Max's Music Mondays // 11.16.20
Medium Build and Emma Rena, it's a good one folks.
Dear friends,
We’re just over a month out from the third annual Maxies, the definitely most important and not completely made up award show of the year. After last year’s success, I was planning on hosting a real deal, in-person event with a red carpet in my driveway, but alas, we’ll have to wait until next time. I’ve got a couple fun ideas, and in this new format…. things could get a little ~wild~. But in the meantime, we soldier on with two beautiful tunes.
Good At Being Lonely - Medium Build.
Kacey hive stand up!! No one has captured this high horse vibe for me in a while. Complete with the Musgraves staples - creating such a fun energy and finding a way to pair it naturally with some devastating songwriting, it’s an incredible feat. After a funky and easy intro, Medium Build hops in with a live look into his morning. He’s gotta know that if you shoutout oatmeal in your song, you’re getting into MMM. Those are the rules, this is my burden. That lead guitar peaking through for some additional cowboy moments. The back half of the verse picks up with the whole band coming to life as MB leads us into the chorus. The title lyric feels like just as much a mantra in the mirror as it is an exclamation to someone else. As MB reflects on love lost, the tide turns and we start to appreciate what we had, rather than what could have been. Feels like the ultimate driving down the highway song (and NOT just because he mentions driving I swear). Suddenly this “Getting good at being lonely” starts to feel more authentic, layering on those synthy background vocals. I really like the bridge, the new lyrics swaying back and forth, before releasing us into a crunchy little moment, mmmm what a treat. The band comes together in a way that really feels like friends on stage, good vibes. When we return for this last chorus, there’s more emotion and I believe him for real this time. Everything’s a bit brighter, and those quiet little descending chords on the left put a smile on my face. This resolution, learning to trust the song’s message, does recast that first verse. Those dark, lonely moments, like watching the oatmeal (bright for me tbh), look a lot nicer in this appreciative light (again, oatmeal always bright). This one came out on Friday, and is just a sick display of talent. MB’s vocals have such a warming and unique tone, the production feeling so alive, and generous, specific songwriting.
Armageddon - Emma Rena.
Out of nowhere, Emma Rena stopped me in my tracks with this song. I don’t even know where to start. I guess the beginning…? What a first 10 seconds… a humming organ, a twinkling synth, and a drum fill that clearly announces, “this song is dramatic as hell”. An announcement echoed when Rena hops in, my goodness… Her tone is so gnarly, so unique, I can’t think of anything quite like it. Full of this angsty roughness from the chest. I love it. If you’ve never heard her before this is one heck of an intro, instantly bouncing up to that gentle falsetto. Drums rattling off beneath us, makes the moment all the more angelic. Wrapping the chorus, with this Frank Ocean-y flow, just as impressive and unique as her falsetto. The verse starts with that single word flow, so sparse but still feels full. The meal she makes of “I swear my exi-/-stential crisis is upcoming”? Come on now!! This is incredible, and shows off this creativity in her writing and delivery. Not that we would’ve expected anything different, Rena is clearly comfortable creating outside the lines, and I’m glad. As she picks up the pace, the band starts to come back to life, just in time for the chorus. This time around the drum kit is ready to join, and so are some gorgeous background harmonies. So catchy. This is a hit. Like, Rihanna could drop this today, but Rena doesn’t shy away. A heck of an achievement for someone’s second single. To have this pronounced and defined of a sound - yeah I’m loving it, yeah I’m clapping. And we haven’t gotten to my favorite lyric, “BUSSIN 10 MPH ON MY BIKE” (ok Rihanna would’ve rewritten this line). But, are you kidding, I get an oatmeal shoutout and a responsible biking moment?? Checking all the Max boxes this week. Another chorus and we are out. Check out Emma Rena’s other singles, everything is weird and cool and grandiose and it was hard to pick just one.
In Case You Missed It - Harry x Vogue, so inspiring in so many ways. Zack Villere with the best Frances Ha reference I’ve heard. The Christmas music is HERE. New holiday classics from Sharon Van Etten, Jake Wesley Rogers, and Kathleen (this one’s got me fucked up). If you need me, I’m just sitting here with the Billie video and the Lil Nas X video side by side replaying until the end of time.
Much love,
Max