Grace Elizabeth Barker (born 20 February 1998, Brighton), known professionally as Gracey (stylised in all caps), is an English singer and songwriter who made her breakthrough in 2020 when she collaborated with 220 KID on the BRIT nominated single "Don't Need Love". The song reached a peak of number 9 for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart.
Early life Her family moved to Haywards Heath during her early childhood. She credits her dyslexia with helping her become more creative, and she went on to study musical theatre at the BRIT School in London from 2012 to 2016.
Career Through writing demos of pop songs and uploading them to SoundCloud, she was invited by Brian Higgins to join production team Xenomania at the age of sixteen. Her first professionally-recorded song was "By Your Side" by Jonas Blue featuring Raye, which went on to be certified platinum in the UK. Gracey's first single, "Different Things", was released in March 2019 and written as a demo for Little Mix. She has also written songs for Sub Focus, Rita Ora, Olly Murs, and Kylie Minogue. In May 2019, Gracey co-written Tiësto's single "Ritual", featuring Jonas Blue and Rita Ora. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 24 in the UK, and has received a diamond certification in Poland from the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV).
In September 2019, Gracey released her debut extended play, Imposter Syndrome. In December, she teamed up with 220 Kid on the single "Don't Need Love". Commercially successful in the UK, the song peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It received a nomination for Song of the Year at the 41st Brit Awards. Following "Don't Need Love", she released "Empty Love", a collaboration with Australian singer Ruel. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic she was forced to postpone her first headline tour, which was due to take place in May 2020. Gracey's debut mini-album, The Art of Closure, was released on 13 November 2020. It contained nine songs, including a collaboration with Alexander 23. In October 2021, Gracey released her second extended play, Fragile.
Gracey was the support act at Anne-Marie's Dysfunctional Tour in 2022. Jo Forrest of TotalNtertainment praised her performance and wrote that she "makes the stage her own proving that, while she may still be carving out a career as an artist in her own right, it's a career that is only heading one way". That same year, she collaborated with Jax Jones and Martin Solveig on a single "Lonely Heart", which peaked at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart. In September 2022, she co-written the single "Psycho" by Anne-Marie and Aitch. The song saw commercial success in the UK, where it peaked at number 5 and was certified Platinum, making it Gracey's highest charting co-written song in the UK to date.
In January 2023, she revealed she had parted ways with her former label, Polydor and is now an independent artist. That same year, she was nominated for the A&R Award in the category "Songwriter of the Year".
On 10 July 2025, Gracey released her third extended play, Ladybug. Kimberly Kapela of The Luna Collective named it Gracey's "most personal and poignant work yet".
Personal life In an interview with MTV, Gracey lists her biggest music influences as Sia, The 1975, Lorde, Joni Mitchell, and Robyn.
In 2019, she underwent surgery for vocal cord nodules.
Discography
Mini-albums +List of mini-albums, with release date and album name shown Title Album details The Art of Closure Released: 13 November 2020 Label: Polydor Formats: Digital download, streaming
Extended plays +List of extended plays, with release date and album name shown Title EP details Imposter Syndrome Released: 20 September 2019 Label: Polydor Formats: Digital download, streaming Fragile Released: 13 October 2021 Label: Polydor Formats: Digital download, streaming The Ladybug Released: 10 July 2025 Label: Glassnote Formats: Digital download, streaming
Singles As lead artist +List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions, and album name shown Title YearPeak chart positions Album UKPeak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom: All except "Don't Need Love":
"Don't Need Love": NZHot "Different Things" 2019— — Imposter Syndrome "If You Loved Me"— — "Easy for You"— — "Don't Need Love" 9 — The Art of Closure "Alone in My Room (Gone)" 2020— — "Empty Love"— 21 "Like That"— — "Don't"— — "99%"— — "Got You Covered" 2021— — "What a Waste"— — Fragile "The Internet"— — "2000 Miles"— — rowspan="2" "Lonely Heart"202270— "Delirium" 2024—— The Ladybug "Rhetorical Questions"—— "Back to Then" —— "Gimmicks"2025——
As featured artist +List of singles, with year released and album name shown Title Year Album "Higher (Acoustic)" 2021
Guest appearances +List of singles, with year released and album name shown Title Year Album "Rent Free" 2021 All Over the Place "Back to Basics" 2022 22 "Think Of Us" 2023 Summertime Friends
Songwriting credits Title Year Artist Album Co-written with "By Your Side" 2016 Jonas Blue Blue Guy James Robin, George Astasio, Jon Shave, Jason Pebworht "Don't You Feel It" 2017 Sub Focus rowspan="4" Uzoiche Emenike, Edward Jenkins, Nicolaas Douwma "Pictures In My Head" MJ Cole - "Got The Feeling" Syn Cole & Kirstin Camille Purcell, Rene Pais, Steve Robson "Sweet Coffee" 2018 Mullally Connor Mullally Knight, Ari PenSmith "Excuses" Olly Murs You Know I Know Olly Murs, Steve Robson "Feel The Same" Ed Drewett, Nicholas Gale, Nile Rodgers, Olly Murs, Steve Robson "Ritual" 2019 Tiesto, Jonas Blue & Rita Ora The London Sessions Tijs Verwest, Guy Robin, Fraser T. Smith, Wayne Hector, Michael Stonebank "Know Me Too Well" 2020 New Hope Club & Danna Paola New Hope Club Blake Richardson, Brunk Valverde, Danna Paola, George Smith, Hajar Sbihi, Kane John Parfitt, Reece Bibby, Sam Merrifield "Make You Dance" Meghan Trainor Treat Myself Meghan Trainor, Andrew Wells, Anthony Rossomando "Do What We Like" Twice Eyes Wide Open Josh Record, Rod Radwagon, Sana"Clouds"StepsWhat the Future HoldsJez Ashurst, Emma Rohan "Feels Like Love" 2021Syn ColeEdvard Erfjord, Henrik Michelsen, Iain James, Rene Pais"Nah" Sonny Fodera & KolidescopesWide AwakeDan Dare, John Courtidis, Sinéad Harnett, Sonny Fodera "Catch Me In The Air" 2022 Rina Sawayama Hold The Girl Rina Sawayama, Adam Crisp, Stuart Price, Oscar Scheller"Stupid Dog"Madeline the PersonChapter 3: The BurningMadeline Holste, Siba, Andrew Jackson "Psycho"Anne-Marie & Aitch Unhealthy Anne-Marie Nicholson, Harrison Armstrong, Tom Mann, Henry Tucker, Tom Hollings, Samuel Brennan "Better Off" 2023Anne-MarieMustafa Omer, Henry Tucker, James Murray, Andrew Murray "Now or Never"Martin Solveig & FaouziaBack to LifeMark Ralph, Amanda Warner, Martin Picandet, Peter Wade "2005"Remedy Club & Elphi rowspan="3" Henry Tucker, Neave Applebaum, Charlotte Boyle "Other Boys"Marshmello & Dove Cameron Dove Cameron, Marshmello, Evan Blair, Everett Romano, Giselle Rosselli, Hugo Gruzman, James Lyell, Nicholas Gale, Sarah Solovay"Elastic"2024Kylie CantrallLionel Castra, Ryan Marrone, Alna Elizabeth Hifmeyr"The Plot"Caity BaserStill LearningCaity Baser, Conor Blake, Darren Lewis, Erin Doyle, Iyiola Babalola"I'll Be Here For You"Caity Baser, Conor Blake, Darren Lewis, Henry Tucker, Iyiola Babalola, Tom Mann"Enemies"Gryffin PulseConor Blake, Andrew Bullimore, Dan Griffith, Lewis Jankel, Kya Hansen"If You Get It You Get It"Bimini Bimini Bon-Boulash, Finn Keane, Matt Rad "LUV?" 2025 Aitch 4 Harrison Armstrong, Anne-Marie Nicholson, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Murray, James Murray, Mustafa Omer, Henry Tucker, Phil Plested "Romeo" Dove Cameron rowspan="2" Dove Cameron, Madison Love, Jason Evigan, Lionel Crasta "Depressed" Anne-Marie Anne-Marie Nicholson, Henry Tucker, Ryan Linvill "Backwards" Jonas Brothers Greetings from Your Hometown Benjamin Ingrosso, Lionel Crasta, Mark Schick "Lovesick" XO Fashionably Late Gil Lewis, Willow Kayne "Baby Steps" Perrie Perrie Perrie Edwards, Sophia Brenan, Will Bloomfield "Dopamine" Mr. Belt & Wezol Conor Blake, Cornelius Kuron "Can't Pull Me Down"2026 Loreen Wildfire Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, Bill Maybury, Samuel Brennan, Tom Hollings "Finish Line"Ally SalortIsn't It Sweeter? Ally Salort, King Ed "If We Had Forever" Ally Salort, King Ed, James Essien "Say It Like You Mean It" Mercer Henderson Is It Fun Or Is It Over? Mercer Henderson, Lionel Crasta
Awards and nominations Year Award Work Category Result Ref.2021Brit Awards"Don't Need Love" Best British Single2023A&R AwardsHerselfSongwriter Of The Year
References