Rewritten Article
Grace VanderWaal openly talks about her fresh release 'Childstar' and her journey navigating fame during her youthful years.
(Sounds of Grace VanderWaal's song, "Proud")
ALEX (HOST):
Grace VanderWaal's latest album offers a poignant glimpse into her past and the burdens that came with fame.
(Sounds of "Proud")
GRAACE (ARTIST): (Singing) A humble child, a promise I'll be small, I won't take up space at all. Remember gratitude. You tell me I'm great when I don't cry, and I never ask for nothing...
ALEX (HOST):
Grace VanderWaal became a household name when she clinched the top spot on "America's Got Talent" at just 12 years old. Since then, she's grappled with the precarious balancing act of growing up in the spotlight. Her new record, "Childstar," revisits that tumultuous period in her life, aiming to make sense of it all.
(Sounds of "Proud")
GRAACE (ARTIST): (Singing) Did I make you proud? Did I take your breath away? Did I make you proud?
ALEX (HOST):
Growing up under the microscope was both confusing and overwhelming for VanderWaal.
ALEX (HOST): May I ask about the "terrible things" you mentioned that were happening in your personal life back then?
GRAACE (ARTIST): While I can't share specific details as it involves others and their stories, it's important to note that this feeling of guilt and burden isn't uncommon among child stars. I think it's a common experience for many individuals—even adult women—to hide their struggles and maintain a facade of positivity.
ALEX (HOST): Can you explain what those "natural instincts" are that a person would prefer to express instead?
GRAACE (ARTIST): It's a human instinct to communicate our needs and ask for help when necessary. For me, I often felt like I should keep my problems hidden, even when it was difficult. As people, it's unnatural to repress our impulses and pretend we're always OK.
(Sounds of "Homesick")
ALEX (HOST): This brings us to your song "Homesick." It's a melancholic yet beautiful composition, isn't it?
GRAACE (ARTIST): "Homesick" captures the longing for healing, serenity, or salvation that may never come. So often, we look forward to achieving certain milestones or finding love, thinking our lives will then be complete. The truth, however, is that we might miss out on living in the present, caught up in chasing after something that might not even exist.
(Sounds of "Homesick")
ALEX (HOST): I must say, your voice is truly extraordinary. How did it all begin for you?
GRAACE (ARTIST): I guess I've always had a love for singing, but it was an outlet for me to express myself as I struggled to do so through words. I started singing and writing songs to cope with my emotions, to give shape to my thoughts and feelings.
ALEX (HOST): How did making this album help you understand yourself better?
GRAACE (ARTIST): Writing "Childstar" allowed me to confront the wounds of my past I'd carried with me for so long. I realized that the root of my pain was the secrecy of those experiences—not telling anyone about what I went through. By sharing my story through this album, I've found a sense of freedom I didn't know I was missing.
(Sounds of "Brand New")
ALEX (HOST): In the track "Brand New," you sing "I'm the woman. I'm the sin. A blemish burned into your skin." Is there a deeper meaning behind these lyrics?
GRAACE (ARTIST): "Brand New" delves into the idea of being trapped by one's identity and past experiences. It's a confessional song about the pain of feeling defined by past mistakes or perceived shortcomings. By acknowledging and accepting those parts of ourselves, we can move forward and grow.
ALEX (HOST): With so much of your life already unfolded at such a young age, do you allow yourself to have hopes for the future?
GRAACE (ARTIST): Absolutely! I have many hopes for my future. My dreams involve doing justice by this music and channeling it into performances and tours. Most importantly, I want to honor my little girl self through my art.
ALEX (HOST): Honoring your little girl self... How does that play into your artistic vision?
GRAACE (ARTIST): As a child, I had to mature more quickly than my peers. I carried the weight of my painful experiences at a young age, and my dreams are a way of setting those wounds free. By expressing myself creatively, I hope to give my younger self the voice she never had.
(Sounds of "Brand New")
ALEX (HOST): Grace VanderWaal, thank you for sharing your music and your story with us.
GRAACE (ARTIST): Thank you for having me.
(Sounds of "Call It What You Want")
- Grace VanderWaal, hoping to make sense of her past and the burdens that came with fame, revisits her turbulent childhood chapter in her newest album, "Childstar."
- While struggling with the microscope of fame, VanderWaal mentions feeling guilt and burden over unshared personal struggles that are common among child stars and adult women alike who hide their struggles in favour of maintaining a facade of positivity.
- VanderWaal's song "Homesick" reflects the longing for healing, serenity, or salvation that may never come, as people search for fulfillment through achieving milestones and love, sometimes overlooking the importance of living in the present.
- Educational transcripts and personal growth are important to VanderWaal, as she sees music, entertainment, and the lessons learned from celebrities as opportunities for self-development and development of her artistic vision.
- The melancholic song "Brand New" speaks of being trapped by one's identity and the past, with lyrics like "A blemish burned into your skin," discussing the pain of feeling defined by past mistakes or shortcomings while urging listeners to acknowledge and accept those parts of themselves for growth.
