Conan Gray’s music is for the misfits, the overthinkers, the scared queer kids, and—above all—the yearners. This young, indie singer-songwriter from central Texas, who began his career in his early teens on YouTube, has mastered the art of pulling at the heartstrings.
When I was still figuring myself out and dealing with complex teenage emotions in high school, Conan’s music spoke to me. You could find me at any hour of the day with his first two albums, “Kid Krow” in 2020 and “Superache” in 2022, blasting in my ears.
Following the unanticipated popularity of “Heather” on “Kid Krow,” Conan Gray blew up among his fellow Gen Zers. I often find myself forgetting that, despite his recent success, he is still relatively niche. If I had it my way, he’d be the most popular musical artist in the world.
The music of an unlabeled queer man who sports an elaborate, feminine style and who often sings about his situationships with other men won’t appeal to everyone. But, if that’s your vibe, go give his music a listen.
His most recent album, “Wishbone,” was released in Aug. 2025. The album gained popularity with his pre-released single “Vodka Cranberry,” which has garnered over 96 million listens on Spotify.
“Wishbone” delves from Conan’s older music in sound, but not in theme. As a bigger fan of his earlier albums, I was surprised to hear a more upbeat, pop sound in many of the songs on this one.
Still, it was comforting to hear the same themes that have drawn me in previously woven throughout the album. At his core, Conan is a yearner. No offense, Conan. It makes for great music. Never stop.
After going to see him in concert earlier this month, I was prompted to dive deeper into “Wishbone.” And wow, it did not disappoint. I’ve been on a listening kick ever since.
I was primarily there to hear the music I listened to in high school, which seems less popular with today’s crowd. I wasn’t expecting the majority of the attendees to be middle and high schoolers. To be honest, I felt old. When he sang the night’s surprise song, “Crush Culture,” which was released on his EP “Sunset Season” in 2018, I knew every lyric. It seemed, though, that half the arena didn’t. On the bright side, there was no line at the bar!
His fourth studio album, “Wishbone,” is a love letter to young romance and queer joy, but also to healing old wounds and learning to live for yourself. It’s a wonderfully-told story of a broken heart, cherished memories, and moving on—but still remembering that love happened, and that it mattered.
As Conan said in an Instagram post announcing the release of the album, “a wishbone never breaks even. It’s up to you to decide what to do with your end of the stick.” Heartbreak and relationships are messy and complex, and can lead to unequal pain.
But I don’t think this lesson only applies to romantic relationships. Life is unpredictable and unfair. It’s up to you how to react to it. For us young people figuring out our next steps in life, this is something we should remember. With my impending graduation, this album couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my life.
Favorite Tracks: “Eleven-Eleven,” “Actor,” “This Song,” and “My World”
Least Favorite Track: “Class Clown”
I can’t give this album anything but a 10/10. I love it so much.
