Giselle Calls Out Silence And Power On “YOUNG”

There’s a line most pop songs don’t cross. Not because they can’t, but because it’s easier not to. We think it's safer to stay in heartbreak, you know, that surface-level pain that won’t make people uncomfortable. Giselle doesn’t play that game on “YOUNG.” She steps directly into a subject most artists avoid entirely, and she doesn’t try to soften it.

At its true core, “YOUNG” is about grooming and abuse, and more specifically, the long shadow those experiences leave behind. It’s heavy, and it’s meant to be. But what makes the track hit isn’t just the topic; it’s how Giselle chooses to handle it. There’s no dramatization, no layered production trying to force emotion. The weight is already there, and she trusts that.

The production stays controlled, almost minimal at times, allowing her voice and the lyrics to take center stage. There’s a deliberate absence of distraction. No unnecessary builds, no moments designed purely for impact, and everything feels intentional. That restraint makes the message land harder.

Vocally, Giselle doesn’t overreach. She keeps her delivery grounded, almost conversational in moments, which makes the song feel less like a performance and more like a confrontation. You’re not just hearing a story, you’re being asked to sit with it. That subtlety is what separates “YOUNG” from songs that tackle difficult topics but lose themselves in theatrics.

Lyrically, the track is direct in a way that feels necessary. Giselle calls out the systems and behaviors that allow abuse to exist quietly, families that protect predators, narratives that shift blame onto victims, and the uncomfortable reality that power often shields accountability. It’s not packaged for easy listening, and it’s not trying to be. It’s meant to be heard.

Context makes it hit even harder. Giselle’s background as a multi-instrumentalist and performer, from Boston to Buffalo to Los Angeles stages like The Hotel Café and Whisky a Go Go, shows an artist who understands both craft and presence. But “YOUNG” isn’t about proving talent. It’s about using that platform with purpose.

What Giselle does here is rare. She creates space for a conversation most people avoid, without turning it into something exploitative or overly polished. “YOUNG” doesn’t offer resolution. It offers honesty.

"YOUNG” tackles grooming and abuse head-on, which most artists avoid. What made you decide this was the moment to speak on something that heavy, knowing how uncomfortable it can make people?  

As an artist, I believe it is our job to tell stories, raise awareness, and start a conversation. Of course, I also believe it is our job to make art that helps people escape from their problems and just have fun. If someone looks at my discography, they will see I've done all of those things, and I don't plan to stop any time soon. I want to continue to make art that makes people happy, sad, at peace, raises awareness, helps people release their pain, and makes people dance, smile, etc. I have discussed parts of my abuse in other music before, but never to this extent. I myself avoided the grooming aspect for a long time as I was not ready to face what happened to me. But as I have gotten older, I have learned I am not the only person this has happened to. Sadly, it's common. Learning that I am not alone in this trauma, I felt called to write about my experiences through this song. The topic can be heavy, and it can be uncomfortable, but how can we make a change in our world if we sweep this under the rug? Grooming and abuse isn't just on an island, it's in our society as well.

There’s a lot of silence and deflection around these experiences, especially within families. Did writing this song change how you process your own story or how you see accountability?

Yes, there really is. It's heartbreaking. Part of getting older is processing a lot of your childhood traumas. I finally understood it wasn't my fault. For years, I blamed myself. For years, I felt shame. But how and why the hell should I feel those things when I was just a girl? Why should I carry that weight when it wasn't me who was in the wrong? Writing this song helped me release all of that and allowed me a space to reflect and even, at points, feel anger (rightfully so). In the part of the song, "I was just a girl, but you were 23. You were f*cking 23. What did you want from me?" you can hear my pain and anger. And I hope in that moment it's 110% very clear to the listener that I am holding the predator(s) accountable. 

You kept the production and delivery restrained instead of turning it into something overly dramatic. Was that a conscious choice to protect the message from being diluted? 

Yes, I wanted the message to be as clear as possible. But I also wanted the song to be upbeat to allow for movement. There are many theories and even proof that dancing, shaking your body, or jumping around can help release pain, anger, and trauma. It helps your nervous system. My hope is that fellow survivors hear this song and can release all their pain by dancing, jumping, and singing along. 

This song feels less like storytelling and more like confrontation. Who did you have in mind when writing it, yourself, other survivors, or the people who need to hear it but avoid it?

I had so much on my mind when writing this song. I, other survivors, and the people who did this to me but refuse to take accountability. 

You said you hope this starts a conversation. What does that actually look like to you in real life, and where do you think the music industry still falls short when it comes to addressing topics like this?

To me, music and all art forms have the power to start a conversation. Especially in the world we live in now, with social media, conversations go beyond just our in-person friends or family. To me, a conversation in real life and/or online looks like this: Survivors sharing their stories, parents checking in with their children and being vigilant, parents listening to the child when their child tells them they aren't comfortable around a certain adult, people discussing and learning the signs of grooming and abuse, and how to stop it or prevent it. I will say, major artists and independent artists don't shy away from this topic, but it's very rare that a song discussing this topic or other intense topics goes "big." There have been songs on this topic, but rarely are they "big hits," and sometimes the audience reception isn't great. On the other hand, sometimes the audience reception is good, but many times the industry will push back on the artist and not promote the song due to the topic. However, a great example, Hilary Duff's "Mature," was well received. So I think as a society, we are becoming more accepting of this topic being discussed in music, and perhaps the industry is too? I can only hope more artists address this topic and other topics.