For 18-year-old singer-songwriter Alyssa Grace, music isn’t just something she does — it’s how she processes everything she’s going through. There’s an immediacy to the way she writes, like each song exists to capture a feeling before it slips away. With her new single “Picking Petals,” which dropped on April 23, the California-born artist leans even further into the raw, emotional storytelling that’s quickly becoming her signature.
Grace has been building a steady following online, especially through TikTok, where her honest approach to songwriting has clearly resonated. Her track “Dog With a Bone,” released earlier this year, introduced that vulnerability, but “Picking Petals” feels like a deeper step into the same story, one that isn’t fully resolved, but is finally being understood. It doesn’t try to offer closure, but instead it sits in the discomfort of not having it.
When asked to introduce herself, Grace keeps it simple: “I’m Alyssa Grace. I’m an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from California, just writing songs about my life.”
That mindset carries directly into “Picking Petals,” which came from a situation she hadn’t fully worked through at the time. “It kind of came after I wrote my first song, ‘Dog With a Bone’ said Grace.
“That situation felt unresolved. I was stuck on someone I knew I needed to leave, but I kept going back. Writing ‘Picking Petals’ was me realizing that — I can still feel attached, but I have to actually follow through and leave.”
While the song feels immediate, it’s actually rooted in reminiscence. “It’s definitely reflective,” continued Grace
“It’s me looking back after going through the same cycle over and over and finally realizing it was time to take control and leave. That’s hard, especially when you’re trying to figure out what’s right for you.”
The song title itself comes from that same back-and-forth feeling. “I wrote the chorus and first verse months before finishing the song. The idea comes from that ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ thing but instead it’s, ‘Should I leave? Should I not leave?,’ Grace reminisced. “The ‘picking petals with my teeth’ line is about analyzing communication, your words, their words, and trying to figure out what to do. It’s confusing, but that’s kind of the point.”
Within the song, listeners are immersed into a visual experience as the lyricism paints a picture regarding Alyssa’s real experiences around communication. Vulnerability is a key point within her writing as images of raw and passionate lyrics are portrayed. “A lot of it comes from past arguments and communication issues. The ‘teeth’ imagery is about being careful and intentional with words — like, really thinking about what you’re saying and how it affects someone else. That was something I had to learn.”
The attention to detail – not just in what’s being said, but how it’s being said becomes one of the song’s strongest emotional pulls, turning small moments of communication into something much larger.
Her writing process reflects that same honesty: “I’m always writing things down in my Notes app … little phrases, quotes, things people say that stick with me. When I feel overwhelmed, I go back to those and piece them together. It usually starts with lyrics, then I’ll pick up my guitar and figure out what feels right. It’s very unstructured but it’s whatever comes naturally.”
Even though the song deals with something difficult, writing it helped her more than anything. “Definitely healing. It was like telling myself what I needed to hear. I realized that I’m the only one who can validate my feelings, and writing helps me actually listen to myself. It gave me direction.”
That push-and-pull feeling shows up in the structure too. “It mirrors the cycle. The repetition at the end reflects how it keeps happening over and over again. It ties everything together emotionally.”
Sonically, “Picking Petals” stays close to what she started with “Dog With a Bone.” A story left unresolved, but that consistency feels intentional rather than repetitive, like she’s tracing the same emotional wound from different angles, each song getting a little closer to understanding it.
“I called [Petals] ‘Dog With a Bone’s sister.’ Everything I’m working on right now has that same raw, emotional feel. It’s just me and my guitar, not overproduced. That’s what feels most authentic to me.”
When asked to describe her sound, she keeps it just as direct: “Very raw, emotional, kind of yearning. My lyrics are intense and in-your-face. It’s just honest.”
That honesty is something she really found while writing her earlier music.
In many ways, that moment marked a turning point, not just in her songwriting, but in her willingness to be fully seen through it. What started as a single release has become the blueprint for how she approaches music now.
“That was the first song where I put everything into it. I think that’s when I really found my voice and when I stopped holding back emotionally,” stated Grace.
While relationships are a big part of her songs, Alyssa sees that idea in a broader way: “ [It’s]not just romantic relationships. It’s also about family, friends, religion, anything that feels emotionally complex. I think talking about those things makes people feel less alone.”
That connection is something she’s noticed through her audience online: “Honestly, everything. It all feels surreal. Seeing people relate to my songs has made me realize I’m not alone either. That’s been really comforting.”
Looking ahead, Grace says there’s more on the way. “A lot of music. I’ve been working a lot and traveling, writing, and recording. I just want to make sure everything feels right before I put it out, but there’s definitely a lot coming.”
With “Picking Petals,” Alyssa Grace isn’t trying to tie everything up neatly. Instead, she’s sitting in the middle of it figuring things out in real time, and letting the music reflect that through a story.
It’s not about having the answers – it’s about being honest enough to admit she’s still searching for them.
