Since winning the BRITs Rising Star Award in 2021, Griff – the triple-threat singer, songwriter, and producer (real name Sarah Griffiths) – has been on a dizzying ascent. Her debut album, Vertigo, captures the highs and lows of a young woman discovering her potential while navigating existential anxieties and matters of the heart.
Written between rented Airbnbs (including Imogen Heap’s Hideaway in Romford), “Vertigo” finds pockets of hope in a stream of self-doubt. The pattering track “Into The Walls” recounts the self-defeating urge to disappear, while “Pillow In My Arms” seeks comfort in the absence of another.
Griff revels in the euphoria, even if it’s bittersweet. “Hiding Alone” turns healing into a gleefully liberating affair with its compelling bass. Meanwhile, “Anything” explores ’80s-tinged pop, emphasizing self-worth with bombastic drums and bright synths reminiscent of Haim and Sigrid.
Most poignant is “Everlasting,” where Griff – a Chinese-Jamaican daughter of immigrants – voices her fears of repeating her elders’ mistakes. “Vertigo” becomes a diaristic tale of scaling mountainous fear, tracing back to her naive youth spent making music in her bedroom and welcoming a new chapter with newfound courage. This album welcomes the arrival of a new pop superstar.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
