Max's Music Mondays with haer and zannie
NEW (old) FORMAT ALERT <3 <3
Well well well, what’s this?! Another Monday here but no Friday edition in between?? That’s right folks, change is coming to MMM’s! It’s all really exciting change, and all still brewing if we’re honest. But for now, I’m going back to the good ol’ days, when the Friday roundup was just a glimmer in my eye, starting as a humble part of the Monday post as well.
You’ll see them here, at the bottom, after our two featured songs. A few thoughts to share about the music that’s been carrying me the rest of the week. At some point, that section (formerly known as ICYMI) started to outgrow Mondays, getting too big and I kicked it over to its own post to give myself more space to cheer on the music I loved. But now? Well, now it’s gotten too big lol. So, I need to smoosh all that love back down into a little section here. The love isn’t getting any smaller, just the word count (in theory). I’m sure it’ll continue evolving, plenty of ways I want to try and convince you to listen these songs with fewer words, I hope you’ll take a chance on some of those songs.
Mostly, I wanted to claw back some time and some space for new ideas. So many things I’ve wanted to try with MMM (like last // year’s live // performances) but with the constant writing from week to week, just haven’t given myself the chance. But that changes today!!! We’re cruising now, and the wheels are turning on so much good stuff. So we’ll be back to one post per week for a little bit here, with more interesting long-form ideas coming not too far down the line. I love going deep on these songs every Monday, but the way this is all structured now means it’s kind of a one and done deal. I’m hoping these new ideas will give us all a chance to connect further and fall more in love with some of these incredible artists.
But until then, and even then, the Mondays stay incredible. I hope you dig this one.
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!!
haer - You
The texture of this voice is a pretty astonishing start. So personal, so intimate, so strong even as those last syllables spill out as lines end. Needless to say - obsessed from the start. They sit so well on a canvas of chords, that reversed (?) vocal sample, everything swirling as that synth starts dancing beneath it all. Crossing 0:32 and finding new motion - the vocals feel fuller now, chased by that pitched down layer coming up from behind, a harmony floating above. The drums staying present but gentle even as they cut through, that pulsing synth giving it all some bounce. We break for a breather, some emotions coming out between these two. The second verse adds the drums to give everything a bit more life. Which I’m clinging to, the pain and disappointment from the writing needing this balance. The annoyed acceptance in “just need space ‘til October, alright”. That alright, simple as it is, filled with so much emotion we can all recognize. As we return to ‘left like it’s sudden’ section, I really fall for this synth. Pushing and pulling, almost like it’s breathing. The song unafraid to twist and turn, it’s hard not to enjoy. Again, a charming moment to score some painful reflecting “could I have said something”, that harmony holding on beyond the line slowly fading as they really marinate on the thought. So subtle, so beautiful. We clean the slate, starting from scratch, finding haer singing in space. Layers quickly forming around her, and that drum fill!!! Good GOD I love it, bright new sounds, creating so much groove with just a few hits. I don’t want to focus too much on less than one second of a truly great song, but this less-than-one-second really is one to savor. Propelling things so perfectly, through these dreams, that slow motion fall as you drift off is uncomfortably familiar. But maybe it’s not a dream.. but rather, memories of this time, feeling this not-meant-to-be relationship tumbling back right out of their grasp. The song picks up more steam - a new synth, gritty as it blossoms. The different vocal layers play with each other so well, it’s such a joy. 2:10 hits and we get sent shuffling on, just a great feel with murmurs of life around us. Some bells find their way in as the drums start to shatter the sound barrier. Even in their power, they’re still soothing. The whole thing is a treat.
Follow haer on IG / Spotify
zannie - mechanical bull
I couldn’t hide from this one. It caught my ear the first time I heard it, but since then have seen it scattered across my IG timeline, shouted out from other musicians I love, always a good sign. Each sighting has given me another reason to listen again, and with each listen, I get caught deeper in its web. That guitar is welcoming, it’s easy chord brought to life effortlessly. It’s not the gentle home where you’d expect to find an opening lyric like, “is there such a thing as real or fake”, the song instantly casting off into a daydream, considering that question. It’s a powerful frame, giving the rest of the song freedom to be either or both, and giving you the burden (or joy) of deciphering what’s what. It opens the door for some delightful writing, the imagery of a dove with a piece of cake in its mouth is 10/10 no notes for me, yeah I’m loving it. We finally add another band member, that synth/flute bending up and down out of nowhere, it adds the angelic/heavenly feel, the sun beaming onto some soft clouds. A warm home for a heart-string-pulling thought, “in that moment i wanted nothing, nothing more than myself”. That’s some sweet shit!! From here the songwriting prowess gets the spotlight. Rhyming maze with capitulate? Master stroke. Then the stunning:
fall in love with the wheel or get crushed by the game
cuz nothings ever static or just more of the same
These two lines stuck in my head, both as song and as wisdom. zannie’s voice here is so wonderful, it’s hard not to get lost in it all. The song pulls off something special next too - managing to feel like it’s erupting, yet doing so by adding only one layer of vocals. That moment from 2:01 - 2:04 somehow punching through a wall with only two voices and a couple notes on a gentle guitar. Like magic. Idk how?? Some synths/strings join, shimmering way back there, bringing it all together. The wanting nothing more than yourself of it all feels more certain this time around, and I’m nodding along in support, proud that they’ve come around. It’s a resolute and aspirational place to end, as this synth slides around for a little fun. The final notes feel cinematic, and frankly, I just love the song!!
Follow zannie on IG / Spotify
Here’s what else I’ve been listening to.
first bagel of the night - lavender. Full disclaimer, I’m lucky to call lavender’s lead singer a friend and coworker, but that said I would love this shit even if I didn’t know him… ugh, I don’t even know where to start with this one. Nearly six minutes of a cozy, loving vibe off of lavender’s freshly released EP all will be well. The highlight of this first section for me comes as the harmonies pile on around 1:18 for “Feel like you’re the only I trust now, trust now”. As I biked through LA last Thursday night, blasting this in my headphones, the whole scene was kind of overwhelming. It gets broken up with this gorgeous sample, slowed down, drenched with guitars, drums, and some more impressive vocals. It’s just so lush and full of life, I really adore it. Past three minutes, the song keeps moving, a familiar progression pushing on until it falls apart. Only to welcome a peaceful new movement, swaying in those late moments of the night, the morning just beyond the horizon. Three songs for one, what a value. Love this tune.
Little League - Wallice. Obviously, Wallice is pretty textbook MMM. I’ve been a fan and I’ll be a fan because of songs like this. The production is intoxicating, Wallice’s tone so singular, layered so beautifully. It feels easy, this welcomed malaise over it all. It’s open and honest, at peace with the reality of their world. Until it explodes - Wallice screaming out, the band picking up new life. The lyrics stay absolutely devastating, but at least we’re dancing now??? The energy continues to swell and fade, each time bringing more interesting shapes to the mix. Closing with a piercing guitar solo, the anger finding its way out one way or another.
Spread - Outkast. A timeless smash. Thank you to Magdalena Bay for the evergreen reminder in their Amoeba vid this week. The drums are so wild. Ruthless really, cutting through soft organ chords and incredible vocal performances. The chorus is so fucking fun, and the piano/horn solos as the story proceeds through some goofy foley work is terrific. It’s just all joy.
And that’ll do it for this week’s fresh faced MMM. Still adoring two new songs, still sharing some more that I love, and now, opening the door for some real treats.
As always, please share with your friends, your family, your drivers ed teacher, your fireman.
And let me know if you need any more songs :)
Max