When Conan Gray released his fourth studio album Wishbone on August 15, 2025, it wasn’t just another pop record—it was a quiet revolution. For the first time in his career, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter owns the masters to his music. No label holds the strings. No corporate hand controls the release. Just him, his songs, and a cat named Wishbone staring back from the CD cover. The 12-track, 43-minute album, recorded in hotel rooms and tour buses during his 2024 Found Heaven On Tour, feels like a diary someone accidentally left open. And we’re all reading it.
The Secret Album That Wrote Itself
Gray didn’t set out to make an album. He was just trying to survive the loneliness of touring. "Before I knew it, I was surrounded by an album," he told Rolling Stone in June. "I wasn’t thinking about labels, contracts, or streaming numbers. I was just writing because I needed to say something I couldn’t say out loud." The result? A collection of songs that sound like late-night texts you never sent. "This Song," the lead single released May 30, 2025, is a confession wrapped in a shimmering 90s pop melody. "I HOPE YOU CAN SEE... THAT I WROTE THIS SONG ABOUT YOU," he sings, voice cracking just enough to make you wonder if he’s singing to someone specific—or to everyone who’s ever loved quietly. The track, produced by Ethan Gruska and executive-produced by Daniel Nigro (who also helmed Gray’s 2020 debut Kid Krow), became an instant fan favorite. It’s not just catchy—it’s cathartic.Love, Poison, and a Horn Section
Wishbone doesn’t shy from darkness. The track "Romeo" opens with a playful horn intro—think Phantom Planet meets Alanis Morissette—before sliding into something far more brittle. "You took away my will to live," Gray admits, his voice layered with reverb like a whisper from across a silent room. It’s a song about emotional abandonment disguised as a love ballad. The production, with slide guitar and a shuffling rhythm, feels like walking through a house you used to share—everything in place, but no one home. "Caramel," the third single, dropped the same day as the album. It’s a slow-burn anthem about clinging to someone who’s already gone. "I’m sticky with your memory," he sings, and suddenly, you’re not just listening—you’re remembering your own ex’s perfume on a winter coat you couldn’t bring yourself to throw out. The trio of music videos—"This Song," "Vodka Cranberry," and "Caramel"—were released together as The Wishbone Trilogy on August 27, 2025. A 13-minute short film compiling all three followed the next day. Shot in muted tones and surreal domestic settings, they feel like home videos from a dream you can’t shake. Gray appears in pajamas, in mirrors, in bathtubs, alone but never lonely. The visuals mirror the album’s theme: adulthood isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about the quiet, aching moments you don’t post about.Ownership as Liberation
Gray’s journey to owning his masters began in 2020, when he signed with Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.. Back then, he was a 21-year-old TikTok sensation with a voice that could break glass. But by 2024, after two albums and global tours, he realized something: the music he made was his life. And his life shouldn’t be owned by someone else. "I didn’t want to wake up at 40 and realize I never had control," Gray said in an Instagram Live session. "This isn’t just about money. It’s about truth. If I’m going to sing about my heartbreak, I should own the story too." The move is rare in today’s industry. Most artists sign away rights for upfront cash, distribution, and marketing muscle. Gray, by contrast, negotiated ownership after proving his commercial viability. He didn’t wait for a deal—he built his own. The digital version of Wishbone is sold exclusively through his website for $9.99, delivered as 320kbps MP3s via email. The physical CD, priced at $13.99, includes a foldout poster of Gray and his cat, Wishbone, with a strict limit of four per customer for U.S. residents only. It’s a small act of rebellion: no bulk orders, no resellers, no algorithms deciding who gets to hear it.What Comes Next? The Pajama Show and the World Tour
To support the album, Gray launched the Wishbone Pajama Show in September 2025, a series of intimate U.S. concerts where he performed in loungewear, surrounded by candles and vintage lamps. Fans showed up in matching pajamas. Some brought their own cats. The atmosphere felt less like a concert and more like a group therapy session with a soundtrack. The Wishbone World Tour kicks off in early 2026, with stops in London, Tokyo, Sydney, and Berlin. Gray has hinted that the setlist will include unreleased demos from the Wishbone sessions—songs he didn’t include on the album but still feels too personal to bury.Why This Matters
In an era where AI-generated pop dominates charts and artists are often reduced to brand assets, Wishbone is a quiet act of resistance. Gray didn’t chase trends. He didn’t collaborate with producers to fit a formula. He wrote songs about feeling lost, loved, and lonely—and then he owned them. Full stop. This isn’t just a new album. It’s a blueprint. For independent artists. For creators who’ve ever felt like their art wasn’t theirs to keep. Gray proved you don’t need to sell your soul to make something beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to write it in secret, then have the courage to let the world hear it.Frequently Asked Questions
Why is owning his masters such a big deal for Conan Gray?
Owning his masters means Gray controls how his music is used, licensed, and monetized. Previously, Republic Records held those rights, meaning he earned royalties but couldn’t decide if his songs appeared in ads, films, or compilations. Now, he can license "This Song" for a Netflix drama or a wedding playlist without asking permission—giving him creative and financial autonomy rare for artists under major labels.
How did Daniel Nigro influence the sound of 'Wishbone'?
Nigro, known for his work with Olivia Rodrigo and Lorde, brought a raw, emotionally layered production style to Wishbone. He encouraged Gray to keep imperfections—breaths between lines, slightly off-key harmonies—that make the album feel human. His touch is most evident in "Romeo," where the horn section was added last-minute to contrast the lyrical despair, creating an eerie, cinematic tension.
What’s the significance of the cat, Wishbone, on the album cover?
Wishbone is Gray’s real-life cat, who became his emotional anchor during the isolating tour months. The cat’s name also reflects the album’s theme: fragile, delicate, and easily broken—yet central to survival. The CD includes a poster of Gray and Wishbone, symbolizing that the most honest art often comes from the quietest corners of life.
Why did Gray limit CD purchases to four per customer?
To prevent scalpers from buying up stock and reselling on eBay or StockX at inflated prices. Gray, who’s spoken openly about financial struggles early in his career, wanted fans to have fair access. The limit ensures the album remains a personal experience, not a collectible commodity. It’s a small but powerful statement about valuing connection over profit.
How does 'Wishbone' compare to his previous album, 'Found Heaven'?
While Found Heaven (2024) explored fantasy and escapism—with lush synths and dreamlike production—Wishbone is grounded in reality. It’s acoustic, intimate, and lyrically direct. Where Found Heaven asked "What if?", Wishbone asks "What now?" The shift mirrors Gray’s transition from rising star to mature artist confronting the weight of his own success.
Is there a chance Gray will release more self-owned albums in the future?
Gray has hinted that Wishbone is the first of a new era. In interviews, he’s mentioned having 17 unreleased tracks from the same sessions, and he’s already discussing a potential 2027 follow-up under his own imprint. "I’m not going back," he said. "This is how I want to make music from now on."
