In her new single “Proud,” Grace VanderWaal swapped glitter for grit, entering the raw, feel-everything landscape that forms the heart of her sophomore album, “CHILDSTAR.” The track, with co-writing credits that include Brittany Campbell, Eren Cannata, Niko Mansikka-aho, and VanderWaal herself, and production by Eren Cannata and DTK, feels less like a pop song and more like a personal letter.
“Proud” isn’t so much about impressing anybody as it is about reclaiming a narrative that’s too often romanticized or misunderstood. VanderWaal draws the portrait of the golden child, the kid who checks every box, smiles through the silence, and carries the weight of a family’s expectations with quiet grace. It’s about those children who grow up being told they’re so special, only to discover that specialness comes with strings attached to responsibility, politeness, and submerging one’s own needs.
The track is purposefully produced so that Grace’s voice, tender, aching, and wise beyond her years, can carry the weight of the narrative. No overproduction is to be found here. The melody drifts, allowing the lyrics to arrive like truths we’ve all heard but never spoken. You can listen to the tension between childhood and performance, between being seen and cared for. “Proud” shows VanderWaal’s control in presenting a deeply personal narrative without making it a spectacle. This is not trauma for entertainment purposes. It’s a call for empathy. It reminds us that children shouldn’t have to earn love by maturing too quickly.
With “Proud,” Grace VanderWaal isn’t simply singing. She is speaking for every child who was told to be strong before they argued with themselves about what that meant or had even begun to know how to be. It’s a brave, stark chapter in her artistic evolution, and it is clear that “CHILDSTAR” is not about chasing pop perfection but about telling the truth.
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