The pop-rock prodigy that we know as Grapefruite—some may know her as Grete Martens—is back with her first ear-hooking release of the year: her debut album, ‘Lost in Chiang Mai.’
Though relatively new to sharing her music with the world, Grapefruite is already considered a rising star, having spotlighted her beautifully bright voice with her two previous singles, ‘Quicksand’ and ‘Ask You.’ Now, with the arrival of her debut album, Grapefruite doesn’t want to just create a soundscape for you to fall in love with; she wants to immerse you in a 7-track story inspired by her relocation to Chiang Mai.
What’s more, thanks to the help of producer Earthyworlder, this album is just as polished as it is poetic. So, without further ado, let’s embark on a bittersweet journey of discovery, displacement, and delightful melodies.
Lost in Chiang Mai
The track that I think will hook listeners who love playful melodies is, incidentally, the first track of the album, ‘Blinded By You.’ From the first note, you can tell that this track flaunts a peppy, shimmery texture; the short bursts of romantically cheery guitar work, alongside that skipping twang of the bass, waste no time establishing the song’s sunny, carefree spirit.
Imbuing the track with her own sylphlike glow, Grapefruite’s vocals serve as the perfect cherry on top, completing the warmth within the instrumental harmonies. I’ve got to say that her delivery is intriguing to listen to because she both complements and contrasts the instrumentation. On the one hand, the tone of her voice blends beautifully with the mellow summeriness of the melody, and on the other, it has an ethereal softness that stands out against the rich, honeyed string work and the crisp drumbeats.
As we venture further into this delicate wonderland of a track, you can really appreciate the marriage between the vocals and the instrumentals, which twine around each other as gently as two streams of ribbon, making every verse bloom with delight. The evolution of the bass’s sound is also gorgeous; it becomes a string of husky droplets in a rippling pond, adding some edge to the track’s charming narrative. These layers, in conjunction with the undulating ocean of dreamy tempos and balanced dynamics, perfectly encapsulate the essence of young love. Young love should be all about depth, light, inviting energy, and cuteness—essentially, everything this song celebrates in heaps.
The next track that I want to talk about is ‘Glow,’ a song that stays true to its title in the way it’s intimately cosy and soothing to listen to. With ‘Glow,’ I visualise a time when I would’ve been looking through old photographs with a lo-fi playlist quietly playing in the background. This glimmer of nostalgia is born from the way the instrumentals are initially presented; there’s this muted minimalism that is blanketed by this faint film of fuzzy static, and when I hear it, I see my teenage self flicking through dozens of memories from the late 2010s.
Then, just when you’re getting lost in your reverie, Grapefruite’s vocals and the quick-fire pulses of the electric guitar nick through those tranquil lo-fi vibes. Upon my first listen, I thought it would’ve been more intriguing to see how Grapefruite’s vocals complement the relaxed atmosphere that we expect from lo-fi music. But when I listened again, I changed my mind because the emergence of these additional elements isn’t as harsh as the sudden surge of volume had me believing at first. In actuality, the guitar riff has this elusive, muted rhythm to it that maintains that aspect of the lo-fi, while still building upon it. What’s more, you know from ‘Blinded By You’ that Grapefruite’s vocals have a sweet airiness to them, but in this track, you get to experience another side of them. In ‘Glow,’ her vocals resonate with a full-bodied timbre, and that’s what solidifies her, in my mind, as a balance-conscious, versatile artist.
I also love it when artists incorporate sounds into their songs that a live audience would find easy to replicate. During the breezy chorus, you get to hear a cannonade of low-pitched stomp-esque sounds that then lead into the next verse, which is embellished with a steady flow of finger snaps. Whether intentional or instinctual, it’s great to see that Grapefruite crafts her songs with live performances in mind.
The last song that I’m going to talk about is one that I feel truly showcases the beauty of Grapefruite’s vocal prowess: ‘Physics.’ Starting with a rustic waltz between the doe-dainty piano and the keen plucks of the acoustic guitar, ‘Physics’ has a twinkling quality to it, especially with the purity that you can hear in Grapefruite’s introductory hums. Her voice in this track shines just like shooting starlight.
The melody, in itself, tells a story of a graceful descent into vulnerability, and when the vim of the electric guitar bleeds into the track, that vulnerability turns into high-spirited hope. Don’t get me started on the eruption of the guitar during the chorus—that’s sonic rocketry. The guitar effuses just the right amount of chaos across this cosmic tapestry of dazzling sound. When I say just the right amount, I really mean it—the dissonance of the guitar is reined in in such a way that it doesn’t overshadow the heavenly tenderness of the track’s heartbeat, and that takes an impressive knowledge of composition.
Even as you reach the song’s bridge, where the string work surges towards the peak of its harshness, you get to hear this amazingly balanced mesh of electric discordance and the silk-smooth, almost echo-like serenity of the vocals. Listening to this album, you can tell that this combination is rooted deeply within Grapefruite’s sonic signature, and I’m so glad for it because, when she does it, it works!
Overall, this album is surprising in all of the best ways. You could tell me that it was a seasoned artist’s third or fourth album, and I’d believe you. Throughout every song, you can easily see the silhouette of Grapefruite’s distinctive style; you’re listening to a musician who knows what works well with and elevates her voice. I’d love her next album to embrace more experimentation because it’s clear from this release that she’s undoubtedly got some range!
ALT: Pop-rock artist Grapefruite sits on a white bench next to her guitar amidst a bunch of flowers and greenery.
Grapefruite
Grapefruite’s musical journey was kick-started by her creativity just as much as it was her drive; in high school, she released the self-produced track ‘Out There,’ which served as a candid mirror through which she explored how it felt to almost turn her back on her virtuosic dreams.
From then on, Grapefruite spent her late teens honing her craft as she wandered, like a curious adventurer, and performed at open mics. All it took was a simple Google Maps search after she landed in Thailand, and before too long, she found herself in Teera Studios working alongside Earthdyworlder to perfect her 2024 single ‘Quicksand.’
The release of her debut single seemed to turbocharge Grapefruite’s showmanship, as since then, she would go on to support the wonderful Christabel Menezes during one of her live shows, collaborate with vibrant techno talent Jofer Leont, and feature in an intriguingly trippy music video directed by Yoshi Thana.
Beyond her musical pursuits, Grapefruite is also an avid photographer, impassioned by her love of both nature and nightlife. Her photography account is a testament to her understanding and celebration of down-to-earth, authentic emotion, art, and culture—just like her music.
‘Lost in Chiang Mai’ is available to listen to right now across all major streaming platforms!
Till next time!