional journey that feels familiar to many. With a vision so pointed and executed on the debut “Vertigo”, it is certain that Griff is setting the stage for an exciting career ahead, and it is quite the delight to see.
- Logan Bandi
