On a record that turns whispers into declarations, Gracie Abrams has finally learned to embrace the spotlight. Her deluxe edition of “The Secret of Us,” released Oct. 18, arrives as both a celebration and an expansion of her critically acclaimed sophomore album. With four new tracks that push her artistic boundaries and live recordings that showcase her growing confidence as a performer, Abrams proves that the path from bedroom songwriter to Grammy-nominated artist doesn’t require abandoning authenticity – it just means learning to share it with a larger audience.
From bedroom to stadium: The evolution of a reluctant star
In an industry that often demands bold declarations, Gracie Abrams began her musical journey in near silence, writing songs quietly in her bedroom to avoid being heard. Gracie shared more of her thought about this in “The Secret of Us (Short Film)” by Vevo.
“I never had the intention or interest in being a performer at all,” she reveals, explaining how this private practice shaped her signature gentle vocals. “I was really quiet with it at home and anytime I would hear anybody walking past I would stop.”
This self-imposed quietude inadvertently became her artistic fingerprint, though critics and fans would later debate whether her whispery delivery was an artistic choice or a limitation.
The deluxe treatment: Expanding the secret
The expanded edition of “The Secret of Us” builds upon the original album’s foundation with four previously unreleased tracks, including the standout “That’s So True,” co-written with her best friend Audrey Hobert. This addition, already generating buzz with over 35,000 TikTok videos using its audio, showcases Abrams’ evolution from bedroom songwriter to main stage performer.
Olivia Rosenberg, ’25, who hosts “She Spins Indie” on WONC 89.1 alongside Sophie Ommen ’26, captures the impact of these new additions: “The Secret of Us deluxe version confirms what we’ve already started to pick up on: Gracie Abrams is not afraid to tell us like it is. Tracks like ‘Cool’ and ‘That’s So True’ are like the seething voicemails we receive from a friend who just got stood up.”
The deluxe version also includes live Vevo recordings of “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” “I Knew It, I Know You” and “Free Now,” proving her ability to translate intimate moments into powerful live performances.
Chart success and critical acclaim
Abrams worked with The National’s Aaron Dessner and tour mate Taylor Swift on this album. She crafts a sophomore album that’s both more assured and more vulnerable than her debut. The album’s success is evident in tracks like “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” which has spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 19. This commercial achievement validates what critics have long suspected: Abrams’ authenticity resonates far beyond her bedroom walls. The song, which cleverly references her earlier work “I miss you, I’m sorry,” demonstrates her ability to build upon her existing narrative while pushing into new emotional territory.
Emotional depth and self-awareness
The songwriter’s growth is particularly evident in her handling of relationship dynamics. Rather than casting herself solely as the wounded party, Abrams demonstrates remarkable self-awareness. This is seen in tracks like “Tough Love,” where she examines her own role in romantic discord. The song’s bridge, “No, I’m not gonna miss his sh***y friends and nights of their binge drinking,” delivers a sharp critique while acknowledging her own agency in choosing to leave.
This self-awareness extends throughout the album, creating what Rolling Stone describes as “a complex picture of a relationship gone sour, full of heartbreak songs that capture the messiness of dating in your early twenties.”
Rosenberg observes that, “Gracie puts herself right in our pockets for when we feel that passive sort of rage that only young woman can really relate to. We only see that anger subside with ‘Packing It Up,’ a refreshing reminder that not every hit has to be a searing diss.”
Musical evolution and production
This emotional expansion manifests in more dynamic arrangements and bolder vocal choices throughout the record. The deluxe edition’s new tracks, “Cool,” “That’s So True,” “I Told You Things” and “Packing It Up,” further develop these themes. The track “That’s So True” particularly stands out for its sharp observational lyrics and more assertive vocal delivery.
“When it came to The Secret of Us,” Abrams explains, “the feelings felt so large and so new and I couldn’t physically contain that almost … I felt like (it) deeply contributed to the personality of The Secret of us which is just a bit more sure of herself.”
Finding her voice
The folky-pop production, helmed by Dessner, provides a perfect backdrop for Abrams’ evolving sound. While her earlier work might have been criticized for whispering, here she finds the perfect balance between intimacy and assertion.
As she explains, “It’s not like I wanted to be like a whispery singer, it was just I didn’t want to be heard.”
Abrams now has a Best New Artist nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards under her belt. She is also currently opening for Taylor Swift on the final leg of the Eras Tour. Next she heads to Europe for her own tour in February 2025. With all this, Abrams has clearly overcome that initial reluctance.
The verdict: A triumph of growth
The deluxe edition serves as both a victory lap and a bridge to her future work. The album was announced during her show at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago and released on Oct. 18. This expanded version of “The Secret of Us” stands as a testament to an artist who has found her voice – and isn’t afraid to use it anymore. The additional tracks and live recordings demonstrate not just artistic growth but a newfound confidence in her performing abilities.
“The Secret of Us (Deluxe)” succeeds because it maintains the intimacy of Abrams’ earlier work. However, it still pushes her sound and storytelling into bolder territory. The album feels like both a confession to a close friend and a declaration to the world. Abrams is proving that sometimes the softest voices have the most impactful things to say. In an era of increasing musical maximalism, Gracie Abrams shows that evolution doesn’t always mean getting louder. Sometimes it means getting more precise, more honest and more sure of oneself.
