Max's Music Mondays with Stevie Toddler and Surya Sen
THESE TWO SONGS! They are great. Plus new releases from Remi Wolf, Saya Gray, 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 a week! This liminal-feeling moment, a few short days between trips. I’m home, but am I? No trip to trader joes, no chance to clean my room, barely making it out for a couple runs on familiar and missed routes. But savoring every second, grateful for the people, and enjoying it all so much. But with the come down from one trip pulling me left, the anticipation from the next yanking me right, it’s hard to feel like I’ve got a lot to say this week.
So, keeping it short - I’m here, I’m happy, and I’m incredibly excited to share another two massive hits with you, as always.
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!!
Stevie Toddler - Needs Be
Now this is a generous one. A special four minutes just filled to the brim with so much to admire. There is some magic to be found in the back half of the track but hold ur dang horses. We will get there!!! We can’t skip the first half because, well, jokes on you, there’s magic here too. But if this is a joke, it’s a heartfelt prank. We all win.
The punch of these drums is spectacular, a captivating start, dancing in some wet reverb, each bar punctuated by a whack - almost like a punching bag - chain left jingling in its wake. It makes the moment feel big and feel strong. The bass picks up from there. This descending riff? It’s a fun one. Incredibly warm as it makes its way down. Then there’s that synth, floating so light against all this track’s heft, it almost feels angelic. Next up, Stevie Toddler steps to the stage. That first line so well articulated, an exacting entrance that can’t be ignored. And as the band bounces back, Toddler softens up and shows off. Making the most with the end of each line, her voice gentle but true, dancing its way around these lyrics. Moments decorated with some saxophones. They’re poking in, just making sure we’re doing ok. And we are. As we roll through 0:42, it’s like clouds parting. The band settling back, the percussion draping brilliant sounds on the edges of the song, and Toddler front and center. A few layers standing strong and steady. A quick break, letting the focus land on the Who needs me line hitting over and over. The second verse feels familiar, a slight twist on the one before, a sly switch and one that brought me deeper into the world of this song. Who needs me turns to the titular If needs be. Reframing the moments and desires, and adding a niiiiice little woodblock, a fresh pop, some new life. And then, well, we’ve made it. Thanks for your patience. An already beautiful song is about to go absolutely wild. The saxophones rising and crashing like waves, as the drums take a dark and hard twist. The storm keeps brewing until 2:31 hits, the drums still going wild, woodwinds appearing from every which way, bold as could be. A harsh moment as some edgy guitars fill the gaps. As we reach three mins, Toddler is back, the whole band lightening up again. A sick bridge, simple writing over the great bass. An alien synth climbing all around us as we return. As soon as she wraps up, the song’s ever-present synth takes the chance to step in to the light. Really coming alive and washing out the whole track like a dream. Cradling us calmly as we float on to the end of the song. And what a song it is. Love it. A unique and delightful ride.
Follow Stevie Toddler on IG / Spotify
Surya Sen - Earn It
Man oh man I cannot get this song out of my head. The drums are so full, that bass with just the right level of nastiness in its tone. It has seeped so deep into my head. And folks? I’m gonna go ahead and be a-ok with that. A great thing to come back to time and time again. The riff and groove looping forever in my noggin. But while the frame is consistent it’s the never-ending list of tiny choices that make this one so special - making so much of this oh-so-perfect groove. And with only 2:29 to work with, Surya Sen has really offered us a lot.
The intro holds that vocal sample’s “earn it” getting reflected, almost repeated back in that guitar. Another perfect tone, whose emotion gets felt even though the stab is so quick. Twisted just right so it feels like the guitar is talking back. As the song gets going the next two things to pop are: 1) the tom drum samples, subtle as they are, acting as the fill and surging towards the next scene and 2) the tambourine that the fill leads us to, bright and shimmering as Surya Sen makes their message clear. We flip into the verse and his voice feels so rich. Flowing through line by line, having so much fun with a his range and tone. Dragging out some lyrics, rushing through others. It’s just fun and dynamic throughout. The band ever-so-slowly descends as Sen urges us all to bag your product and sell it. The wild mix of sounds making for a captivating moment, releasing us back to the earn it chorus, consistent and grounded but still a boatload of fun. I love the background layer/ad-lib, filtered with a little delay, it’s weird and great and gives this thing just another tiny plus to reel you further in.
Another verse comes our way, the storytelling light and laid back, even with its confident content. Hold tight to the whole moment, because it’s gone before you know it, back to our chorus. Dancing and singing/shouting along one last time. A perfect little outro, the ad-lib take finally getting a moment to themselves, the confidence still palpable, before another vocal sample cues the energy one last time.
It’s quick it’s fun it’s infectious and sheesh did Surya Sen earn it with this one. SORRY I SIMPLY HAD TO!!!
Follow Surya Sen on IG / Spotify
Here’s what else I’ve been listening to.
(click this ^^ for the full playlist lol)
Remi Wolf & Still Woozy - Pool
Well look what we have here. This rocks. This rules. These two are a match made in poolside heaven - where the water’s temperature is just right and sun is warm but not too bright. They share their memory of the same day, a beautiful friendship over acoustic guitars and one-of-one synth sounds. We see them connect with friends and lovers, vulnerable and open about everything they’re dealing with. Remi Wolf crushing it, as ever, her voice’s touch and power on such beautiful display in this quiet and calm (for her) setting. The chorus is PURE Still Woozy, that melody is just could not come from anyone else. Some quiet glockenspiel helping us along as Still Woozy hits perfect background vocals. The bass is massive, naturally sneaking up on you, it’s not until it leaves that you really feel how big it was. A second verse rolls through, the switch spots. This verse is supportive and wise. The two shots line a perfect little moment of production. It’s all really sweet, as we pass through these memories. A massive drum fill sends us back to this tender chorus, the drums returning again and again giving power and passion to balance out the sweet sweet singing. Ugh, I just love this one.
Saya Gray - IF THERE’S NO SEAT IN THE SKY (WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?)
Saya Gray caught my eye a while back, making their MMM debut in October 2020. ZUCCHINI DREAMS (AUBERGINE MEMORIES) instantly earning my respect, one the best song titles I’ve ever seen. But the song rocked too, Gray with a haunting and versatile voice, the song threatening to erupt around each corner. Massive and unforgettable. That one seems mostly lost to the internet, but now there’s another special one to replace it. Intimate, dreamy, full of life and atmosphere. Moments of ambient music hold you, a rock anthem bubbling beneath the surface at all times. That section from 50 seconds until like, 1:30? Just fucking brilliant. Such a trip. Gray’s voice is so wild, bending and taking new forms, perfectly confident in every setting. I’ve been getting lost in this one, and hope you enjoy it too.
Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - Thank You
Big shouts to my friend Anna for posting about this song. Completely new to me, and wow what a treat. The groove is relentless and fun, bouncy and boogieing from the second you hit play. The vocals are ridiculous. They feel raw and present, their over the top sarcasm bringing a smile to my face. The bass bumps around too, it’s all such a joy. The flow between spoken word and singing with such feigned earnestness, it’s so so good. Sprinting to add this to a playlist alongside some Confidence Man. Calling someone, “The Columbus to my America” is just so damn funny, a dagger of a line. As we cross the halfway point, things get even more groovy, that rough synth bass really making something beautiful here. Just toss it on and enjoy. We love roasting someone who (so deeply and wrongly) thinks they’re the hero!! A treat of a tune.
Distant Cowboy - from where we were
Incredible performance, remarkable cellist, this is one to calm the nerves. The wind, the birds, the world we live in coating the walls of this gorgeous song. Breathe deep, Distant Cowboy has your back. It’s peaceful and beautiful. Like looking out at the horizon, mountains calling your name. Mm mm mmmm. <3
Drop a comment, a like, a response, anything!! Maybe even share it with a friend?? I’d be thrilled. Regardless, thank you for being here, and for listening. Hope you found something new to love.
Alright - back to the airport. Until next week,
Max