What HAPPENED to Conan Gray?

Conan Gray, an American singer-songwriter, gained prominence with his heartfelt lyrics and relatable storytelling. His discography includes three studio albums: Kid Krow (2020), Superache (2022), and Found Heaven (2024). While his first two albums resonated deeply with fans, Found Heaven marked a noticeable shift in style, leading to mixed reactions.
Comparison of Albums:
Kid Krow (2020):

Chart Performance: Debuted at #5 on the US Billboard 200, making it the biggest US new artist debut of 2020. 49,000
Singles Performance: Featured hits like "Maniac" and "Heather," with "Heather" peaking at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100. citeturn0search16
Sales & Streams: Accumulated over 4 billion streams on Spotify.
Superache (2022):

Chart Performance: Debuted at #9 on the US Billboard 200. 43,000
Singles Performance: Included tracks like "People Watching" and "Astronomy," which received critical acclaim but modest chart success.
Sales & Streams: Garnered over 2.1 billion streams on Spotify.
Found Heaven (2024):

Chart Performance: Debuted at #14 on the US Billboard 200, indicating a decline compared to previous albums. 36,000
Singles Performance: Singles like "Lonely Dancers" and "Alley Rose" showcased a new sound but did not achieve significant chart success.
Sales & Streams: Accumulated approximately 306 million streams on Spotify, significantly lower than his earlier works.
Fan Theories on Found Heaven's Reception:
Shift in Musical Style:

Found Heaven embraced an '80s synth-pop sound, a departure from Gray's earlier indie-pop style. While some appreciated this evolution, others felt it lacked the emotional depth that characterized his previous work. Flopped
Production Choices:

The album featured collaborations with prominent producers like Max Martin and Greg Kurstin. Some fans believe this led to a more polished sound, which, while technically proficient, felt less personal and authentic.
Lyrical Content:

Listeners noted a shift from deeply personal narratives to broader themes, making it harder for some to connect with the songs on an intimate level.
Market Saturation:

The '80s revival trend has been prominent in recent years. Some fans felt that Found Heaven blended into this trend rather than standing out, leading to a perception of the album lacking originality.

Shameless discovery tactics.
Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, Fine Line, and Harry Styles, Zayn’s Mind of Mine and Icarus Falls, Liam Payne’s LP1, Louis Tomlinson’s Walls and Faith in the Future, and Niall Horan’s Heartbreak Weather and The Show, mainstream pop artists like Ed Sheeran’s Divide, Shawn Mendes’ Illuminate and Wonder, Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, Charlie Puth’s Voicenotes, and Jonas Brothers’ Happiness Begins, pop-rock and alternative acts such as 5 Seconds of Summer’s Youngblood, Vance Joy’s Dream Your Life Away, The Lumineers’ Cleopatra, Mumford & Sons’ Wilder Mind, Dean Lewis’ A Place We Knew, and Dermot Kennedy’s Without Fear, Miley Cyrus’ Breakout and Bangerz, Selena Gomez & the Scene’s When the Sun Goes Down and A Year Without Rain, Demi Lovato’s Don’t Forget, Here We Go Again, and Confident, Hilary Duff’s Metamorphosis, Most Wanted, and Breathe In. Breathe Out., Bridgit Mendler’s Hello My Name Is…, China Anne McClain’s McClain and Something Real, Bella Thorne & Zendaya’s Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance, Jordan Fisher’s Jordan Fisher EP, Vanessa Hudgens’ V and Identified, Ashley Tisdale’s Headstrong and Guilty Pleasure, Aly & AJ’s Into the Rush, Insomniatic, and With Love From, Jesse McCartney’s Beautiful Soul, Right Where You Want Me, and Departure, Big Time Rush’s BTR, Elevate, and 24/Seven, The Jonas Brothers’ Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer, and Lines, Vines and Trying Times, Aaron Carter, and Ryan Cabrera
Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Tate McRae, Clairo, Girl in Red, Bea Miller, Jeremy Zucker, Lauv, mxmtoon, Ruel, Alexander 23, Role Model, Sasha Alex Sloan, Dodie, Boy in Space, Chelsea Cutler, FINNEAS, Noah Kahan, Maisie Peters, Phoebe Bridgers, Troye Sivan, Sam Fender, The Japanese House, Julia Michaels, Holly Humberstone, Fletcher, Lennon Stella, Madison Beer, Ashe, Chloe Moriondo, Orla Gartland, JVKE, King Princess, Isaac Dunbar, Nessa Barrett, Reneé Rapp, Conan Gray, Charlie Puth, Anson Seabra, Benson Boone, Joshua Bassett, GAYLE, Alec Benjamin, Dermot Kennedy, Tate McRae, Shawn Mendes, Joji, and The Driver Era.

[Madmad]

Bro wdym? Conan performed Found Heaven at a sold out MSG of over 17, 000 people. Nearly all his shows have sold out for Found Heaven. Also, the album absolutely rocks. I wouldn't consider that a fall from fame. Conan is still very much relevant and in the music game. (Coming from a fan since 2019)

[ChromeOfTheFuture]

What happened…..nothing he still making music… he’s still performing….he’s doing just fine lmao

[SeaBassTian]

I loved Found Heaven but then again I wasn't too familiar with his earlier work. Now I really wanna hear the missing track Telepath!

[cgLibby]

I’m not too sure WHY you need a video on this?
Conan wanted to try new styles and he wanted to experiment with more sounds, styles and his voice

Personally I don’t think this is something you would need to address widely on the internet, people can figure it out themselves, and if his fans were REAL fans they would enjoy Found Heaven just as much as the rest. (I love Found Heaven, and I’ve been a true fan since 2019)

As a massive Conehead, I just don’t get it.