With a string of mesmerizing singles already under her belt, Canadian alt-pop luminary GRAE returns with 7 Minutes ‘Til Heaven, a richly layered and cinematic statement that unapologetically redefines her artistry. This is not just a collection of tracks, but a fearless evolution, a genre-defiant journey through the shadows and glimmers of the self. Bold, magnetic, and brimming with dark feminine power, this EP confirms what we’ve suspected all along: GRAE isn’t just playing the game, she’s rewriting the rules.
The project opens with “American Dream”, a smoky spoken-word piece delivered by none other than Purple Rain icon Apollonia. Her voice, dripping in vintage allure and prophetic cool, sets the tone for the sonic pilgrimage that follows — a dive into the dualities of glamour and disillusionment, control and surrender. GRAE leans fully into her cinematic vision here, with an atmosphere as rich in texture as it is in intent.
Tracks like “Dark Energy” and “Motorcade” showcase her ability to conjure moods that are both haunting and electrifying. “Dark Energy” pulses with synth-driven urgency, a perfect soundtrack to a neon-lit existential spiral, while “Motorcade” slows things down, drawing eerie inspiration from Jackie Kennedy and reimagining American tragedy through a sharply feminine lens. It’s a ghost story and a love letter, stitched together with vintage glamour and raw emotional precision.
“Cha-Ching” lures us into the glitzy underbelly of Las Vegas, peeling back the glossy surface to reveal something far more sinister. Like a Lynchian casino nightmare, the track sparkles with decadence even as it crumbles at the edges. Meanwhile, “Fantasy” offers a stark contrast, a delicate, aching meditation on persona versus truth. It’s here that GRAE feels closest, her vulnerability vibrating just beneath the surface of every reverb-soaked note.
Apollonia’s three interludes (“American Dream,” “A(Rouse),” and “Pleasure Breeds Fame”) serve as ethereal guideposts, never intrusive, but always essential. These spoken moments provide emotional punctuation marks, framing the EP’s narrative arc with poetic insight and surreal glamour. Apollonia’s involvement isn’t a gimmick; it’s alchemy.
On “God In A Woman,” GRAE erupts in a glorious, thunderous celebration of divine femininity. It’s the kind of track that demands a second, third, and tenth listen, a self-affirming anthem that finds power in sensuality and freedom in rebellion. That liberation explodes again on “Wet Dream”, arguably the EP’s wildest cut. Here, GRAE throws off every last restraint, barrelling into a kaleidoscope of sound that feels as spontaneous as it is meticulously crafted.
The closer, “Hollywood,” is a tender and wistful goodbye, peeling back the final layer of illusion. It’s a reminder that even in a world built on spectacle, there’s beauty in the crumble — and courage in the curtain call.
With 7 Minutes ‘Til Heaven, GRAE has delivered her most sonically adventurous and emotionally ambitious project yet. It’s a stunning act of creative rebellion, packed with noir-pop grandeur, subversive lyricism, and a voice that refuses to be boxed in. GRAE isn’t just bending genres, she’s building her own universe.