Perfectly Imperfect

Release Date: Dec 2nd 2016
Record Type: EP
Record Label:
Formats: Digital, CD

  

Notes

The EP contains all four of Grace's original songs from AGT and a new original, "Gossip Girl". The EP is produced and mixed by Greg Wells, who is also given a songwriting credit on "Beautiful Thing" and credited with arrangements and instrumentals on the album, except the Ukulele, where Grace is credited with playing on all of the songs except "Clay" and "Beautiful Thing"; Autumn Rowe is given writing credit on three of the songs. Grace's sister Olivia is credited with art design. The EP debuted on the Billboard 200 Albums chart at No. 9 and on Billboard's Canadian Albums Chart at No. 11. In its debut week, it sold about 52,000 units, including 47,000 in physical form. It was the best-selling EP of 2016. (Wikipedia)

"It's like Christmas morning," Grace says of her new EP, Perfectly Imperfect, six songs that she and her team were able to record in only about four days. (Teen Vogue Nov 22 2016)

About the title “Perfectly Imperfect”: “I was really inspired by Ingrid Michaelson’s title ”It doesn’t have to make sense”, and I really wanted to do something like that because you know, I could have named it 'I Don’t know my name', that would be the normal thing to do." (Interview at the Perfectly Imperfect Launch Party 5-Dec-2016)

“I’m still experimenting with my sound. I honestly don’t know what I like yet,' she admits, though the dreamy island breeze of the new single “Moonlight” is a fantastic start. 'This album is the first time where I’m actually putting true produced music behind what I’m singing. A lot of elements from different genres were pulled into the album, and I think it invites everyone into my journey.' ” (Chicago Sun-Times, Nov. 10, 2017)

On the production of Perfectly Imperfect: “Really what we did was, we recorded the song and then like totally messed around with it. If this sounds good, we will keep it if this sounds bad we will take it out. That’s too much, could we take a little out, or if it’s too little, put a little in. Just kind of like experimenting with it. It was cool to like watching your baby grow up.” (Interview with Teen Vogue at Perfectly Imperfect launch event Dec. 2, 2016)

About working with a producer for the first time: “The 12-year-old songwriting phenom recently got a taste of what it really means to be a recording artist this fall: She worked with a producer on her first EP, Perfectly Imperfect. "I never really understood how you made a song, because I never really thought about it. But it was really cool to see the process. It was like watching your baby grow."
The singer, who also is credited with composing and writing the lyrics on the EP, says, "It's different. A good different; not a forced different." (USA Today Nov 16 2016)

Chart Position

Charted as no 9 on US Billboard 200, no 4 on Billboard's US digital albums chart, no 2 on New Zealand Heatseekers Albums list, and no 11 on Billboards Canadian Album list.

Songs

Track Song Name Info Comments Length
1 I Don't Know My Name Show Info >
Hide Info v
Kenta Yonesaka : Recording engineer
Greg Wells : Programming, producer and mixer
Greg Wells : Drums (drum set), piano and synthesizer
Grace Vanderwaal : Ukulele and lead vocals:
Eric Valentine : Mastering

Recorded at: Germano Studios, New York, Mixed at Rocket Carousel Studio, Los Angeles. Mastered at The Mastering Place, New York.
2:28
2 Clay Show Info >
Hide Info v
Greg Wells : Piano, synths, programming
Eric Valentine : Mastering

Recorded at: Germano Studios, New York, Mixed at Rocket Carousel Studio, Los Angeles. Mastered at The Mastering Place, New York.
3:36
3 Light The Sky Show Info >
Hide Info v
Grace Vanderwaal : Vocals, Ukulele
Autumn Rowe : Backing vocals
Greg Wells : Piano, drums, synths, programming
Kenta Yonesaka : Engineer
Eric Valentine : Mastering

Recorded at: Germano Studios, New York, Mixed at Rocket Carousel Studio, Los Angeles. Mastered at The Mastering Place, New York.
3:49
4 Beautiful Thing Show Info >
Hide Info v
Jesse String : Engineer
Eric Valentine : Mastering

Recorded at: Germano Studios, New York, Mixed at Rocket Carousel Studio, Los Angeles. Mastered at The Mastering Place, New York.
3:44
5 Gossip Girl Show Info >
Hide Info v
Greg Wells : Membranophone programming, synthesizer programming
Greg Wells : Producer
Grace Vanderwaal : Ukulele, lead vocals
Autumn Rowe : Background vocals
Eric Valentine : Mastering

Recorded at: Germano Studios, New York, Mixed at Rocket Carousel Studio, Los Angeles. Mastered at The Mastering Place, New York.
3:25

Reviews and Media

Type Comment Link
Review VanderWaal’s first EP is beyond impressive.
Review Vanderwaal does, in fact, Got Talent.(Very short review)
Review Grace Vanderwaal isready to take on the world with her debut EP
Review Perfectly Imperfect, redefines her from contestant to recording artist all her own.
Related content Official video for the Launch of perfectly imperfect
Review Grace VanderWaal makes ukulele wail on debut EP
Related content Grace talks EP cover art
Related content Grace on naming EP perfectly imperfect