After years of anticipation, Austin native and Latina R&B artist Grace Sorensen has finally released her debut album BLUEPRINT and it is phenomenal. Sorensen’s trademark sultry tones and impeccable instrumentation are on full display in this 10-track album as she croons over jazz-like melodies and dazzles over beats that feel as if they jumped straight off a Destiny’s Child track. Throughout the far-too-short runtime of 29 minutes, Sorensen speaks on the complexities of modern love, loss, and the empowering strength of individuality with ease.
The album opener, “RARE” draws the listener in with Sorensen’s haunting vocalizations and classic R&B musicality. A slower track, it primes the audience for the ride that is BLUEPRINT, making them yearn for more which Sorensen quickly delivers in the next track, “CAN’T KISS AND FORGET”. This song was a single, and for good reason. Two tracks in and Sorensen is already displaying her killer ear for instrumentation. Smooth beats mixing with a simple piano to create a fusion of R&B and jazz, unlike anything one would expect from such a young artist. “CAN’T KISS AND FORGET” feels like you’re jumping into a pool of calming rhythms and swoon-worthy harmonies, all while Sorensen serenades the audience about a love so intoxicating that she keeps coming back.
The deeper I got into the album, the more I understood how intentional Sorensen was with her single choices. In an album filled with catchy choruses and memorable beats, a song like “SUPERSTARS” offers some of her best work. It summarizes so much of what we explore in BLUEPRINT, making it a sneak peek of the album even months before it arrived. Sorensen sings about an enigmatic love and the lines I just want you closer, can’t keep my composure. Out of my control, my cups running over, aren’t just catchy, but clever with the constant use of assonance that keeps the listener engaged.
Then there’s the song “MADNESS, MADNESS”. Another single released over a year ago, this track feels like the entire thesis of Sorensen’s musical project. With lyrics like If it feels good ima do it and I love my company the self-proclaimed “poetic baddie anthem” preaches self-acceptance above all else. When I spoke to Sorensen all those months ago, she let me in on the meaning behind “MADNESS, MADNESS”, “The song is about just doing you unapologetically. Even though there’s madness, there’s insecurities, there’s crazy things going on in the world.” But this notion isn’t just limited to one song, it runs deep throughout Sorensen’s artistry. As a Latina musician, she’s often been told to only do songs in Spanish or to try and appeal to a more mainstream audience. Yet time and time again she’s stuck to what feels authentic to herself.
The perfect example is track seven, “ORANGES IN DECEMBER”, a personal favorite of mine, Sorensen sings the entire second verse in Spanish. This was another single, and probably wouldn’t be recommended for most up-and-coming artists to do. But it’s that exact determination that I admire from Sorensen. An insistence on doing what feels true to her, no matter the cost. Sorensen also shared with me that this won’t be the last time she sings in Spanish, but she wanted her Latino fans to know that it was on the record.
When I saw the tracklist for the first time, there was one song I was looking forward to hearing the most. The album closer, “NO FEAR”. I had the privilege of hearing “NO FEAR” back in May, and I was taken aback by both the meaning, and how it had evolved. That specific show had been held in Austin, to honor Sorensen’s father in light of his recent passing. At the show Sorensen spoke about how the song came about, “I got to this [writing] session…and it just kind of spilled out me. And it just was very clear that it was me kind of being just a vessel for something higher. It’s just a very wholesome song about not having fear, and full trust in things that you can’t see.” Hearing it again as the closer for BLUEPRINT felt correct. It’s a song that holds so much significance for Sorensen, to have that be the message she pushes out for the last track is beautiful.
The entire album is true to the name, laying the foundation for what fans can expect from Sorensen’s artistry. The daring choices, the vulnerability, and the unique soundscapes encapsulate who Sorensen is through and through. If you’re looking for a new artist to get into, a local artist, or even just some easy tunes to listen to, Grace Sorensen’s BLUEPRINT is a great place to start!
You can listen to the album here.
