“The song is definitely a message of hope and strength that we harbor.” “I love that this song is such a good representation of how many Gen Z are so open and honest about our struggles with mental health and desire to become healthier and happier versions of ourselves,” she told Mic. This is why “G R O W” resonated so much with Arianna Adeseye, a senior at New York University. Not only is pop-punk having a revival for the younger generation, but more and more young people are also identifying as spiritual. It seems a growing number of Gen Z occupy a cross-section of mindfulness and angst. This style is perhaps best shown on “G R O W” featuring Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker, which includes an eclectic mix of fast-paced guitars and spiritual, introspective lyrics it’s a combination not many artists could pull off, but for WILLOW, it feels effortless. Though crashing percussion and wailing electric guitar are abound in nearly every song on the album, WILLOW’s lyricism gives her music a softer, yearning feel. A climate activist and proponent of Black Lives Matter, WILLOW uses her music to disrupt the social order, with a unique artistic twist. Rock and punk have been used as outlets to express frustration about social and political issues for decades, with artists such as Jimi Hendrix spearheading this tradition in the 1970s. On her most recent album, lately I feel EVERYTHING, WILLOW uses punk and rock as a vehicle to express generational angst. Through her art, WILLOW both embodies Gen Z aesthetics and transcends generational boundaries, using her music to make the dreams and anxieties of young people feel universal and timeless.
By entering adulthood still immersed in ideas typically associated with young people, she’s making the mindset of Gen Z legible for older audiences. WILLOW has been steadily releasing music since she launched her career at 10 years old with the 2010 hit “Whip My Hair.” On October 31, the singer turns 21.
#GASLIGHT WILLOW LYRICS DRIVERS#
While 18-year-old Olivia Rodrigo was praised earlier this year for making quintessential teen music about drivers licenses and high school breakups, the themes WILLOW captures in her songs - such as socio-political frustration and nostalgia for a simpler time - are arguably a more accurate representation of how young people feel today. She has made a name for herself by taking up causes important to her generation, such as climate justice, racial justice, and finding oneself in a scary, unfamiliar world. It’s perhaps no surprise that Willow Smith, who dropped her last name in 2020 and now goes by WILLOW, is regarded by many as a Gen Z icon.
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