MMM - The Compilation - Vol. 2 | Breaking down the songs part 1
The catchiest title I've ever come up with, featuring Seylu, Meiwei, and Salome Hajj
Happy Thursday everyone. Yeah that’s right, I’m living it up in Mendel world, dreaming about this stunning collection of songs. Still beaming from Tuesday, grateful for everyone who has listened to The Compilation - Vol. 2, and excited for those who haven’t to get to check it out today(?!).
Coming to you with a bonus thursday edition to briefly talk about three tracks from the compilation. You’ll hear about the rest next week too! Stay tuned.
Sending love and light to all today <3 thank you again for the warm reception to this project and to the Mendel announcement. It’s scary to take big swings like this and I’m so deeply touched by everyone cheering me on and sharing these songs far and wide.
Now on to the music!!!
Seylu - Sesame
Oh my god. I’ve said it before I’ll say it so many more times. I am FREAKING OUT about Seylu and the music they’re making.
These songs are so detailed and beautiful. I was geeked when Seylu was down to contribute to the compilation and just blown away when I heard the result.
Sitting down, picking up the guitar, hearing it in full. All the sounds, all the imperfections. It’s all just right. Atmosphere arrives in the form of that synth like early morning fog. The fog lifting, the keys dancing into focus. We hear the vocal warmups in the background. It’s a warm room. Then we kick it off in earnest, and boy oh boy what a voice. That first lyric has cemented itself in my brain “Well I would not try it / Well I would not dare”, the vocals big and full, each layer giving this moment more depth.
The percussion picks up, with drums that carry us into the verse. Another special side to Seylu’s voice, standing on its own feeling strong. Smooth but raw at the same time? Idk how you manage that.
The production is stunning throughout, we’re really treated to it here beyond the minute mark. As the (perfect) drums leave, the strings rise and fall, beautiful piano chiming in, the whole arrangement so tasteful and so complimentary. Each new sound building towards something bigger and better.
I’m not sure how the song did this to me, but it’s cyclical groove has me hooked so deep I’m screaming “WELL I WOULD NOT TRY IT” as I write this. Screaming over the instrumental, the vocals not even present. It feels like they’ve really welcomed me into the song, let me join, let me find whatever I needed from it. Fucking incredible. Seylu says something, some claps carry us on, and the song slowly runs to its end. Beautiful art. What can you even say.
Meiwei - Love Is
Oh my goodness. I’ve been lucky to work with Meiwei a bit beyond this too. Booking some live performances up in Seattle where she’s based. In the daily grind of my day job, it was hard to stop and smell the flowers. Hard to really appreciate the insanely special artists that we were working with. I’m so glad to get a chance to do that here. Meiwei’s performances are always special. This was the IG post that brought be back again and again.
A voice that leaps, that soars, that floats, that charges forward. Powerful and beautiful in every moment. Always giving just what the song needs. It was a great day when Meiwei agreed to join this project.
The song she submitted came from a writing class from Half Waif. Someone I’ve been a longtime fan of too, again the music gods lining it all up for us.
Opening with gentle acoustic guitar, working slowly through a gorgeous chord.
I know where the camellias bloom / I check on them every afternoon
and isn’t that what love is?
Talk about stopping to smell the flowers!! Almost like I meant to do that?? Honestly I’m not sure if I did. But regardless, I ADORE writing like this. It’s methodical, observational, tender, and bottles up this moment to reflect on life itself. That last lyric stretches out so long, begging you to reach back and say, Yes. Yes it is.
Another scene, this time visiting birds, and really truly hearing them. Again it’s so touching. And just when you’d expect Meiwei to find a third example of love in her every day life, she zags the other way. A bold and brave surprise as the guitar that has felt so soft and comfortable starts to slip into reverse, perhaps Meiwei retracing her own steps back home. It’s mystifying and exciting every time I listen. What a choice, and what an execution. As her vocals start to pass us by moving backwards too, it’s hard not to lose yourself in the moment. But right when you do succumb to the chaos, give in and let yourself sit in the middle of it all, Meiwei is there to grab your hand, sit you down, and ask one last time, isn’t that what love is? Ugh, yes it is. <3
Salome Hajj - Wait
Wow wow wow. It’s so hard to write about these songs consecutively because I’m running out of synonyms for “incredible” but I will give it a shot because Salome is seriously one of the most incredible, magical, undeniable artists I’ve come across these past couple years. A harp player by trade, her debut single Carry the Sun naturally holds a timeless quality. Featuring great supporting musicians, shining a spotlight on her vocals and writing. I got to see Salome play live recently as part of a Rosie Tucker residency, and it was exciting to hear more of her catalog, but there’s not enough music out there!! Selfishly I’m thrilled to share this song, if for no other reason than that now I have two songs of hers to listen to.
This one opens with moody acoustic guitar, punctuated with piano ringing out to the horizon. It sounds like reds and blacks and golds, elegant immediately. Hajj’s vocals follow suit. Her tone is crazy! In this first 30 seconds alone, just one lyric repeated, we see so many sides of her voice. An expansive range with something beautiful to be found at every point within it.
The piano responds, seeming to emphasize her point and her emotion, somehow sounding remorseful in its few notes. As we continue on, there’s a faint arpeggio rolling through, bits and bobs of special sounds that come and go, Hajj always steady in the spotlight.
I’m struck by what she has done with the writing too. The lyrics are stunning, but few. Giving space and time for you to really hear them, really savor and process them. It’s amazing.
As we cross the 1:40 mark, the background vocals enter frame. Slowly building their power, filling the track so nicely. Coming off the tail of that I will miss you lyric, it’s hard not to hear them as looking back on all that was, coming to terms with the ending of whatever this relationship was. Taking it all to heart.
The song is over before you know it, these three minutes so easy to get lost in. This one is gorgeous and immersive and I’ve been so happy to listen to it endlessly, and hope you’ll do the same.
See you Monday for a new discovery, more comp breakdowns, and maybe even a bonnaroo preview????
Have a great weekend, xoxo,
Max