Baker Grace knows that sometimes, the only way out is through. This sentiment is perfectly captured in her new single, “Be Ok,” a folk-pop tune about the desire to be well and the struggle to get there. The New Jersey artist has made waves in the music world before. She garnered acclaim for her first two EPs, 2019’s Girl, I Know and last year’s Yourz Truly, the latter of which featured a collaboration with R&B star Cautious Clay. “Be Ok” continues Grace’s experimentation with the pop genre while keeping the intimate songwriting style of her past projects.

The music video for “Be Ok” switches between two versions of Grace. The first has the 20-year-old songstress in soft focus and ethereal dress, sitting in a field. Her calm appearance and lilting vocals are betrayed by melancholic lyrics. “My ancient bones can’t harbor/ the weight of the world,” she sings as we cut to a frustrated Grace stranded in a broken-down car. The emotions brought on by the situation—feeling trapped, exhausted, and at a dead-end—reflect the tumult experienced during a mental health low. The situation should be a disaster, but as the song progresses, Grace is able to turn the incident into a moment of freeing empowerment by digging her heels in—and by wielding a baseball bat to one of the car’s windows in a satisfying scene of destruction.

V spoke with Baker Grace to learn more about the song’s meaning, making the music video, and her musical inspirations. Scroll on for our conversation, and watch the music video below.

V Magazine: How did you get started in music?

Baker Grace: My father was a musician and a lover of music, so music has been in my life since the day I was born. I started singing before I could talk, and doing musicals and performing at school at the age of 5. When I was in middle school, I started seriously writing songs and begged my dad to help me record them. We produced an EP together and it opened doors for me in the industry. I haven’t stopped ever since.

V: What inspired you to write “Be Ok”? What’s the message behind the song?

BG: “Be Okay” is one of those songs that just came to me. It was a gift I needed at a time when I was in a really bad place mentally. It was like the voice of reason crying out to be heard through all the noise and negativity going on in my own head. The message of the song is that it’s okay to relax, let go, and be kind to ourselves. It is so easy to get lost in trying to look perfect, be successful, and get validation from others. But we deserve to feel worthy and accepted for who we are at the core.

V: How would you describe your sound?

BG: My sound is a representation of who I am as an artist: a balance of light and dark, raw but innovative. I love to mix angelic vocals, darker chords and deep, open bass and beat. It’s like a breath of fresh air, softly powerful.

V: Who are you listening to lately?

BG: I’ve been listening to Jon Bellion’s last album, “Glory Sound Prep,” and Arlo Parks’ “Collapsed in Sunbeams.” I also have been loving The Weeknd and listening to his album, “Beauty Behind the Madness,” again.

V: Is “Be Ok” heading in a different direction than your past music, such as your Yourz Truly EP?

BG: It’s definitely different. The vulnerability of the lyrics and my state of mind at the time led me back to my roots. I wanted to strip it back and see what I could do writing on just a guitar, with more minimal production that revolves around the vocals. I really wanted to take a pure sound, reminiscent of the music I listened to growing up, and turn it into something fresh and modern.

V: How did you come up with the concept for the music video? And, where did you film it?

BG: I filmed the video in Los Angeles. We filmed the car scene at an AirBnB and the rest in Malibu Creek Park. I wanted to show a visual representation of depression and anxiety, and of my mental health journey. I wanted to physically break down, lose everything, get grounded, destroy the pain and negativity I was trapped in, find myself again, and come back to life. Rolling in dirt and smashing a car with a baseball bat seemed like a good way to bring that story to life.

V: What’s next for you this year?

BG: I feel like I’m finally in a place, mentally, where I can focus on the things in my life that truly matter to me. This past year has given me the opportunity to fall back in love with the art of music again. I just want to become the best possible musician/artist/songwriter/producer I can be. I’m super excited to release my next EP and keep growing as an artist and writing more music to put out into the world. Hopefully, I can perform live soon as well. I miss it so much.