Max's Music Mondays with Maisyn and quami.xyz
If you like music you're gonna love what's in here today
Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays - a ~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 respectfully smash that subscribe button. Let me know if you do, I’ll go bird watching with you or send you a thank you note or something.
It’s such a nice to start to my morning. Oatmeal on the porch, just listening to a podcast and the birds chirping. The birds have been louder lately. Maybe I’m more tuned into them for some reason now. Maybe I’m just listening for them now. The chaos of communication catching my ear, an urgency to it. As if all of them are racing to get every last thought out before they can start the day. It does sound optimistic, all of us (birds, me) having the whole day ahead of us. Needing to get all the paints (chirps?) and brushes (more chirps??) out if we want to use the blank canvas in front of us. I wanted to say this is the exact opposite to my experience - sitting quietly, chomping on my dang oatmeal. But realizing it’s rather similar? Here I am, starting my day smashing the keyboard, using this moment and space to clear out the thoughts in my head. Throwing them all here as they come, trying to make some sense of the noise, trying to enter the day a little more clear. *cue I’m Like a Bird*
When I’m outside, the chirping is a cloud of sound, appearing and reappearing all around me. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to learn any bird languages, so I’m left to make my own sense of it. It is kind of how I take in music too. I can only understand it as I hear it and make my own meaning of it. I think about music so much, the meta thought about “what even is it” floats by every now and then, but it’s kind of an exciting thought now. Everyone is just chirping out here in some way or another, expressing themselves with a language and an urgency that makes sense to them. Finding the right sounds and thoughts, and sharing them with us. Giving us the chance to make our own sense of it, cherishing each time we hear them. I’ve certainly been exactly that with these two songs this week, and hope they land for you too.
This Week’s Songs
Follow along here ^ for this week’s and every week’s songs, each song is perfect and that is a objective fact and in no way my biased opinion i promise.
Better Being Heartless - Maisyn
My oh my, I adore this one. Big ‘Max singing along while I drive to Trader Joe’s’ energy (that’s my big event of the week, so it really is an important moment). Catch me doing a very reasonable 35 down Glendale just screaming “so much better, it’s so much better being heartless”. The piano tone to start feels so special, an old sound made new again. The full band joins in, welcoming Maisyn’s vocals soon after - as smooth and cool as ever. The first verse flies by, but just because you might’ve missed it doesn’t mean it isn’t tender and touching as all hell. A realization that sometimes the only way out is through, no matter how much it might hurt. The ‘it’s so much better’ proclamation feeling so earnest and real in the wake. That subtle harmony adding support before the guitar riff explores around the edges of the vocals. The moment feels timeless, the band affirming Maisyn’s message. Some added heft in the second verse, done well. The idea that life would be simpler and easier to navigate without a heart puts some sense of relief in the lyrics. Theoretically focused solely on ourselves. But it gets presented with a touch of truth, knowing that such a life brings a darkness. To be cut open and not bleed, giving me real “no pain, no gain”, Maisyn pushing us to ask if it’s really worth it. The way that line is delivered, whispered in the darkness, whew Maisyn crushed this top to bottom. The ‘so much better’s return and feel like a bright relief, some vocal layers giving it more air and shape. It’s all happening, a playful little synth around the edges, ooo’s floating in, guitar riffs sliding across, clouds of chords rising up. It all dissipates and there’s Maisyn steady and spectacular as ever. The bridge seems to give it away, that while we can imagine what life would feel like without the pain our hearts bring, what’s the fun in that if you aren’t gonna even enjoy a dang smooch?? That “‘cause it’s” whisper the final touch, before exploding into a full band massive chorus. It just rocks, what can ya say?? I don’t want to say much else, just basking in its massive warmth, a big sunny moment. We land gracefully on the other side, the “HaAhah-HaAhah-HaAhaheartless” (not official lyrics) slowly carrying us down the mountain. Everything ending on a warm, human, note. Coming to accept that it’s all part of the game. This has become perfect golden hour music for me, and hope you enjoy as much as I have.
Follow Maisyn on IG / Spotify
resurrect - quami.xyz
So, interestingly quami.xyz seems to have burrowed his way into my dang brain for this one. Normally I might be mad, that feels like a boundary crossed, but he comes out swinging with this gem, so I’m ok with it. Actually I’m so stoked about it. Synths being pulled back from the edge as these vocals kick it off. A mantra to keep us afloat, to keep us going. These first 25 seconds are an intro in the most real sense - a taste of the haunting production, the creative and effective vocal layering, vulnerable songwriting - it’s a beautiful moment and one that captured me completely. This first verse sits on a simple bed, some chords pulsing and wind whirling. Leaving plenty of space for quami.xyz to shine. Space they don’t rush to take. There’s something so jarring and impactful about the delivery. It’s almost shy, hurrying to each lyrics’ end, hesitant to take up too much space or time. Offering both for the emotions and thoughts to swirl in the silence. “What you want to be / something in between relevant and obsolete” a standout lyric in a standout moment. The next scene stands as a nice contrast, quami.xyz expanding the melody and the delivery. “still hard to put a finger on how i feel” drifting out, the core of the struggle. It’s straightforward, and in its rawness feels all the more real. The vocal that returns feels powerful, catching us all and repeating the mantra and I think I’m starting to believe it. I love the layers here, really adding to the emotion. Then to land with that thick chord, more and more vocals with all types of effects, it’s a stunner and another moment that stopped me in my tracks. That little ‘uh’ adlib at 1:29, the perfect human element. A reminder of how genuine this feeling is. quami.xyz continues pushing through the darkness, maybe we can figure it out. Some gentle guitar, maybe a subtle flute around the edges? The percussion really works here too, breaking through the clouds of sound and driving us forward. The layers continue to stack, vocals weaving through each other, ending at the perfect moment. It’s meditative, calming, assuring while honoring the darkness and mystery of the present. A beauty off quami.xyz’s new album No One Asked. Run don’t walk!
Follow quami.xyz on IG / Spotify
Another Monday done, another outro of the newsletter where I thank you (thank you btw) and urge you with all my little heart -> Please follow the playlist and please please pass it along to anyone you know who might be in need of new music!! It’s exciting to see this community growing, these songs are great and more people need to hear ‘em!!!! I really do believe this!!
Talk soon,
Max