Trust Jenna Raine to announce a new album with a breakup song–and make it work wonderfully perfectly. The song “Good Grief” released on Mar. 20 is the last single before her EP titled “Only Started Growing” drops on Apr. 25 via Warner Records. This song leaves fans wanting to hear more about love and heartbreak (with a twist). The 21-year-old artist got her start after the song “see you later (ten years)” blew up on TikTok in 2021. After, her career continued to grow with tracks like “2%,” “Roses” and “It Is What It Is.” Especially in her recent releases, the common theme of unrelenting positivity shines through, crafting a relatable and powerful message that resonates with the experiences of her listeners.

Where most breakup songs are persistently sad, “Good Grief” offers reassurance that everything will get better. The lyrics are key in communicating this theme. “You can finally breathe,” Raine sings, “You’re finally free.” All of the lines match this tone, creating a comforting atmosphere where Raine sounds more like a consoling friend instead of an unfamiliar artist. This tactic relates to her younger audience, establishing an understanding ambiance seen throughout her career. At times, the lyrics border on the line of simplicity and become repetitive. Hearing “good” more than twenty-eight times in under 3 minutes is too much. Thankfully, different aspects like the instrumental and vocal quality of Raine’s music mostly distract from this redundancy.

The instruments elevate the song, adding energy through upbeat acoustic guitar that reinforces the positivity. Doing so brings a subtle but endearing country influence into the pop genre, reflecting Raine’s Texas roots. Meanwhile, the drums form a fast tempo, matching the substance of her lyrics in perfect form. This enjoyable method was most notably used effectively in her earlier songs “It Is What It Is” and “Roses,” which were similar to “Good Grief.” However, these songs’ instruments and message might be too similar. Introducing more variety in the future could add some needed change to her work and potentially expand her appeal to a broader audience.

Layered vocals bring depth and solidity to “Good Grief,” empowering Raine’s emotional expression and showcasing her voice’s significant improvement from songs like “a letter to me” from 2019. “A letter to me” was a good song lyrically while leaving much to be desired in the vocal department. Thankfully, her tone seems to have matured along with her, as seen recently with this promising new release and the song “Roses” from 2024.

The single “Good Grief” shows that Jenna Raine is an artist to watch. Its heartfelt lyrics and relatability set the stage for what promises to be an exciting career. Hopefully, her new EP via Warner Records titled “Only Started Growing” will continue to display the potential of positivity and comfort in music, especially for the younger generation. Listen to Jenna Raine on Spotify or any other streaming platform or pre-save the album before its Apr. 25 release.