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"Easy" is a song by indie pop band Pale Waves. Released 13 January 2021, it served as the third single from their second studio album, Who Am I?

Music and lyrics

"Easy" was written by Pale Waves's guitarist and lyricist, Heather Baron-Gracie along with Sam de Jong; it was produced by Rich Costey. According to Baron-Gracie, "Easy" is the "feel good love song" on the album. "I feel like love is the most universal and most powerful emotion we experience," Baron-Gracie later explained in an interview with Apple Music. "Love can drive you to do crazy things about how euphoric and uplifting love made me feel."

Originally this track was envisioned as a piano ballad, but "it didn't fit together". Despite optimistic lyrics, "on the piano, it ... sound sad and a bit depressing." When Baron-Gracie showcased the song for de Jong, the latter told her: "I love this song, but the music doesn't really suit what talking about, nor does it entirely represent the true meaning of 'easy'." Baron-Gracie and de Jong consequently reworked the song, metamorphosing it from a "depressing emo ballad" into an "uplifting, feel-good song". One element that was added to the song at this time was the heavier guitar riff that plays during the chorus. This riff was inspired by "grungy, super-catchy" guitar lines in songs by "strong female artists" like Courtney Love, Alanis Morissette, and Liz Phair. Initially, Baron-Gracie and de Jong debated whether the riff belonged in the final cut, but in the end, Baron-Gracie felt that it added "another element" to the song.

Music video

A video for "Easy" was released on 13 January 2021. Directed by James Slater, this video was inspired by the "gothic medieval aesthetic and ... Tim Burton films", according to Baron-Gracie. As of April 2024, the video has been viewed over 2.3 million times on YouTube.

Release and reception

"Easy" was released as the third single from Who Am I?, and it debuted on 13 January 2021, premiering on BBC Radio 1. The song later peaked at number 43 on Radiomonitor's "UK Radio Airplay Top 50" chart.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Who Am I?

Charts

Release history

References

1. Kinnett, Tristan (14 January 2021). "Pale Waves Channel Pop Punk in New Video for 'Easy'". MXDWN. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
2. ^ Kacy, Megan T. (20 January 2022). "It's 'Easy' To Fall In Love With Pale Waves' Latest Single". Sound Digest. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
3. Ferlita, Gabriella (10 February 2021). "Album Review: Pale Waves give pop-punk a makeover on 'Who Am I?'". Riff Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
4. ^ Pale Waves (2021). Who Am I? (Vinyl record liner notes). London, UK: Dirty Hit.
5. ^ Williams, Sophie; Baron-Gracie, Heather (12 February 2021). Pale Waves – 'Who Am I?' | Track By Track. NME. YouTube. Event occurs at 7:24–10:22.
6. "Who Am I?". Apple Music. 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022.
7. ^ Baron-Gracie, Heather (2021). "Pale Waves on 'Easy'". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
8. ^ Skinner, Tom (13 January 2021). "Watch the Gothic Video for Pale Waves' New Single 'Easy'". NME. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021.
9. Skinner, Tom (13 January 2021). "Watch the gothic video for Pale Waves' new single 'Easy'". NME. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
10. Pale Waves (2020). "Pale Waves – Easy". Vevo. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024 – via YouTube.
11. ^ "UK Airplay". Music Week. April 2021. p. 94. Retrieved 8 September 2022.

• 2021 songs
• British pop punk songs
• Dirty Hit singles
• Pale Waves songs
• Songs written by Sam de Jong
• Song recordings produced by Rich Costey
• Songs written by Heather Baron-Gracie