See Gracie Abrams Give an Intimate Performance of ‘Broke My Heart’ on Amazon Music’s ‘Songline’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Amazon Music has unveiled the next chapter of its acclaimed "Songline" documentary-performance series, this time spotlighting Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. Variety received an exclusive preview of her stripped-down take on the track "Broke My Heart," captured within the hallowed walls of London's Church Studios—a recording space whose legendary pedigree includes sessions with everyone from Bob Dylan to Adele. Against that backdrop, Abrams delivers a raw, reimagined performance drawn from her recently released album "Daughter from Hell," which topped charts upon its debut. The episode interweaves these acoustic renditions with candid, reflective conversations alongside her frequent creative partner, Aaron Dessner, as the pair unpack the emotional roots of their material and the six-year artistic alliance that has shaped it.

Set to premiere in full on September 10, this installment continues the series' tradition of peeling back the layers of modern songwriting. For the uninitiated, "Songline" offers an unfiltered look at the craft, tasking artists with reinterpreting their catalog in an intimate, bare-bones format. Each entry balances stripped-back performances with revealing interviews, giving listeners a window into the instincts and influences behind the music. The roster of past participants reads like a who's who of contemporary music—Billie Eilish, Laufey, A$AP Rocky, Maren Morris, Reneé Rapp, and Ed Sheeran have all taken part—solidifying the franchise's status as a trusted home for genuine, unvarnished storytelling.

For Abrams, the experience proved transformative. "Songline pushed me to approach these songs with completely new eyes," she said. "When you strip away all the production, you're left with the core emotion that started it all. It was just me and my band in a room, letting the music breathe on its own. There's a vulnerability in that simplicity that's both terrifying and freeing." Her remarks reflect the ethos of an artist who has built her reputation on lyrical candor—a quality that has steadily expanded her audience since her debut EP arrived in 2020. Notably, Abrams' rise has been meteoric: her single "I Love You, I'm Sorry" earned viral traction across streaming platforms, and her 2024 tour dates sold out within minutes, signaling a fanbase that prizes authenticity over spectacle.

Dessner—a founding member of The National and a celebrated producer whose credits include extensive work with Taylor Swift—echoed Abrams' enthusiasm, lauding the project's unpolished honesty. "It's deeply real and raw; there's no facade to hide behind," he remarked. "Her writing captures the human experience in a way that hits home. She voices feelings so many people struggle to articulate, and that's why her listeners feel such a profound connection. The best moments in our collaboration have come from pushing each other to dig deeper and take bigger creative swings." Their partnership, which began during the pandemic-era sessions that produced Abrams' early work, has since blossomed into one of indie-pop's most fruitful duos, yielding a string of critically praised releases.

With the September premiere drawing near, fans are poised for a moving fusion of musical craft and personal introspection. This "Songline" episode not only charts Abrams' artistic growth but also serves as a testament to the enduring value of collaboration in an industry often distracted by fleeting trends. By centering intimacy and emotional truth, the installment looks set to become a memorable highlight in the series' expanding legacy—one that reaffirms why songwriting remains one of music's most vital forms of expression.