In Conversation with Ellory Grace: Unpacking the Sarcastic Edge Behind “Gum”

Few things are as annoying as realizing someone you are completely over still manages to take up space in your head. At 17 years old, songwriter Ellory Grace captures this exact contradiction in her new single “Gum.” Taking a sharp and sarcastic approach to lingering feelings, the track perfectly illustrates how a tiny emotional remnant can become a tangled mess when you try to ignore it. It is an unapologetic look at the pure frustration of just wanting your own brain back.

While earlier releases showcased a softer and highly introspective side of her artistry, “Gum” allows a more dramatic facet of her personality to take the lead. Ellory possesses a remarkable ability to take highly specific and almost irrational private thoughts and turn them into something incredibly universal. She is navigating the independent music landscape with a sharp perspective, valuing genuine listener connection over fleeting viral moments and creating a catalog that documents her evolution in real time.

We caught up with the artist to discuss the cathartic process behind her latest release and how she handles the weird contradictions of her own emotions. In our conversation, she opens up about trusting her most specific songwriting instincts, the vulnerability of performing private thoughts in crowded rooms, and why we should all probably stop being so annoyed with ourselves for being annoyed.

You mentioned writing “Gum” because you were “annoyed that you were still annoyed.” How did you arrive at the specific metaphor of gum stuck in hair to illustrate the difference between being done with someone and actually being unaffected by them?

There’s such a big difference between deciding you’re done with someone and actually being done with how they made you feel. You can know you don’t want someone in your life anymore and still catch yourself thinking about something they said or did. Which is honestly so annoying.

Gum stuck in your hair felt like the perfect comparison to make. It’s this tiny little thing, but suddenly it’s all you can think about. You try to pull it out or ignore it, and somehow it just gets more messy.

I also liked that the metaphor felt silly. Sometimes feelings are ridiculous, even when they’re completely real.

“Gum” explores the frustration of when “one small piece” of a person stays stuck with you. Was writing about this contradiction a cathartic experience for you, or simply a way to process exactly what you were feeling?

Probably both, although I didn’t realize it was helping while I was writing it. I was mostly just annoyed.

Sometimes I’ll start writing because something is bothering me and I can’t quite explain why. Writing gives me somewhere to put those feelings instead of just replaying everything in my head.

Finishing a song doesn’t magically mean you’re over whatever inspired it. That would be cool, though! Sometimes writing helps me understand and process things. 

How do you approach writing about emotions that feel irrational or contradictory, especially when you can recognize them but cannot necessarily explain them away?

Feelings are weird because you can completely understand why something doesn’t make sense and still feel it anyway. It can be very frustrating at times. 

I’ve definitely had moments where I’m like, “Okay, I know this is ridiculous,” but knowing that doesn’t magically make the feeling disappear.

I actually like writing about those contradictions. You can miss someone you don’t want back, or be upset about something you thought you’d moved past. I don’t always need to make sense of a feeling before I write about it. Sometimes that’s what the song is for.

You shared a great thought regarding your writing: “I love when a song knows something about you that you thought was just yours.” Knowing that the smallest details are often the most universal, which specific line or feeling in “Gum” do you think listeners will connect with the most?

Probably that feeling of being frustrated with yourself for still caring.

It’s almost embarrassing when you realize someone is still taking up space in your head when you’ve already decided they shouldn’t be there.

Everyone’s had that moment where they’re like, “Why am I STILL thinking about this?”

That’s really where “GUM” came from. It’s not necessarily about wanting someone back. Sometimes you just want your own brain back.

“Gum” brings a sharper edge to your songwriting. Was that shift something you consciously wanted to explore, or did the subject naturally lead you toward a different attitude and tone?

It happened pretty naturally. I didn’t sit down thinking, “Okay, time to write my angry song.”

I was frustrated and a little sarcastic, and that just came through in the music.

I love writing softer, more emotional songs, but I’m also sarcastic and can be a little dramatic. “Gum” let me have fun with that side of myself.

I don’t want every song to sound the same. I have different sides to my personality, so it makes sense that my music would too.

What have you learned about your instincts as a songwriter through the songs you’ve released so far, particularly when it comes to trusting an idea that might initially seem too specific to connect with other people?

Sometimes I’ll come up with an idea and think, “Is this too weird? Is anyone actually going to relate to this?”

But then I remember I’m literally writing a song about gum stuck in someone’s hair, so clearly I’ve decided to take that risk.

I’m learning that the details I worry that are too specific are sometimes what make a song interesting. If I try to make everything general enough for everyone, I might lose the part that made me want to write it in the first place.

One of my favorite things is when someone hears a song and thinks, “Wait, I thought I was the only one who felt that way.”

For the listeners who will stream “Gum” and realize they still have someone in their hair, what advice would Ellory Grace give them?

First of all, don’t cut all your hair off. It’s probably not worth it. 

But seriously, just because something still bothers you doesn’t mean you’re moving backward. You don’t have to pretend something didn’t matter just because you wish it didn’t anymore.

And maybe stop being so annoyed with yourself for being annoyed. Although clearly I’m still working on that one.

You are 17 and already have a solid catalog of original music. How does your relationship with your earlier releases change as you grow and evolve so quickly in real time?

It’s funny because “In Between” only came out in May, but I already feel like I’ve learned so much since then.

Every song is kind of a snapshot of who I was when I wrote it. Sometimes I listen back and remember exactly what I was thinking or feeling. Other times I hear it differently because I’ve changed.

At 17, a few months can feel like a really long time. Things that seemed like the biggest deal in the world six months ago might not feel the same now.

I love the idea that someday I’ll be able to listen to all these songs and hear myself growing up. Even the parts that might make me cringe a little.

Looking at your journey from “In Between” to where you are now, what is the most significant lesson you’ve learned about navigating the music industry and finding your own voice as a young artist?

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that getting someone’s attention and making a connection aren’t necessarily the same thing.

There’s so much focus on views, streams, and trends, and I get it. As an independent artist, I’ve learned how much work goes into getting people to even hear a song.

But someone hearing 15 seconds of your music isn’t necessarily the same as them wanting to know who you are.

That’s something I’m really curious about. I love writing music, but I also find the business side fascinating. What makes someone stop scrolling? What makes them remember an artist? And what makes them come back?

I want people to discover my songs, obviously, but I also want to give them a reason to stick around. And I’m learning that I don’t have to chase every trend to do that.

Your songwriting feels very intimate, often reading like a private train of thought. What is the emotional experience of taking these deeply introspective moments and performing them live in a room full of people?

It’s honestly a little strange when you think about it. You write something that started as a thought in your head, maybe something you wouldn’t even know how to say in a normal conversation, and then you’re standing in front of people singing it out loud.

There’s something vulnerable about that, but it’s also one of the coolest parts of making music.

When I’m writing, I’m thinking about what the song means to me. But once other people hear it, they bring their own experiences to it. Something that started out being really personal can suddenly mean something completely different to someone else.

I love that. Something I wrote because I felt alone in a particular feeling might actually make someone else feel a little less alone.

Listen to “Gum” and connect with Ellory on Instagram and TikTok.