Pale Waves

Pale Waves has something special. When speaking with Billboard, lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie is in the middle of discussing how the U.K. band’s upcoming debut EP came together when a timid and clearly overwhelmed fan (tears staining her cheeks) approaches her. “Are you OK?” Baron-Gracie inquires, checking the fan’s bewildered state. To which she responds, “Can I hug you? I’m just so excited to see you perform. Oh my gosh.” That is the power of Pale Waves, an alt-pop quartet equipped with shimmering, danceable pop tunes that carry tremendous songwriting heft. Those kinds of one-on-one interactions, which are beginning to happen more and more frequently these days, have directly translated into tangible results and a conceivable superstardom.