Easy (Pale Waves song)

"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?

"Easy"
Single by Pale Waves
from the album Who Am I?
Released13 January 2021
Recorded2020
GenrePop punk,[1][2][3] synth-pop[2]
Length
  • 2:54
LabelDirty Hit
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Pale Waves singles chronology
"She's My Religion"
(2020)		 "Easy"
(2021)		 "You Don't Own Me"
(2021)
Music video
"Easy" on YouTube

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.[4] According to Baron-Gracie, "Easy" is the "feel good love song" on the album.[5] "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 [and "Easy" is] about how euphoric and uplifting love made me feel."[6]

Originally this track was envisioned as a piano ballad, but "it didn't fit together". Despite optimistic lyrics, "on the piano, it ... sound[ed] sad and a bit depressing."[5] 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 [you are] talking about, nor does it entirely represent the true meaning of 'easy'."[7] Baron-Gracie and de Jong consequently reworked the song, metamorphosing it from a "depressing emo ballad" into an "uplifting, feel-good song".[7] 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.[5]

Music video
According to Heather Baron-Gracie (pictured), the unique look of the "Easy" music video was inspired by the "gothic medieval aesthetic and ... Tim Burton films".[8]

A video for "Easy" was released on 13 January 2021.[9] Directed by James Slater, this video was inspired by the "gothic medieval aesthetic and ... Tim Burton films", according to Baron-Gracie.[8] As of February 2023, the video has been viewed over 1.91 million times on YouTube.[10]

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.[8] The song later peaked at number 43 on Radiomonitor's "UK Radio Airplay Top 50" chart.[11]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Who Am I?[4]

Charts
Chart performance for "Eighteen"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Radio Airplay Top 50 (Radiomonitor)[11] 43

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Release history and formats for "Easy"
Various 13 January 2021 Digital download, streaming
[8]

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 28 February 2023 – via YouTube.
  11. "UK Airplay". Music Week. April 2021. p. 94. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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