One of modern pop’s most prolific and emotionally resonant songwriters, WRABEL has amassed over 4 billion streams across platforms as both a solo artist and collaborator, with credits including Kesha, P!NK, Meghan Trainor, Teddy Swims, Celeste, Ellie Goulding, Madi Diaz, and more. His breakout solo release “The Village” became a defining LGBTQ+ anthem, praised for its raw empathy and enduring impact—continuing to resonate with listeners nearly a decade later. His 2023 sophomore album, based on a true story, showcased his gift for introspective storytelling, gut-punch lyrics, and unshakable melodies. Now, with a sharpened artistic vision and a more hands-on creative approach, WRABEL enters his most dynamic and experimental era yet. His third full-length album, up above (out February 13, 2026 via Nettwerk), marks his debut as a co-producer—taking the lead in shaping the album’s sonic identity. Drawing unlikely inspiration from Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario, the album explores themes of surrender, surreal beauty, and radical acceptance—rooted in the contradiction of finding light in the dark. With production and co-writing from Austin Ward (Tom Morello, Willow Avalon) and mixing by Damian Taylor (Björk, Arcade Fire), WRABEL builds a rich sonic world of ethereal textures, floating melodies, and deeply human truths—inviting listeners to sit with life’s messiness and still find meaning up above.
Concert in your area for Rock, Folk & Blues, Pop, and Indie & Alt.
Stephen Wrabel started his set on a stool with a guitar saying, “I guess I’ll just start since I’m here.” We soon found out that he was going through his set off-list, keeping everyone including himself guessing at which song would be next. Wrabel, his chosen moniker in the industry, told us he wrote that first song (“Lullaby”) about a week ago and had to teach himself to play that guitar if he wanted to perform it tonight. Honesty is definitely a theme throughout his lyrics and you can hear it in his vocals. He then goes over to the piano, his usual means of conveyance, to give us “All or Nothing”, a song about taking a beat to “try to breathe” because “you’ll always find your way back somehow.”
Please read my full review with video over at http://popwrapped.com/news/77760/wrabel-performance-room-5-la/