Star pupil: Conan Gray’s ‘Wishbone’ further confirms his place as a tastemaker of Gen Z pop

“Wishbone” is the latest release from Conan Gray. Courtesy of Republic Records

NEW YORK — Rejection serves as inspiration for angst and contemplation on pop singer Conan Gray’s wistful fourth album, “Wishbone,” released last Friday. It is a return to form for Gray with 12 diaristic tracks that oscillate between bold heartbreak anthems and moments of tender reflection.

Discovered on YouTube in the early 2010s, Gray’s narrative pop earned him a place among the tastemakers of Gen Z music. He collaborated closely with producer Dan Nigro (known for his work with Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan ) on his first two albums. The 26-year-old’s most recent, 2024’s “Found Heaven,” was a departure from Nigro and the affective melancholy of his previous singer-songwriter releases. Swedish supe