Gretta Ray – Positive Spin | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media

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Release Date: August 18th 2023

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Gretta Ray– Positive Spin (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

Positive Spin
Upgraded
Nobody Here
Heartbreak Baby
Dear Seventeen
Don’t Date The Teenager
Loving Somebody
The Cool Boy
Can’t Keep It Casual
You’ve Already Won
Light On
America Forever

I’ve been reviewing for more than 10 years. It’s been a joy to write about albums that have resonated with me and to voice my opinions about them. But as I am approaching my mid-thirties (boy, that’s a reality check right there!), the time has come to scale back a bit. To write about the albums that have really resonated with me and not just ‘every album under the sun’. Probably from next year onwards, I’ll stop listening to any new artist (Christian and mainstream!) unless there’s a significant buzz about them that I absolutely cannot ignore. But as this is my last few months of probably exploring all the artists that I can and that I can probably handle in terms of being able to resonate with (simply because there’s way too much music artists out there to care about each and every single one of them!); here goes me reviewing yet another artist whom I wouldn’t normally. Gretta Ray, an Australian who’s similar in style to Delta Goodrem and Missy Higgins, was an artist whom I knew nothing about until I found out about her on the pre-order section of Apple Music one day; but now that she has recently released her second album Positive Spin, I though ‘why not? What’s the worst that could happen?’. And with that mentality, I dove in, and found a breezy pop album that though speaks about heavy issues, paints them in a glossy and bouncy and fun and energetic way. And after the ordeal I had analysing Ed Sheeran’s most harrowing and vulnerable album yet (Subtract!); Positive Spin is just what the doctor ordered!

The title track is the first song and as the album opener, sets the tone for the rest of the album. Gretta passionately and ardently reveals to us a story of not feeling worthy enough and not feeling good enough based on what society and the media says, and then spiralling. Gretta encourages us all in this melody by trying to see the world around us and our circumstances as ‘half-full’ or having a positive spin on things; and as this celebratory melody progresses, it’s hard to not have a smile on your face, and he fact that it’s danceable and groovy to move to isn’t lost on me- it’s a melody where you can feel grateful and thankful for life at the end of it, and for that reason this melody has already accomplished what it set out to do: to live life with a positive outlook and a positive spin!

The rest of the album introduces us more and more to the multifaceted and dynamic artist that is Gretta Ray as we are immersed in one of the most happy and cheerful albums of the year thus far. The power pop anthem “Upgraded” speaks about how Gretta has now upgraded from her toxic and dysfunctional relationship with her ex to a happy and satisfying life right now being single and being content; while the country-adjacent banjo prominent melody “Nobody Here” speaks about feeling alone at a party or in a room of crowded people, and then retreating to your safe space and calling upon that one person who makes everything right in the world, be it a friend or a romantic partner or someone else platonic like a mentor. Lead single and 80’s inspired pop anthem “Heartbreak Baby” speaks about Gretta’s expertise and having her heart broken many times, and hence being an expert at feeling hurt and pain and then finding yourself and finding hope and peace after that, no matter how long it takes; while for me it’s “Dear Seventeen” which is the pinnacle of the album- where Gretta sings a song to her 17 year-old self, and gives sage advice about not changing a thing about the future because it’s how she grows as a person and as a singer and songwriter.

“Don’t Date The Teenager” also contains some welcome advice, as Gretta imparts wisdom and knowledge to younger people of a generation below her. With Gretta coming through a failed relationship with a man 12 years her senior, she inspires young women and encourages them to not fall for the charms of older men who promise the world and then don’t deliver; while the emotional and melancholy track “Loving Somebody” is where Gretta laments about life in general and about a failed relationship where she actually loved the person, and a relationship that she misses for the comfort and the security and for something familiar. “The Cool Boy” recounts Gretta’s successful but then failed attempt at winning over ‘the cool boy’ romantically (whether this is in high school or in university is anyone’s guess), reminding us that sometimes relationships will fail, but it’s in these moments where we are moulded into stronger people and into people that God wants us to be. Similar in theme is “Can’t Keep It Casual”, where Gretta admits to having fallen in love with one of her best guy friends, yet reminding us all that the heartbreak she has endured has galvanised her and has made her much more resilient and tough and much more philosophical at what happens in life and what gets thrown at her.

“You’ve Already Won”, a song where Gretta sings about the biggest and most profound moments in her life, and the fact that she knows that she’s ‘won’ and is content and successful even though she’s not a millionaire like Taylor Swift, is probably the most revealing and personal and honest song on the album; while the penultimate track on Positive Spin is “Light On”, a song where she gives her ex another chance because they’re now older and wiser and much more mature. The album then ends with the homage and tribute to America and the declaration and proclamation that Gretta is staying in America- as in still living in the mindset of America even while living in Australia still- or even someday physically moving to America: I’ve always felt extra creatively driven as soon as I touch down in L.A. The energy there permits me to fully believe in myself and the art that I make. On my final day in L.A last March, I rocked up to a session with Carol, and complained to her about having to fly home to Australia. I just wanted to stay in America, forever. The two of us spent the day unpacking this further on the couch in her living room, just us and an acoustic guitar. We also drove through Pasadena and continued writing as we looked out over the city, sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. When a certain place brings out the best version of yourself, it’s hard to leave it behind without feeling like you’re abandoning a piece of yourself. The more creatively liberated I am, the more I feel like me.

One thing I really want my audience to know about this new album is that just because we are ‘seeking out the silver lining’, that doesn’t mean we are ignoring the clouds themselves and pretending like they’re not there! I think it’s so important to sit with your emotions and feel every single one of them.

I’m fortunate in the sense that songwriting is an outlet for me – it allows me to process any given situation and to arrive on the other side of it knowing more about myself and how I’m going to move through it. While I think there are plenty of scenarios that you would be wrong to put a positive spin on, I also believe that heavier situations and emotions can serve as vehicles to drive us into more positively intended actions. For example, the global pandemic and several hard lockdowns in my home city of Melbourne made me feel miserable, but at the same time, I was all the more grateful for life in general after that experience.

The bad taught me to see the good and to appreciate it more rather than suppress the bad entirely.

I definitely haven’t always felt forgiving of my younger self. However, the ‘resent’ that I address in that song [Dear Seventeen] was actually inspired by envy of my younger self, rather than the ‘cringe’ moments!

There was this wave of excitement and interest that came with the release of my song Drive when I was seventeen, which brought in so many opportunities that I’m forever grateful for. Now, at 25, I know a lot more about this job. Sometimes I wish a similar ‘wave’ would occur with a new song because I believe I would know how to navigate it a lot better now that I have more experience!

I think this kind of feeling is what the phrase ‘youth is wasted on the young’ is about… but I actually hate that phrase and think it’s so stupid. The truth is, I was perfectly equipped to ride that wave at seventeen – it taught me so much, and it’s brought me to where I am now! So I really wouldn’t change a thing, and when I get caught up in that feeling of envy and resentment, I now have this song as a reminder to be a little more gentle when thinking of little me.

I know for a fact that Gretta Ray’s Positive Spin isn’t solely created for my benefit. It’s for maybe and probably young women who are in relationships, as Gretta imparts wisdom about heartbreak and feelings of loss. Aside from a few tracks (the title track, the America-loving “America Forever”, “Dear Seventeen”, “You’ve Already Won” and parts of “Nobody Here”); the rest of the songs are about relationships- and I’m not in one, so I shouldn’t like this project. Yet there is something about Gretta that is instantly likeable and admirable, and maybe it’s the openness and honesty and the fact that all of these songs sound real and authentic. Gretta is incredibly encouraging and inspiring, as she reminds us that she’s a flawed individual that can sometimes intentionally or unintentionally hurt people for whatever reason, and can sometimes enter into toxic relationships and can be burned. People can learn a lot from Positive Spin, and if we can just see the beautiful and inspiring parts of life and the positive things that can arise from the ashes of our trouble and of our circumstance; then we can truly live in freedom and with the knowledge that life is worth living when you put your whole heart into it and life is worth living when Jesus Christ directs your steps. What is next for Gretta? Another new album or touring? Here’s hoping the next album is just and profound this one, and maybe even more so. A Christmas project next up?

I’ve seen a few people say “Positive Spin” is like “Begin To Look Around”’s big sister. Whereas in my mind, I think that “Begin To Look Around” is the big sister, and “Positive Spin” is the fun, sassy, but really grounding, carefree, younger sister. Which kind of reminds me of my little sister, in terms of the energy she brings into my life. So that’s kind of how I perceive the records and the relationship between the two of them.

“Begin To Look Around” feels everything very deeply, and while “Positive Spin” feels things deeply too, it also kind of just says it like it is. It’s a pretty heavy album to be honest, which is interesting because it’s such a light, and bright record aesthetically. I feel like with both of these albums, right around the time they’ve come out into the world, I’ve been moving through the emotions that I need the album to kind of heal, if that makes sense.

So now when I listen to the title track “Positive Spin”, I’m like, “what was I talking about?”, but in a way that I remember what I was talking about, but I still really need to hear that advice now. I’m kind of letting “Positive Spin” guide me at the moment as I’m very consumed by the universe of it right now.