On How Life Is is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray.

[6][7] The album's second single, "I Try", became an international success, topping the charts in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand,[8][9] while reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.

[10] The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2001.

[11] On How Life Is was met with highly positive reviews from music critics upon its release, with many praising Gray's songwriting and vocal performance.

Q rated the album four out of five stars, calling it a "confident, bluesy soul debut [...] with a lived-in sound – as if Rod Stewart were a girl.