Nashville-based singer-songwriter Grace Pettis releases her Anti Co-dependency Anthem: A foretaste of her forthcoming album

Release Date:  12^th April 2024

Label: MPress Records

Formats: Digital

When Nashville singer-songwriter Grace Pettis released her debut album, Working Woman, back in 2021, a lot of people sat up and took notice.  She’s regularly been asked “When can we expect a follow-up?” and now, at last, that’s a question that Grace is ready to answer.  Because, that long-awaited follow-up album is cocked and ready to go – it’ll hit the racks in June and the album’s lead single, I Take Care of Me Now, is with us already.

The album, Down To The Letter, chronicles the emotional upheaval and self-reclamation that Grace experienced after the break-up of her marriage and, from what I’ve heard so far, I can tell you that she pulls no punches.  I Take Care Of Me Now, our foretaste of the delights to come, forms part of Grace’s chronicle; indeed, Grace has tagged the song her “Anti-codependency anthem.”

And, if what you’ve read so far has got you expecting a collection of self-pitying, bitter recriminations, then think again.  Grace Pettis is clearly a determined, self-confident and positive lady and, with I Take Care Of Me Now, she expresses those qualities with pride and assurance.  She accompanies her bright, optimistic vocal on acoustic guitar, supported by her good friend Josh Kaler on electric guitar, Owen Biddle on bass, Jordan Perlson on drums and the backing vocals of Mary Bragg, Robby Hecht and Rachel Laven.  They make a nice sound, together.

Grace plays a percussive lick on her acoustic guitar and Josh chugs and flutters along, whilst Owen’s drum fills add just the right amount of substance to keep Grace’s increasing euphoria just about tethered to the ground.  Euphoria – that’s right; because although Grace’s lyrics reference her bad bruises – which might be physical, psychological, or both, she doesn’t say – this is a song that’s all about looking forward, with positivity and optimism.  I Take Care Of Me Now is a truly optimistic song.  She’s free – you can tell that from her every tone – and she’s looking forward to wearing her favourite clothes, dancing with whichever partner she chooses and enjoying her glasses of wine, and all on her own terms.

As a foretaste the forthcoming album, I Take Care Of Me Now is an appetizing morsel.  Sure, I don’t expect for a moment that the rest of the album will be as bright, breezy and carefree as this song – the album’s press release warns us to expect songs that: “Chronicle the end of a long-term relationship with heartbreaking detail, [with] lyrics [that] deftly toe the line between personal autobiography and universal catharsis.” 

Having listened at some length to I Take Care Of Me Now, I’m absolutely confident that Grace Pettis will recount that chronicle in the most engaging way imaginable.  Watch this space, we’ll be publishing our review of the full album in due course.

Watch the official video to I Take Care Of Myself Now here:

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