Introduced by the unmistakeable whirring of an old film projector, the latest track from 17-year old Grace Keeling, or Greysha as she is known professionally, is a beautifully melancholic post break-up story. The unusual sound effects which begin Life Goes Fluently actually add meaning to her sombre tale; Greysha describes a girl who is lying not only to everyone around her, but to herself as well. She pretends that her new found freedom is a blessing whilst inwardly feeling lost and helpless. Keeling intermittently removes the speaker's protective shield throughout her rebellious monologue. Through this, we get a glimpse into her true emotions. “Being like this is a mind fright,” she admits, showing her fear of being lost forever. She even confesses that “He’s at the back of my mind all the time”, revealing that she is confusing loneliness with freedom.
Despite only being in her first year of sixth form college, Greysha has already released five singles; with each one, she becomes more experimental and unique. If her distinct production style wasn’t already evident by the blur of sound effects which introduce the track, you can’t deny how easy it is to become lost in Greysha’s dreamy and psychedelic style. That idea of her drowning life out is clear in the way everything sounds slightly distanced from the listener. A faint buzzing noise turns into wistful lead guitar, whilst those looping guitar chords initiate a stupefying daze.
The verses are backed by percussive muted guitar which drives the song forward. The track’s sudden transition from tranquility to strength recreates her character’s determination to carry on despite her pain. This is only complemented by Greysha’s powerful voice, recounting her false state of mind through beautiful melodies. In fact, it is the recurrence of the main riff which reminds the listener of the truth. Tinged with a darker and more menacing second guitar line, it reveals how her character is losing grip of her own identity.
The chorus is breath-taking in the way the instrumentation actually thins in texture. It is a continuation of her story: an innocent request to a lover. Or is it? Whilst she claims to have accepted her problems and moved on, declaring “life goes fluently,” you can’t help but feel her love for this man is just another part of her disguise. Having a vibrant chorus would definitely seem out of place when her love is just a further layer to her not so thin veneer. Sudden loud excerpts of lead guitar educe her confusion and desperation, whilst the continuous whir of synthesisers are a constant reminder of the love she has lost.
During the second verse, she finally realises what she is doing. “Isn’t it funny how we always want to leave where we are?” she sings, recognising that she has been using love only as an escape mechanism. Whilst she wishes she could leave and start again, she instead tries to find solace in what she has. Cynically, she declares, “You’re love is cheap and this time is free.” Fortunately, Greysha doesn’t conclude the song there.
The sound dies away before becoming back in full throttle. The ending is a disorienting mix of drama and hopelessness over a mass of reverb and intertwining guitars. This, combined with Keeling’s constant interjections of “Life Goes Fluently” almost recreates the song’s initial stupor. The vocals become chant-like, with Greysha repeating the lines, “Can you feel it?” and “I’m losing my head” over and over again. We can only hope that this means she has overcome her fears of rejection, revealed her true self and properly fallen in love. The stirring line “My heart’s getting undressed” certainly suggests this. However, the song finishes more softly and solemnly than it began - for by revealing her true self, she is finally faced with her grief.
A roller-coaster journey of emotions, Greysha’s latest single is a stunning tribute to young love and an unforgettable moment in this young musician’s career.
‘Life Goes Fluently’ is available on all streaming platforms.
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