Max's Music Mondays with Gag Salon and Debbie Debonaire

Happy belated april fools

Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays. My ~music discovery newsletter~ where I get too excited about songs I love. I hope you love them too. If you do, follow along on spotify and please be sure to absolute smash that dang subscribe button! tysm :)

---

Happy Tuesday! April Fools! It’s still Monday!

Wow absolutely legendary, genre-redefining opening line there. Someone call the Pulitzer folks, I think they’re going to want to see this. Anyways, it’s wild that it is April, excited about my new MMM ideas and nervous by how fast each week seems to come and go. But we’ll find the time, we always do.

Last night was famously the Grammys. There’s something special about seeing music and musicians celebrated like that. Celebrate each other like that. Always inspiring and exciting to think that there are some MMM grammy winners around the corner too… Been fun watching these performances and speeches back and thinking about just how thrilling that’ll be :)

Ok ok enough messing about let’s freaking rock!!!!!!!!!!

---

This Week’s Songs

Please please follow along here ^^ for this week’s and every week’s songs. They’re all really good I swear!!! <3 Please like and enjoy and send to someone you like and enjoy!!

---

Gag Salon - Horses

Now you might be asking, “what is max doing listening to head banging, heart racing, buzzy and loud punk music?? I thought he only liked pop music?!”. Well first off, I like all music so STOP with these expectations. But second off - I’m listening to this because I heard it once and I canNOT stop thinking about it. This one is so dang powerful, it really is something.

The messy, stumbling-over-itself riff pulling you further and further right as it opens. Only for you to get completely knocked back by the full band’s wave of sound. Massive and ever-extending, it’s an overwhelming and beautiful opening scene. Then the waters subside, and the song is suddenly bright and quirky. Galloping on, the band panned all across the mix, each finding a pocket to call home. And while the edge might’ve subsided, the heart-racing-ness is still strong as could be. The vocals, smooth and easy, having no trouble keeping up with the band and still finding tiny moments for a flourish. And even amidst all the chaos and pace, the whole thing still feels comfortable. More so when we get the first chance to breathe at 0:48. It’s an intimate moment too, filled with great songwriting and a lot of passion. In response, the band freaks out! That synth sting hitting like a squealing horse. It falls back to familiar fun, a middle ground between energies. At 1:44 embracing their power and harnessing their emotion, that voice screaming with the guitar helping shape the melody. It’s impressive to make the screams feel so beautiful and so well crafted. Another chance to breath, vocals picking up some delay, subtly echoing out. The guitars come back hot, incisive as they hop from note to note, the drums rolling around underneath. The whole song a feeling like a fire just about to catch. The heat is there, the spark is there, the flame is just around the corner. And then it lands at 2:52. The wacky descent from the synth, a thick bass poking around at the same time. Both giving way to our lead shouting horses!!! horses!!! It’s fun, it’s mad, it’s wild, it’s not taking itself too seriously and I am enjoying it. We move quickly into the gentlest moment of all - the song slowing down, gliding to a calm stop. But one I couldn’t trust, just waiting for those wailing guitars to show their faces one last time. Jokes on me, they already rode off into the sunset. A true ripper, I’ve been loving this one lately, eager to share. Strap in. This is their first single and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.

Follow Gag Salon on IG / Spotify

---

Debbie Debonaire - eternal

Another UK artist another debut single another oh-my-god-this-is-good reaction from me. Clocking in at 1:24 this is officially the second shortest song on MMM but trust me, this one has plenty to admire as is. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll just replay it 10 times over and then wonder how your day has disappeared out from under you. But more than anything else that desire is a testament to how lovable this song is. The first moments feel especially like a dream - the drums finding a great groove, what even are those sounds out to the left. You can hear them, and they feel familiar, but it’s blurry, out-of-focus, out-of-reach. Those whistling synth, like cold air whirling by, it’s all got a beautiful chill. Debbie Debonaire’s hmm’s and yeah’s rounding out the moment. So breezy and calm, there’s a quiet to it all. So it’s a moving shift when Debonaire comes in at full volume right after. It’s funny to think this is ‘kicking it into high gear’ when you realize how soft and easy this section still is, but it’s all relative. The vocals are a godsend. Smooth, loving, riding the flows of Debonaire’s breathes. There’s such power in the restraint. Clear with their wants - if you want me, then just text me / not hard to reach, don’t stress me. I could keep the quotes going, the Do Not Disturb lifestyle is one I’m incredibly passionate about too, but you gotta draw the line somewhere!! And before I can even finish drawing that line, Debonaire has pulled another stunning move. Those harmonies!!! So angelic and sweet, subtle as they take on some stunning riffs. The lyrics are great here too, that oops I’m jumping hurdles is so tenderly delivered, so painful in its realization. And even if the feeling is eternal, the moment isn’t, the band fading to reveal just an acoustic guitar and the lowest bass I’ve ever heard tucked away neatly down there. The percussion like a train pulling into the station, easing up with each passing bar. It leaves Debonaire so much more space to sing and to show just how spectacular a voice they really have. It’s over too soon, but as I mentioned, I’ve listened to this one so many times, you start to lose track of how long it really is. Just a gem of a tune and one to savor. Exciting to hear something so lovely from a new artist and eager for more.

Follow Debbie Debonaire on IG / Spotify

---

Here’s what else I’ve been listening to.

(click this ^^ for the full playlist lol)

Harry Styles - As It Was

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

how does he do it? every time!

I adore this one, I’ve already listened to it 1000 times (estimate). The song feels so big, so alive, so massive, and yet deeply personal and intimate. Those vocals gentle and honest, sitting right in front of us. The melodies feel so him too. It’s remarkable really. Musically, this isn’t anything earth shattering, you can spot the influences. Each ingredient tossed in the HSHQ pot, all cooked up together, it feels familiar almost. And yet no one else could make this song, it’s utterly and entirely Harry and it’s so SO good. The release into the final bells/chorus is pure joy and I can’t stop playing and singing.

Doechii - Persuasive

This one is impossibly catchy. The production is slick and so fun. Percussion hitting hard while those chords wobble ever so slowly. Doechii is smooth as could be, melting ice cream slowly dripping down the cone, and just as sweet. With those harmony layers making the moment even more beautiful. The first verse hustles by, steadily moving, not in any rush. The thing is covered in delightful adlibs flying in from every angle, coming together to one brilliant song. Another chorus and verse push by, and the F is for Faded, it’s all so fun. And then the other side of 2mins reveals the twist, a new bass arriving, carrying some reverbed horns, the whole moment swirling and shifting. It’s wild. Just a fun song top to bottom. Don’t sleep!!!!

spill tab - Sunburn

I will never not post about spill tab. It’s pop music that likes to be weird and push limits and just generally have a good time. And that’s what I like too!! Sunburn is no different, the screaming synth lead, the percussion avalanching all over the place, the vocals methodical and rich. Then the chorus hits and the whole thing takes off. The start of the 2nd verse there at 0:50 is so stunning, the vocals shining and sounding incredible. The bridge will pull you in even deeper, like we’re getting a live listen to them in the booth. And right when you get your ear close, they twist it all up and shoot it out to space. An intergalactic final few moments.

Charli XCX - Selfish Girl

LONG OVERDUE I’ve been digging into the Charli album, which of course, rules. And fallen in love with this one. The production is a hoot, bouncing around, knocking into stuff, just generally having fun. The twisted little vocal chops are so sick, hopping on through. As it spaces out for the pre-chorus, Charli shines, her vocals processed so beautifully. A hollow bass leads the way, dancing through the chorus, as Charli comes to terms that no matter how many times she asks, no one can handle her bold desires. There’s an air of resignation but just as much smirking acceptance. I love the bridge, true party hours. One of many perfect cuts off this record, can’t wait to dig into it more.

---

Do I have an outro this week? No not really! But thank you as always, smash that like button, subscribe, comment, follow, send to your parents, whatever feels right, anything helps/warms my heart.

It means the world when artists see what we’re cooking up over here. And lately the feedback has been really moving and validating!! So thank you all for giving me a space to shout every week, really keeps me going. Very grateful!

Yours,

Max