Max's Music Mondays with María Maza & O-SHiN
some HITS from around the world and also new gems from Julia Jacklin, Kathleen, Miya Folick, and more
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 :)
What’s this??? Back to back weeks??? Max is a friggin dependable and reliable and hardworking and consistent writer I guess???
Anyways, thank you for the continued support - it’s a small but mighty little ‘sletter and so it feels magic every time I see how far we reach and how many ears (hopefully) get to these songs. Especially fun because I’d assume nearly every read = 2 ears so it’s actually an even bigger number.
I’m feeling much more alive this week - refreshed and re-inspired. Back in LA, back in my neighborhood, my world, and myself. It feels like this has been an intense stretch for everyone I know, but to be back home and back growing/progressing in my own life, it all feels possible again.
And that means I can get back on my bullshit which means back to the things I love, like finding weird and perfect gems and sharing them here. And we got two of em this week.
Love to you and yours, enjoy the songs <3
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!!
María Maza - Frena
What a damn mood. The whole thing is dark and naughty and cool as fuck. It feels contained and simple, but spacious and big nevertheless. Like an empty warehouse, but there’s still a dj, the whole place bathed in purple and red light. This song has an undeniable middle-of-a-summer-night vibe. The drums bang, both the kick underneath and the percussion that layers the rest of the track. They feel like so much, like all we could ask for. So the drum fill into the verse is a surprise, and a very welcomed one. That yelp?? Whew, the way it is echoing out is just so sick. A perfect way to kick this all off.
Maza crushes from the firs moment, their voice so present and smooth, the echoes feel more like repetitions, like this isn’t the first time they’ve had to say this. Another echoed scream, a bit muffled this time, follows a perfect chuckle of an adlib. These tiny touches giving the song fascinating texture and has me on the edge of my headphones, excited for more. The drum fill introduces a new bell and hi hat to the mix, a quick way to bring some more energy. That no - no - no is so cool. Clearly something is coming and even if you don’t know what lies ahead, I trust I’ll be thrilled with what we find.
It’s only a short moment later when we do, and still it’s kind of a shock, the way that bass is bending, it feels so loose and melty. A nice contrast to the staccato stabs of the synth running alongside the bass and the neatness of the verse. The kick drum hits that much harder, the bass palpable. On the other side, Maza’s vocals are clean and singular, using her deliver to offer so much emotion as they pour out. It’s an unexpected shift, that vintage bouncing synth bass a perfect partner. The writing is honest and vulnerable too. That idea of being scared to see someone in the grocery goes so deep, such a daily possibility and fear to hold close.
As the moment comes to a close, that vocal chop is sick, and offers a really ear catching transition into the next section. A new section that again takes a new shape. The song now feeling heavier, hazier, and fuller than ever before. Everything her feels like it’s floating in front of us. Giving this Spanish chanting bit plenty of space, like stepping behind a waterfall, everything else pouring over right ahead of you. It’s hard not to be caught by this moment, unsure where to listen, where to look. Then we roll effortlessly into this Frena section. It’s so sick, with adlibs too, just freaky shit and so well done. Pushes back into that bendy bass before it all breaks down. The Chilean & Mexican artist is a so dang good, clearly, and I can’t wait to hear what they cook up next.
Follow María Maza on IG / Spotify
O-SHiN - Pleasure
Just give it a try… Press play. It’s a no-brainer, how could I possibly not write this one up. The clapping sample, the perfect piano, playful percussion, and that shy little guitar finding its moment too. A whirlwind of an intro, so unique, so fascinating. Irresistible. It settles into a smooth and easy groove, building nicely from that more on-edge-but-in-a-cool-and-good-way intro. A welcoming foundation for O-SHiN to get in here and shine. And shine she does. Such a unique tone, almost channeling a NAO vibe as much as a Tove Lo feel. The phrasing and pacing is remarkable, some take it for granted feeling like a pointy & fun little thing, hitting unexpected beats, giving the verse a unique shape to start. Those wild whistles painting the moments with such character as we go, I’ve never heard anything like ‘em, and I have no idea what sound that actually is. I just know I adore it. It all adds up fast, shaking us into the chorus where we’re all dancing now. Each of the pieces that come before appear again, in beautifully orchestrated chaos. Big and bright and fun and weird. Which is always what I’m looking for. The writing is well done throughout - this pleasure/treasure combo is so great. Rolls off the tongue is such a delightful way. More interesting writing follows, as the same lyric takes on three different shapes here - casual talking into mellow vocals into anthemic vocals. It’s cool to see it live and reform, O-SHiN landing the message clearly no matter which approach they take.
At 1:35 we get some loose keys who aren’t afraid to take wrong notes and make them feel right. It’s a sick effect, just holding the wrong note until the song bends to it. Confidence and trust in themselves and the band, and obviously like, yeah they wrote this song so they knew it would, but in a musically metaphorical way, I think it’s a powerful message. Ok anyways… The chorus takes off again and it all feels like one big party. Everyone singing and dancing together, feels like a warm house party. The atmosphere letting the drums pick up some strength. Next up is a fun, dancing guitar solo. Bringing new life to the song into this instrumental break. There’s this vocal-ish synth that bounces behind it, occasionally making spectacular runs to the top of music mountain. It really caught me, such a generous bonus in an already great moment. Most of all, with this one, I love how each sound has it’s own texture. Some feeling old and some new and some clean and some nasty and some all the above and some all the rest. And yet they blend together precisely. Puzzle pieces from different worlds and universes and eras, all meshing perfectly. The outro makes the most of that and gets back to that house party feel, and we ride it to the sunrise. What a treat, a fun one off O-SHiN’s new record.
Follow O-SHiN on IG / Spotify
Here’s what else I’ve been listening to.
(click this ^^ for the full playlist lol)
Julia Jacklin - Ignore Tenderness (and the rest of the album)
Ten seconds to seal the deal here on this one. Jacklin is an expert, and I will swoon for anything she releases, but still she finds something fresh and unique here. The way the band drops out for the last beat of each bar, it’s shocking and jolting and so dang interesting??? Immediately caught my ear and my heart. And that’s not to mention a fantastic first verse: I’ve been trying to / be turned on by you / Be turned on by myself / or anything else. Come on!!!!
The band begins to disappear less and less as the verse continues, but it feels just as intimate and private. Jacklin’s vocals still so clear and so forward. The band takes an extended pause as this first scene closes, as chimes run down and Jacklin runs up, meeting each other with open arms at the chorus. It’s a brutal message to take in, but one delivered with such grace and love. Verse two and chorus two live up to the same excellence, I’m thoroughly blown away throughout. Beyond that, some strings join the fun(?), matching Jacklin’s melody and adding so much beauty to it all. This one kind of caught me off guard - sent me sprinting to the rest of the album, where I’ve been so content and impressed. What a record.
Kathleen - Phantom Love
What can I say… she doesn’t miss!!! Kathleen starts this one on her own, walking out solo as if she was walking on water, the band at the ready to catch her when she breaks the surface. It’s so beautifully done, letting you linger on an already heartbreaking lyric - Wearing your shirt while I write this song / is the closest I’ll get to one of your hugs - the band catching us all as we rightfully sink from that one. Gentle guitar rolling, warm keys, a supportive synth. A second line, equally powerful and relatable, avoiding the places covered in memories. The moment continues forward, the keys coming alive, having our back as Kathleen reminds of us necessary/painful truths.
The chorus drops, swelling as it goes, with vocal layers, a spinning synth, the whole thing feeling like it’s getting bigger and bigger, growing around us almost like a tornado. Some effects let you feel those vocals break down and fade away, stepping out of the eye of the storm. Another verse gets going, the kick drum giving it a bit more juice. The vocals also finding a new level, the melodies getting more complex and adventurous, Kathleen getting stronger as she goes. The second chorus matches that too, feeling bigger and just as tense with the kick knocking. Our central idea, Phantom Love, these pieces of past lovers lingering in our present lives, lands so well. Kathleen viscerally trying to break free, the band feeling so grounded, almost a little tug of war to keep her from flying away and moving on. The song climaxing as Kathleen thrives with those high notes, her voice massive and strong regardless of just how high she reaches. A beautiful and mesmerizing outro follows, I love it. And I got to see it live last week and holy shit this one is (and all of Kathleen’s songs are) so special!!!
Ginger Root - Over the Hill
hahahahaha this is fucking nuts omg. Let the intro simmer, already a perfect start. But buckle the heck up and fast. We have until the song hits 0:10 for us to prepare for a mind-blowing event. Ok here we go.
DO YOU HEAR THAT HAHAHAHA WOWWWWW. The most wild and perfect synth to ever chirp its way by. Caught by a perfect flute on the other side. It’s absolutely magic and I am in. From 30 seconds on, GR continues to impress with these lush and intricate productions, great vocals, and delightful writing. The descending melody through the chorus… perfect. ugh I love GR and I love this tune and I really don’t have much else to say. JK THE OUTRO IS PERFECT TOO. This song exists in its own entire universe and it’s a beautiful one.
Miya Folick - Bad Thing
I’m a fool for any Folick release. This one no different. The vocal processing is sick, the reverb & cutting effect coming and going for this intro moment. Folick’s voice so undeniable, as it rolls through still and one more time. Just stunning. It has her devious combo of disco-drenched pop & devastating lyrics. Can’t help but smirk through this chorus. Devastating as it is, feeling the pain in that final I wasn’t thinking. The tambourine comes to life in verse two, alongside some stellar vocal layers. Just passed 2:10 we dance by some ha ha ha hoo’s almost like she’s choking back tears. The bridge gets a chant going, impossible not to join in, before the snare rolls to the edge of the world, erupting into one last chorus. A beautiful and fun tune and also video.
Peace and love - see you next tuesday, happy labor day or whatever!!
cheers,
Max
love your writing style and thorough coverage of everything. thank you!