2WayMirror explained

2WayMirror
Type:EP
Artist:Gabbie Hanna
Cover:Gabbie Hanna - 2WayMirror.png
Length:19:46
Label:FrtyFve
Next Title:Bad Karma
Next Year:2020

2WayMirror (stylized in all caps) is the debut extended play by American singer-songwriter Gabbie Hanna, released independently on May 31, 2019.[1] The EP includes the lead single "Medicate".[2] Hanna has said the EP was inspired by one of her ex-boyfriends, who was in a YouTube video she posted.[3] Hanna made the EP available for pre-sale on May 18, 2019.[4] [5] The album debuted at number 126 on the US Billboard 200, with 7,000 units sold.[6]

Cover

The cover of the EP depicts Gabbie looking through a see-through shower door, on which a message has been left on the steam. Hanna had her followers choose between this and another potential cover, which displayed a faux iMessage chat, on Instagram.

This cover references the lyrics to the song Perfect Day (A True Story).

Background and promotion

Hanna initially began the project as a single titled "Butterflies", before the project eventually became an EP.[7] The first song she wrote and recorded for the EP was "Broken Girls" in December 2018.[3] [8]

After the EP was announced, Hanna had fans vote on two album covers, and whichever one won would be the official cover of the EP.[9]

Hanna initially teased five songs to be on the EP. "Medicate" was confirmed as the lead single and the four other tracks were confirmed: "Butterflies", "Perfect Day (A True Story)", "Pillowcase", and "Broken Girls". However, a sixth song, "Goodbye, for Now", was leaked by Hanna's producer, Alina Smith.[10] Hanna later confirmed the EP will contain 13 tracks total,[11] but reaffirmed its status as an extended play, and would not be considered an album.[12] Hanna announced on May 12, 2019 that she completed the EP.[13]

Composition

Hanna has described 2WayMirror as a "perfect loop" due to the fact that "I'm Sorry" loops directly into "She Wrote It About You?", completing the loop. Other tracks such as "She Wrote It About You?" and "Broken Girls" blend together musically.[14] Even though 2WayMirror contains 13 tracks, Hanna has reaffirmed the work's status an EP, despite streaming services labeling it as an album.[15] The songs on the EP detail a tumultuous relationship with one of Hanna's ex boyfriends, revealed in a YouTube video in which the two appeared,[3] with the exception of the second single, "Butterflies", which is confirmed to be about two men Hanna was interested in at the same time.[16] Other themes explored on the EP include depression and heartbreak.[17]

The remaining 7 tracks are either intros, outros or bits of voice messages that she had exchanged with her then-boyfriend during their breakup, and serve to contextualise the song and frame the EP within the narrative of her breakup.

Singles and music videos

"Medicate" was released on February 1, 2019 as the lead single from 2WayMirror. It was accompanied by a music video. Commercially, it reached number 31 on the US Digital Songs chart, while becoming her first single to chart in New Zealand.[18] [19] "Butterflies" was released alongside the EP as the second single on May 31, 2019.[20] It was also accompanied by a music video.[21] Commercially, it reached number 37 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.[22] While it was not released as a single, "Perfect Day (A True Story)" was also accompanied by a music video.[23] Hanna later said she is filming a music video for every song on the EP.[24] Hanna confirmed on July 21, 2019 that filming for the "Pillowcase" music video had begun.[25] The music video for "Pillowcase" was released on August 17, 2019, which also included the interlude songs "This Isn't Fun For Me" and "Exhausted". The music video for "Broken Girls" and "Broken Boys" was confirmed in a YouTube video uploaded by Hanna.[26] The "Broken Girls" music video was released on November 16, 2019. The music video for "Goodbye, For Now" was released on September 3, 2020.[27]

Live performances

Hanna performed "Medicate" along with a freestyle rap on February 17, 2019 at VidCon London.[28]

Hanna performed acoustic versions of "Pillowcase" and "Butterflies" with Elli Moore at VidCon LA on July 13, 2019. Each song from the EP was performed as well as the song "Antisocial Media" later the same day.[29]

Hanna performed "Medicate" at the First Inaugural Patreon Assembly on November 2, 2019 along with "Monster", "Monster (Reborn)", and the unreleased song, "Sleepyhead" and "Today", which was later revealed to be from her second album, This Time Next Year.[30]

Personnel

Performance

Production

Charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[31] 76
UK Download Albums (OCC)[32] 31
US Billboard 200[33] 126
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[34] 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cantor . Brian . Gabbie Hanna's '2WAYMIRROR' Enters Top 3 On US iTunes Sales Chart . Headline Planet . 31 May 2019 . June 7, 2019.
  2. Web site: yassssspic.twitter.com/8L37FBAQ6o. 2019-05-04. @cautionmv. 2019-05-04.
  3. Web site: Gabbie Hanna. My EX & I Let The Person In Front Of Us Decide What We Eat For 24 Hours. . 2019-05-09. 2019-05-09.
  4. Web site: AHHHH *PRE-SAVE* 2 WAY MIRROR NOW!! #2WAYMIRROR DO IT DO IT DO IT!! TY TY TY!! pic.twitter.com/ZJRENMcv4J. @GabbieHanna. 2019-05-18.
  5. Web site: yes! soon!. 2019-05-18. @GabbieHanna. 2019-05-18.
  6. Yung Gravy, Blanco Brown & Dominic Fike Debut on Emerging Artists Chart. 2019-06-12. Billboard. 2020-04-06.
  7. Web site: turned into a full visual EP... oops.... May 31. 2 WAY MIRROR . 2019-04-28. @GabbieHanna. 2019-05-04.
  8. Web site: oops!. May 31. 2 WAY MIRROR . 2019-05-09. @GabbieHanna. 2019-05-09.
  9. Web site: GABBIE HANNA on Instagram: '2 WAY MIRROR. THE FULL EP available MAY 31 6 songs! and a LOT of way too personal surprises i'm nauseatingly proud of this body of…'. Instagram. 2019-05-04.
  10. Web site: WAIT WHEN DID I SAY GOODBYE FOR NOW. May 19, 2017.
  11. Web site: there are... but 13 tracks. guess we'll see what they are on may 31!. May 19, 2019.
  12. Web site: it is!. May 19, 2019.
  13. Web site: YAYYYY IM SO EXCITED @GabbieHannapic.twitter.com/U9Bi8iiOJu. ash. 2019-05-11. @cautionmv. 2019-05-12.
  14. News: Gabbie Hanna Talks New Album, YouTube Drama, and Relationships. Sang. Zach. Zach Sang Show. June 21, 2019.
  15. News: @GabbieHanna on Twitter. Twitter. June 21, 2019. girl. u have NO FUCKING IDEA. but had i listened to her i wouldnt have an EP so ill ignore her more often..
  16. News: I'm a Medium Now... No, Seriously.... Hanna. Gabbie. June 20, 2019. YouTube. June 25, 2019.
  17. Web site: Gabbie Hanna Ups Her Music Game With 'Medicate'. Dankantor. 2019-05-22.
  18. US Digital Song Sales Chart Positions. Billboard. December 25, 2018.
  19. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. February 11, 2019. February 8, 2019.
  20. Web site: @GabbieHanna i'm so excited !pic.twitter.com/4dqis0QOYi. of @brokengirlsmv. ash-locked out. 2019-05-28. @perfectdaymv. 2019-05-29.
  21. Web site: Adnan . Nashmia . Gabbie Hanna Released New Music Video 'Butterflies' . Dankanator . June 16, 2019.
  22. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. June 10, 2019. June 7, 2019.
  23. News: Perfect Day (A True Story) - Gabbie Hanna (Official Video). Hanna. Gabbie. June 7, 2019. YouTube. June 10, 2017.
  24. News: Full KIISFM Radio Segment. Hanna. Gabbie. Patreon. June 17, 2019.
  25. News: "Pillowcase" Location Scout (SPOILERS). Hanna. Gabbie. Patreon. July 21, 2019.
  26. News: I LET INSTAGRAM PICK MY HAIR TRANSFORMATION! *EXTREME*. YouTube. August 20, 2019.
  27. Web site: Hanna. Gabbie. Goodbye, For Now.. .
  28. News: Vidcon London 2019 Max and Harvey/Gabbie Hanna performances. (Crowd view). YouTube. July 14, 2019.
  29. News: Gabbie Hanna 2WayMirror EP Live! - VidCon 2019 // Twin World. YouTube. July 14, 2019.
  30. News: Gabbie Hanna - Patreon Assembly FULL PERFORMANCE 11/2/2019. November 3, 2019.
  31. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #528. auspOp. June 8, 2019. June 8, 2019. June 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190608073730/https://www.auspop.com.au/2019/06/aria-chart-watch-528/. dead.
  32. Web site: Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. June 7, 2019.
  33. Billboard 200 Chart: Week of June 15, 2019. Billboard. June 29, 2021.
  34. Independent Albums Chart: Week of June 15, 2019. Billboard. June 29, 2021.