By Sahil Muthukrishnan

On Mar. 28, Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) award-winning singer and songwriter Grant Perez, known professionally as grentperez, released his new album, Backflips in a Restaurant. The project is his long-awaited debut studio album with his label Fast Friends. The singer previously released four extended plays: Demo(s) about Love, Conversations with the Moon, Trail Mix Tape EP, and When We Were Younger. Perez gained notability for his hit single Cherry Wine, which peaked at number 14 on the UK’s physical singles chart and went viral on short-form content platforms like TikTok. 

Perez’s new album is a mixed-genre record with 13 songs. He delivers a sound that is nostalgic and new at the same time, reeling in listeners with an infectious tone and great hooks. Perez crafts an air of love sickness on the album that previous listeners appreciate him for, but he puts a twist on his usual genre in some tracks, such as the song 2dk. 2dk mixes smooth sax riffs with a hip-hop track, which Perez uses to create a relaxed giddiness. The track describes a first hook-up with a bar goer and the excitement of recounting it to a friend. Movie Scene is another standout. The song leans into rhythm and blues more than pop as Perez gushes about a perfect lover that is “straight out of a movie scene.” Another great track is 12065, which Perez named after the zip code of Clifton Park, New York. The song features smooth vocals and a comforting, ethereal feel. In 12065, Perez sings about the feeling of longing in a long-distance relationship: saying, “How does it feel all alone with that hole in your bed…Making shapes with your body in the space that I left?” Other notable tracks include the twinkling Need You Around, the Ruel duet Dandelion, and the silky Falling for a Friend. Every song features Perez’s wonderful vocal tone, creating continuity between diverse songs.

The album has great variance. It makes the listener feel everything from warm comfort to hyper excitement to cool despair. It is certainly a tremendous first showing from Perez, who is only 23 years old and has plenty of time to work on his next release. It also performs exceptionally well with both critics and listeners.

Backflips in a Restaurant reached number three on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums chart, a milestone for the singer as his very first top ten debut. This album is an exciting initial foray into the full-length album space for Perez. Many fans eagerly anticipate Perez’s next project, but while they wait, Backflips in a Restaurant is an enjoyable way to tide them over.

(Sources: ARIA, Billboard, NME, Rolling Stone Australia)