Artist
G.R.L.
Why we feature this artist An acoustic spark inside a big pop chorus Ugly Heart gives G.R.L. an immediately recognisable entrance: a bright ukulele figure followed by vocals that turn a private rejection into a shared declaration. The contrast between the smal…
- From
- United States
- Sound
- Pop, R&B
- Active
- 2011–2015, 2016–2021
Start with the music
Tracks to explore
The artist, in context
The story of G.R.L.
Why we feature this artist
An acoustic spark inside a big pop chorus
Ugly Heart gives G.R.L. an immediately recognisable entrance: a bright ukulele figure followed by vocals that turn a private rejection into a shared declaration. The contrast between the small instrumental gesture and the size of the chorus is central to the record's appeal.
A group takes its own name
Created by Robin Antin, G.R.L. emerged as a separate act in 2013. The early line-up brought together Simone Battle, Lauren Bennett, Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton and Paula van Oppen. Sony's original introduction emphasised the members' different performance backgrounds, and their first releases quickly placed that combination in several settings.
Vacation appeared on The Smurfs 2 soundtrack in 2013. The following year, Wild Wild Love paired the group with Pitbull, reaching number six in Britain. That featured appearance gave their collective vocal sound a clear role inside another artist's single. Ugly Heart then put the group itself at the centre, with a tune and a point of view strong enough to identify the record from its opening bars.
The force of the refrain
The self-titled 2014 EP placed Ugly Heart beside songs including Show Me What You Got, Rewind and Don't Talk About Love. Its compact programme allows different kinds of delivery without losing the sense of a group addressing the listener together. Ugly Heart is especially effective because the instrumental brightness does not soften the decision being sung. The refrain sounds buoyant while drawing a firm line, giving the performance a tension beyond its catchy surface. Lighthouse followed in 2015 with a more reflective setting, and its official video paid tribute to Simone Battle. Heard alongside the earlier singles, it reveals another use for the same collective voice: reassurance can require as much commitment as defiance. G.R.L.'s defining recordings make the chorus feel occupied by several people, with the emotional weight coming from their agreement as much as from the melody.
Essential releases
Wild Wild Love
The Pitbull collaboration gave the group's vocals an early international pop setting.
G.R.L.
The debut EP includes Ugly Heart and gives the group a concise introduction of its own.
Lighthouse
A more reflective single whose official video remembers Simone Battle.