Wrabel’s “These Words Are for You”: A Decade in the Making

On a lazy Monday morning, Wrabel joins me on a video chat to talk about all things music. Dialing in from Boston, the L.A.-based artist Steven Wrabel, who goes simply by Wrabel, is no stranger to coastal cities, and in fact, he’s written many songs about them. From L.A. to N.Y.C. to London, he has penned songs of love; songs of torment; songs of desire; songs of lovesick, homesick devotion. All stories that pull directly from the fabric of his life, and he is a crafted tailor of music that urges you to get into the feels. 

The rising, queer artist is known for his unequivocal way of combining upbeat, borderline dance, pop tracks with hooky melodies that slide into your feet and make them bounce. He is also known for writing heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics that offer a vulnerable, raw, slice-of-life glimpse into the mind of the music maker. Featuring his signature combination of soulful sound and savvy storytelling, Wrabel is leveling up as he prepares to release his debut, full-length album, these words are all for you.

As we meet for the first time, Wrabel’s energy is optimistic and infectious as he flashes the physical copy of the new record to the camera. Grinning from ear to ear, he admits that he still can’t believe the moment is real, and it appears to hit him all at once. He says that he is filled with both elation and fear as the record hits both digital and physical stands in late September 2021. If there was any kind of silver lining of 2020, Wrabel explains, it was that he has been able to sit with the music, take his time, and stick to a schedule that was of the independent artist’s own making. 

“There’s kind of a lot of pressure, especially this being the debut album, of being like, ‘When is this done?’ Like, I didn’t even believe it was done, and then yesterday, my manager shows up with the album, and I’m like, (gasping) ‘It’s real!’” he says. 

As evidence, Wrabel holds a copy of the album up to video chat screen, and with a borderline boisterous excitement, I am realizing that I am getting to know the real Wrabel: defenses down and entirely unrehearsed. The man in my mind who has been shrouded in depth and introspective energy, swirling with mystery, is not the man I get to know over the next hour. 

He has levity, humor, and humility, and now I understand a degree of brightness that is woven into the sorrow that comes with many of his songs. That is the juxtaposition: light, life, love, and loss. I feel fortunate that we get to meet him at the precipice of both harrowing heartache and hopeful happiness, for that is the human condition, and it’s beautifully intricate and complex.

Wrabel has been releasing notable singles since 2014; he found a stride with “11 Blocks” in 2016, a song about his head pleading with his heart to let go of a former lover who lived only 11 blocks away from his L.A. apartment. A map between their two places, which was illustrated in the music video and is now tattooed on his arm, was the catalyst for the emotional track. 

The following year, Wrabel released the single “The Village,” a song dedicated to the transgender community, and immediately catapulted him to the top of Pride Playlists everyone. As an out, gay man himself, this elevated Wrabel to the forefront of the queer radar, and he has continued making moves in the right directions. 

Pushing boundaries with the track “Back to Back” off these words are all for you, Wrabel features a duet with queer artist Duncan Laurence in which the pair explore the heartache that a couple faces when the relationship is nearing its end. Something that many of us know too well, but don’t hear reflected through a queer lens often, if ever. 

(CHORUS)

What is love, what is love, what is love?

Why do I feel like I’m never enough?

That ain’t love, that ain’t love, that ain’t love

We been through too much to just give up

[Refrain}

Babe, I feel so far away from you

When we’re sleepin’ back to back

“If I had a mission statement, or something, I hope to help someone feel like they’re not alone. As a foundational thing of my life, I’ve felt very much alone. I know that’s not unique, and I know some people, especially from the queer community, have felt like that,” he says.

Everything from these words are all for you is intentional; a carefully curated list of 11 tracks that have been written over the course of the last 11 years. Wrabel has been working his entire career on this record, and it shows. Opening strong with an a cappella-led, powerful, gospel-inspired “Good,” it takes nearly a minute for the trademark Wrabel piano sound to enter, proving the confidence in both his voice and message. 

And he should be confident, for the record is solid, from start to finish, and in no way feels like a debut attempt at a full-length release. Eloquence in songs like “Wish You Well,” “Cars,” and “London” paired with strength in songs like “Good,” “Nothing But the Love,” and “It’s Us (with Madi Diaz)” showcase the earnest range of Wrabel. 

“Pale Blue Dot” is an emotional, heart-wrenching banger, though, and Wrabel’s reflection on growth, change, purpose, and new beginnings. He explains the journey in creating the song with co-writer and country singer Tenille Townes, who inspired him to step outside of his comfort zone and write from a different perspective:

“It started via texting her the picture of the pale blue dot, like, ‘Just so that you know, this is what we’re living our whole entire existence on,’ and we were half-sarcastic and self-deprecating. Then, I was on one of my Jane Fonda walks, where I would put on ankle weights and walk, like, 10 miles, and we started that song. It’s touching on religion and growing up in that, and still having this corner of my brain that’s like, ‘What’s going on up there, or around there, or down there, or over there?’” 

Finally, the closing song, “Love is Not a Simple Thing to Lose,” still brings tears to Wrabel’s eyes, as he explains the story that is connected to that track:

“That’s the oldest song in the record; it’s the one song that still, to this day, I can’t listen to, I can’t play it, I can’t think about it without really getting emotional. It was so many firsts: I was in London, alone, working with people I’d always wanted to work with, but also strangers. I had my first big breakup via Skype, and then I walked into AllSaints on Regent Street, and this guy helps me buy a jumper, and I’m like, ‘Do you want to move to L.A.?’” he laughs. 

“It’s that kind of thing of finding love again when you never think you’re never gonna find it, and also losing love when you never think you’re gonna lose it, and also making a record that you never thought you’d get to make. Recording that song was a huge task that day; the second verse, you can hear me starting to cry, and I dramatically wanted to keep that because it was really true to that day.”

Whether it be about sharing lost love, found love, insecure love, and uncertain love, or sharing deeply personal things about his religious upbringing and his current sobriety, Wrabel opens more than a window to his soul through his songs. He turns every stone, whittles every wood, and shines every gem; his songs are crafted and shaped works of art, and his long-awaited debut is worth the wait and the while.

While there have been downs, this record is full of ups, and it’s all because of the team that Wrabel surrounds himself with. The music industry is tricky to navigate, and it’s through the hustle and the cherished relationships that these words are all for you has been pristinely primed, prepared, and released.

“I feel so lucky to be able to live the life that I live and do what I do,” he says, “but my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite part is doing it with people that I genuinely love and genuinely care about. Even looking at the credits, and the thank yous on this album, like, fuck man, I made this with my best friends. How cool is that?”

these words are all for you is available on all streaming platforms and physical copies can be purchased at wrabelmusic.com.