Conan Gray's Wishbone is here
Gen Z's ascendant king of sad boy pop exceeds expectations
– 3 min read
Multi-platinum pop sensation and singer-songwriter Conan Gray-Gen Z’s undisputed heartbreak poet has finally dropped his long-awaited album Wishbone via Island Records and it’s his most powerful release to date.
Hailing from small-town Texas, Conan Gray first skyrocketed to fame on YouTube before claiming his crown as pop royalty with viral hits like Heather and Maniac. His signature style is a blend of early-2000s melodrama and thrifted queer elegance.
Though he’s never explicitly defined his sexuality, Conan’s art has always celebrated ambiguity and queerness earning him a cherished place within the LGBTQ+ community.
With Wishbone, Conan circles back to his singer-songwriter roots, following the synth-pop shimmer of 2024’s Found Heaven. Inspired by the rush of first love, the album highlights his artistry more vividly than ever.
Even cooler, Wishbone is entirely written by Conan himself and features the stunning pre-released singles This Song and Vodka Cranberry (obvs).
Continuing a creative partnership that began in 2018, Conan once again teamed up with GRAMMY® Award winner Dan Nigro as executive producer of Wishbone. Dan-who’s been behind Conan’s multi-platinum hits like Heather and Maniac is joined by an impressive roster of producers including Ethan Gruska, Noah Conrad, Luka Kloser, and Elvira Anderfjärd.
The album’s official music videos for This Song, Vodka Cranberry, and Caramel weave together a poignant gay love story between characters Wilson and Brando tracing their passionate highs and heartbreaking lows over one unforgettable summer.
In the This Song official music video, Wilson and Brando dance around their growing infatuation until the tension finally breaks and they surrender to the electric chemistry that’s been simmering between them.
In this trilogy of videos, Conan reflects on a bittersweet queer romance set against the backdrop of a quiet rural town. At the beginning of Vodka Cranberry, we hear Wilson-Conan’s on-screen counterpart musing, “He’s been different. Said he’s just sad summer’s over." hinting at the emotional shift between Wilson and Brando as their summer love begins to fade.
Without giving too much away, the Caramel video ends on a quietly powerful note-Brando is seen wearing the wishbone necklace! Directed by Danica Kleinknecht (known for her work with Mk.Gee), the video co-stars Corey Fogelmanis and was filmed in Conan’s home state of Texas, adding an intimate layer to the story’s emotional finale.
Since announcing Wishbone, Conan Gray has been dominating the internet-and in June, he delivered one of the most unforgettable viral moments of the year. Basically, during Role Model’s set at New York’s Governors Ball Music Festival, the stage transformed into a queer coming-of-age dream.
As Tucker Pillsbury (aka Role Model) performed his hazy, wine-soaked ballad Sally, When The Wine Runs Out, Conan strode into the spotlight and the two shared a kiss that sent the crowd into a euphoric chaos. It wasn't just a moment that went viral-it became part of queer pop culture history.
Conan will be performing at Reading Festival on the 23rd August and Leeds Festival on the 24th August and hopefully he'll add European dates to his The Wishbone Pajama Show tour soon too.
The Wishbone era has been/is a visual, cinematic, delicious treat and Conan's fantastic fourth studio album Wishbone is on all streaming platforms now.
Share your thoughts in the comments section below and start or join the convo!🗣️👇🏻
Not a member yet? Sign up for a free membership HERE to join the discussion-a free membership gives you full access to the comment section and more and it's quick, easy and free.
Written by
Scene's head pop critic/pop culture enthusiast, sliving in Brighton. Since 2021, I write a silly monthly column, sometimes interview artists, occasionally review theatre and listen to pop music daily!
