In the superhero comic that is Trousdale’s career—a metaphor the band seems more and more willing to lean on—Growing Pains is their transformation arc. It’s the moment when our heroines, bruised and hurt, learn in their power and come out the other side transformed and stronger.
The Los Angeles-based trio of Quinn D’Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones, are best known for their striking harmonies and emotional transparency. But their sophomore album marks a clear evolution. Growing Pains isn’t just a collection of songs about heartbreak and changes; it’s a confident exploration of what it means to keep going, even when the growth hurts.
From the opening track, it’s clear Trousdale is coming in with something to say. The title track, “Growing Pains,” is the album’s mission statement—and also its most persistent earworm. Echoing Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” the song captures the tension between chasing your dreams and living through the discomfort that comes with it. “It’s about learning to thrive in the discomfort of something that might be hard in the moment, but is ultimately good for you,” Jones explained during our exclusive interview a few months back. That sentiment could just as easily describe the entire album.
“Over and Over” follows with flair. It’s a sharp, sassy rebuttal to unsolicited updates from an ex. With lyrics like “I don’t need you to tell me that you’re doing just fine / Unless you want to hurt me,” the band turns post-breakup frustration into a harmony-laced highlight. The music video, which features the trio playing their exes in dollar-store wigs and fake mustaches, adds a perfectly goofy punch to the song’s emotional bite.
The album doesn’t lose momentum from there. “Want Me Back” slows things down with a synthy, 80s-inspired sound and shimmering vocals that ache with longing. The dreamy sound is sure to have everyone listening swaying along.
Later, “Death Grip” and “Secondhand Smoke” lean into country textures with acoustic guitars and dobro lines, showing the group’s range while keeping the emotional core steady. Both tracks offer space for the harmonies to take a backseat to the songwriting.
One of the album’s quieter standouts is “Sleeping at the Wheel,” a stripped-back track that gives each vocalist room to shine on her own. While the band is best known for their blend, this track proves just how capable each voice is on its own. It’s a subtle moment, but one that brings a different kind of emotional weight.
“Save Me” flips the tone again, with a funky bassline and what might be the album’s stickiest hook. “Stop trying to save me, baby / I know it drives you kinda crazy,” they sing, fully stepping into their own power. The harmonies here don’t overwhelm—they enhance, giving the chorus an almost defiant buoyancy.
The album closes with a stunning one-minute track that features little more than the trio’s vocals. The arrangement is rich and layered, a showcase of how far they’ve come as vocalists and arrangers. The final lyric—“So what it was / Will grow into something new”—feels like a release. It’s not just an ending. It’s a turning point.
That sense of growth is reflected in how the album was made. Unlike their debut, where each instrument was tracked individually, Growing Pains was recorded live in-studio with a full rhythm section. “We grew up as a live band,” D’Andrea said. “Recording live brought back that magic.” The result is a tighter, more cohesive sound that captures the spark of collaboration.
Even their approach to harmony has changed. While earlier releases leaned heavily on stacked vocals, the group has learned when to pull back. “It’s about serving the song,” Greene explained. Still, fans of that classic Trousdale blend won’t be disappointed. That final track alone could bring a tear to a vocal arranger’s eye.
Growing Pains is an album that accepts the aches of change without being consumed by them. It’s emotionally honest, vocally rich, and musically more adventurous than anything they’ve released before. Trousdale might still be doing the hustle of emerging artists. Booking their own shows, balancing side gigs, and crashing at parents’ houses. But their sound is nothing short of heroic.
They’re not done evolving. But with Growing Pains, they’ve taken a leap forward—and brought us along for the ride.
Trousdale’s “Growing Pains” tour kicks off soon. Check to see if they’re coming to a city near you and get your tickets here.
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