On April 24, American singer-songwriter, Conan Gray, released his first deluxe album to listeners worldwide. The extended album dives deep into an equally hopeful and dreadful love story, exploring the growth of the mind and heart as a continuation of the whimsical story line that is “Wishbone.”
Where it all started
Gray is a rising boy-pop sensation known for his sentimental songs. He’s topped musical charts numerous times with songs like “Heather,” “Maniac” and “Memories.” He released his fourth studio album, “Wishbone” on Aug. 15 2025 which promptly sky-rocketed into number three on the top two hundred Billboard chart. With each track, “Wishbone” takes its listeners through a different emotion, whether it’s indifference or self-actualization. It’s about the impact of a breakup and looking for signs about the relationship through things like how a wishbone breaks.
How his music is affecting people
Many fans feel truly connected with Gray through his music. Caitlin Britney Taylor, a Huntington Beach High School junior (HBHS), said, “I had a friend recommend it to me, and from there I started listening to his whole catalog, and the rest is history. Honestly, he found me at a good time in my life, as I was an angsty middle schooler and I loved his songwriting quality and the emotion his songs had. I still do.”
“Wishbone” consists of 12 tracks, and five more gut-wrenching songs come with “Wishbone Deluxe.” The five deluxe tracks include “Do I Dare,” “House That Always Rains,” “Door,” “Moths” and “The Best.” These songs all have the recurring theme of acknowledging the need to move on, but longing to be pulled back. In “Door,” with its slow-but-loud eerie sound, Gray sings about needing to close the door on a relationship and questioning why it’s still open. Another song that shares similar themes is track 13. Gray, in “Do I Dare,” writes with a slight sweetness and lightness and talks about repairing an old relationship and ‘just’ being friends or ‘just’ asking how the ex is doing.
How “Wishbone Deluxe” came to be
In an interview with Paper Magazine, Gray said, “Writing these songs so diaristically and so honestly is this very thrilling, extremely validating experience, and that’s why the whole album ended up that way.”
After “Wishbone” rolled out, fans purchased concert tickets and new merch, but some suspected a deluxe album was on the way.
Claire Le, a HBHS Freshman said, “I follow the ‘Wishbone’ world tour updates on Instagram, and they were predicting that there would be a deluxe. I went to the concert where Gray announced the album, and it was the best.”
A large number of fans have been following Gray’s musical career since the extreme rise of his 2020 hit, “Heather,” and some have been around since the start of “Wishbone” era, but many are here to stay. Hayleigh Stinson, HBHS Sophomore, said, “I started listening to Conan in his ‘Sunset Season’ era, and I stuck with him because I knew him since his big fame. His growth and music never stopped getting better. I’m looking for the Deluxe, and I’m just following the journey… and for more merch to buy. I’m a huge Conehead, and I’m proud of it.”
The release of “Wishbone” deluxe allows fans new and old to connect with the story of Gray’s life a little bit more. Now that one has cracked the door open to peek at Gray’s life, it’s time to move on with him and adventure to the next chapter.
