Who Am I? (Pale Waves album)

The album opens with "Change", a song that lyrically discusses the pain of heartbreak. According to Baron-Gracie, the song was one of the last tracks to be written for the album, and in an interview with NME she explained that it was one that she "knew [she] needed on the album, but [she] didn't have it yet." Lyrically, the song posed a challenge to Baron-Gracie because, at the time, she had never experienced severe heartbreak. She consequently spoke to people in her life who had, "gather[ing] their experiences" to make the lyrics as authentic as possible. Baron-Gracie wanted "Change" to serve as the album's opener because musically it was different from the band's previous work. The song's "unapologetic" references to oral sex were also a deliberate attempt by the band to "shock people" and "let them know [the band was] back."[22] "Fall to Pieces" was inspired by the early, turbulent days of Baron-Gracie and Luck's relationship, when Baron-Gracie herself was "all over the place" mentally. Lyrically, "Fall to Pieces" details two individuals in a romantic relationship who keep falling into a loop of argumentation. Baron-Gracie stressed that while it is "kind of a negative song ... it has hope".[23] "She's My Religion" is an open love song to Luck that celebrates "lov[ing] someone and their entirety" – and not simply their positive attributes.[24] The song marked the first time that Baron-Gracie had been "so open about [her] sexuality." Because of its impactful and openly queer lyrics, Baron-Gracie wanted the track to represent the LGBTQ+ community in the "most honest and sincere way."[25] Baron-Gracie contrasted "She's My Religion" with songs like Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl", telling Pride Magazine: "There's not a lot of songs that [handle female queerness] in an appealing way. It's either experimental or playful. I just think it affects [gay women] and it knocks us back, especially when straight women do it."[26]

The heavier guitar riff featured in the chorus of "Easy" was inspired by the music of Alanis Morissette (left) and Courtney Love (right).

Baron-Gracie described "Easy" as the "feel good love song" on the album. 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." Baron-Gracie and Sam de Jong consequently reworked the song to be more upbeat. The heavier guitar riff that plays during the chorus was inspired by "grungy, super-catchy guitar riffs" 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.[11] "Wish U Were Here", co-written by Baron-Gracie and Suzanne Lyn Shinn, was originally not slated for the album and was recorded when the band learned they had extra time in the studio.[27] "Tomorrow" was the first track that Baron-Gracie wrote for the album, and thematically, it "made a pathway for this record". The song, which references and cheers on people in Baron-Gracie's life, was written "for the fans" to provide encouragement, and in an interview with Sophie Williams of NME Baron-Gracie explained that the song was her way of saying "I'm there for you. I've been through it too. Please continue to carry on."[28] "You Don't Own Me" – a track that Baron-Gracie has called "the most important on the record" – is "about being a woman ... in society," Baron-Grace explained; "We've come a long way, but ... we don't have equality just yet." The song was inspired by many instances of "sexist" and "inappropriate" behaviour directed at Baron-Gracie by men. The feminist ethos of the song is "unapologetic" and "angry" because, as Baron-Gracie put it, "we [i.e., women] are angry; we're sick of it!"[29]

Described as a "soft, tender, genuine moment on the album", the "dream-grunge"[3] track "I Just Needed You" was written after Baron-Gracie "realign[ed] [her] priorities in life". The singer explained to Williams: "Society and the world can really sort of influence or trick you into believing that happiness is within materialistic things. ... You have to find happiness within."[30] Baron-Gracie later told The Honey Pop that "the song is basically me rewiring and adjusting my perspective on what is going to bring me happiness."[14] "Odd Ones Out" is a ballad through which Baron-Gracie expresses confusion as to how so many relationships fail. "I've seen so many experiences of this in my life," she explained to Williams. "I don't want to be an example of that. I didn't want my relationship to end up like those relationships. I wanted to be the odd one out."[31] "Run To" was written as if it were a letter to Baron-Gracie's mother. Through this song, Baron-Gracie emphasises that she is doing alright and that her mother does not need to worry about her well-being.[32] The album closer, "Who Am I?", was one of the final tracks written for the album and was initially composed while the band was on tour. The night she composed the song, Baron-Gracie locked herself in her bathroom for three hours to work out the details of the track.[33] Lyrically, the song is Heather "screaming to [her]self essentially that [she] need[s] to figure out who [she is] as a human being and what [her] priorities are in life."[20] While talking to NME, the singer explained: "This song just makes perfect sense. It has to be the finishing part of the album. ... This is a perfect album title."[33]

"Change", the first single to be released from Who Am I?, debuted on BBC Radio 1 on 10 November 2020; the single's music video, directed by Johnny Goddard, was also released at this time, alongside an announcement about the album itself.[34][35] The album's second single, "She's My Religion", was released on 15 December 2020.[24] A video for the single, directed by Jess Kohl and starring Baron-Gracie and Kelsi Luck, was released on 22 December;[36] because of this, Baron-Gracie told Pride magazine that the video was the band's first in which "you really see [her] intimate with someone".[26] The third single from the album, "Easy", was released on 13 January 2021. After premiering on BBC Radio 1,[37] the track eventually peaked at number 43 on Radiomonitor's UK Radio Airplay Top 50 chart.[38] According to Baron-Gracie, the music video for "Easy", which was directed by James Slater, was "inspired by the gothic medieval aesthetic and ... Tim Burton films".[37]

"You Don't Own Me" was released on 29 January 2021 as the fourth single.[39] The music video for the song – which was co-directed by Baron-Gracie and Luck – was released on 1 March,[40] and was described by Nü Sounds music site as a "portal to early 2000s grunge; red hair, graffiti, all the works."[41] The site also likened Baron-Gracie's dress to those worn by Melanie Martinez and called the overall production "a throwback of a lifetime".[41] Following the "You Don't Own Me" video's premiere, the band also uploaded to YouTube a "behind the scenes" featurette that explored the directing of the video.[42] The fifth and final single to be released was "Fall to Pieces" which likewise premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 9 February 2021.[43] A video for the single, directed by Callum L. James, was released on 12 February.[44] A "behind the scenes" look at the making of the "Fall to Pieces" music video was also released on 17 February via YouTube.[45]

Because Who Am I? was released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pale Waves was unable to promote the album by immediately touring. Baron-Gracie discussed this setback in an interview with Northern Chorus, saying, "We can't complain and be selfish with everything going on around us. We were lucky enough to create an album campaign and release videos, but not being able to tour was disappointing as it's a huge part of a new album release".[15] The band eventually resumed touring in early 2022, performing their first concert since 2020 in Bristol on February 11.[46] In mid-2022, the band performed several shows in the United States, both as a headliner[47][48] and as the opening act for 5 Seconds of Summer on their Take My Hand World Tour.[49]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.1/10[50]
Metacritic	62/100[51]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Billboard	Positive[52]
DIY	[53]
Dork	[54]
Gigwise	[55]
The Independent	[56]
The Irish Times	[57]
The Line of Best Fit	[58]
NME	[59]
Paste	Positive[60]
Pitchfork	6.2/10[2]
Rolling Stone	[61]

Who Am I? was met with generally favourable reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 62 based on 7 reviews.[51] Fellow music aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album an average score of 7.1/10.[50]

Jason Lipshutz of Billboard applauded the record's "crunchier guitar sound" and "buoyant pop hooks", and he named Who Am I? "one of the best indie-rock albums of the young year".[52] Carli Scolforo of Paste magazine reviewed the album positively, writing that "the band translates their many inspirations into their own brand of indie pop that feels perfectly fit for 2021, with their lyrics bouncing between relationships, identity and mental health."[60] Thomas Smith of NME awarded the album four out of five stars, and wrote that with the record, "the band capture their optimism of a new life worth living, but never shy away laying bare the challenges of doing so in times like these."[59] Stephen Ackroyd of Dork magazine awarded the album four out of five stars, noting that "a hard left swing into late-90s alt-pop wouldn't have felt like the most obvious route [for the band] to take, and yet it works brilliantly" on Who Am I?[54] Jay Singh, writing for The Line of Best Fit, criticised the band for "wearing their influences on their sleeve a little too blatantly" in an attempt to distance themselves from The 1975, with Singh arguing that "emulating Avril Lavigne isn't exactly a foolproof plan". However, he did applaud the band for their new sound which he described as "well executed and joyously expressive".[58]

Writing for Pitchfork, Ashley Bardham awarded the album a 6.2/10. While arguing that the album still saw the band "stuck as an imitation act", she emphasised that "their love for [early 2000s pop-rock] certainly comes through." Bardham wrote that the album includes "some of the most pleasantly sugared Britpop since the 2010s-era Mumford & Sons invasion". While Who Am I? might have issues, Bardham concluded, the record sees the band's "star potential ... comes through".[2] Eamonn Sweeney of The Irish Times gave the album three out of five stars, writing that "Pale Waves should secure another top-10 hit and cement their position as one of the few current guitar bands that resonate with a young, 21st-century audience".[57] Rachel Brodsky of The Independent gave the album two out of five stars, saying that "despite the album's slick production and radio-ready melodies, one wishes Pale Waves could find a more sophisticated language to express youthful enlightenment".[56] Rolling Stone magazine gave the album a negative review, writing, "These lovelorn English cliché jockeys offer a clunky mix of late-Nineties easy listening and 2000s emo pop." The magazine also negatively compared the band to Paramore and Natalie Imbruglia.[61]

Who Am I? was released 12 February 2021, and debuted at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart (Official Charts Company),[64] selling 6,115 copies.[65] On both the Official Vinyl Albums and the Official Physical Albums Charts (OOC), the album debuted at number 2, bested in both cases by Slowthai's album Tyron. Who Am I? did, however, top the UK Independent Album Chart (OOC),[66] and by the end of 2021, Who Am I? was the twenty-ninth best-selling cassette release in the United Kingdom.[67] On the Scottish Albums Chart, the album debuted at number 2,[68] and in Ireland, the record debuted at 86.[69] In Japan, Who Am I? peaked at 142 on Oricon's Japanese Albums chart,[70] and at 88 on the Billboard Japan chart.[71]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Who Am I?[7]

• Official Band Page
• Official Dirty Hit Page