MMM - The Compilation - Vol. 2 | Breaking down the songs part 3
Last but absolutely not least. Featuring mer marcum, marlon amon, and Miguel Maravilla
Good morning, happy Thursday. Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening to the compilation vol. 2. I’m so damn proud to be sharing these songs with you and hope you’ve enjoyed listening. If you’re reading this when released, I am currently at Bonnaroo and I can’t wait to tell you about it.
This is the final post dedicated to the comp - so from the bottom of my heart, if you haven’t gave it a spin yet, please do!! It’s right there ^^ why not?! You never know, you might just find your new favorite song <3
I’ve really had fun with these - blurring the lines between usual MMM write-up and a more personal “how did I find this person” but of context. Have you found them interesting? Is it something I should incorporate more of in the usual write-ups? Drop me a line.
Miguel Maravilla - Pearl of the Orient
I have a nasty little habit of spending way too much time diving down rabbit holes on instagram dot com to find new music. It is often fruitless, but when it works oh my goodness it feels like I’ve just pulled off the biggest magic trick ever dreamt up. That’s how I found Miguel. You might remember earlier this year (maybe last year??) when I was really obsessed with this song:
Really this whole des hume record is worth a spin. But their beautiful unique sound told me they must be playing shows or working with other special artists. So to the ‘tagged’ tab on their IG i went. This is all so embarrassing to type so let’s cut to the chase - in the tagged tab there’s a reel of Miguel playing clarinet. If you know me, you know that’s literally all I need to see. But digging into the Miguel Maravilla universe is so rewarding. From their IG “if you know me, or even if you don't, my existence is inextricably tied to and borne from the working-class struggles of the people of the world, especially that of the national democratic movement of the Philippines.” It’s inspiring to see someone so clear about who they are and what they stand for. Someone using their talents and passion and art to support their community and every community with shared struggles. That’d be enough, but turns out Maravilla also happens to be an incredible artist.
This LP, Always, is so brilliant. 48 ideations of a song packed into 18 songs. The creativity and boundless ambition is so inspiring to me, and will be a guide post for the MMM Compilation in the future. Reminding me it’s possible to really make something unique, something only Miguel could make.
So when they agreed to join, I felt so honored. This tune, Pearl of the Orient, is a beauty. Maravilla told me it came together in just two days, this kind of freshness/aliveness is the life blood of this project. The title stems from a nickname for the Philippines, their writing is a snapshot of the country, it’s highs and lows.
We kick off with guitar over playful percussion and drums. The bass rounding things out beautifully. Maravilla’s voice is so good - easy and smooth, seeming to float through this opening scene. The harmonies adding such shape and movement too. Country in crisis / our resources, priceless / the death only rises / we can’t remain silent. An honest summation, a plea for better, a call for action. It’s poetic and concise, draped with such a groove over this swinging rhythm.
More feedback from this radio transmission flips the switch, new sampled drums rattling the track and giving it a brand new texture.
Not until the final scene, guitar finger picking through bright chords. That Maravilla finds the bit of optimism and resolve always left in the tank, in our hearts.
though my suffering may be severe, an unflinching spirit is my shield.
Can’t believe how fantastic and inventive and heartfelt this one is. My goodness.
mer marcum - nice try!
I’m lucky to say that I’ve gotten to be friends with mer over the last year or two. Her music has always been thrilling for me, full of twists and turns, pulling influences from so many of my favorite artists together, finding a way to make it all something new and something her own. In the time that we’ve been friends I’ve already seen her continue to develop her sound and it’s really exciting to witness the evolution and growth. Especially when she’s sick as hell to begin with. It was a no brainer to ask mer to join the compilation and deeply grateful to share this great demo of nice try!
It was a joy to listen to this for the first time (and every time since, of course) because you just don’t know what you’ll get from mer - other than a really great song… But this one is a beauty.
The first moment is unassuming, just guitar cycling through, some heavy low notes keeping it grounded. But quickly that first shooting star of vocals saying ‘nice try’ flutter and sparkle, putting a smile on my face. mer joins from there, a couple layers of vocals balancing each other out. I love the push and pull between these different takes. The tiny differences, a flourish here, emphasis there, really grab my ear and let me lose myself deeper into the song.
Those little shooting stars fly by again, helping us transition into the next scene, mer reaching out with these ‘i can’t wait’ feeling like such an honest plea. There’s so much beauty here - all the different vocals coming together in a beautiful arrangement. These little blips, which i want to spell like wip! though I could be persuaded to change that, pop all over. Some lightness, some whimsey, it’s all very sweet and works so well together.
The next verse lands a blow, contrasting the lightness with some heavy honest story telling: i wanna ask you what happened with us / after i had that brush with death / you got spooked and rightfully so
Such great writing, always. As the moment ends, there’s some stellar pieces - including mer belting in the background and this exciting moment where the song seems to start slipping into reverse, time slowing and slowing. It grinds to a halt as mer asserts all is well, she is the same, feedback coming barreling at us to emphasize that final point. The song rippling out from there.
Love this one <3 can’t wait for more from mer soon!!!
marlon amon - burning up
marlon’s music found me earlier this year. Not that the newsletter doesn’t give me enough reason to dig for new artists, this compilation really pushed me. I needed more artists with exciting sounds, more artists who weren’t from NY or LA, and more artists than the one’s I’ve already leaned on for so much. So when I came across his music, oh boy I was so excited. Trying to retrace my footsteps, I think it was probably Spotify driving me here from Oranje Space. I was so geeked on his recent sick & twisted (genius title) release, that I couldn’t even wait for the comp and had to write about those songs sooner. It was really a thrill when he said he’d join the compilation too.
The feedback picks right from mer’s track here, an ear catching opening, before we slide into this shiny guitar intro. Working our way through some beautiful bright chords. I’m already sold. We stay put for a beat or two, and marlon’s vocals take off. Again, it’s this tasteful vocal arrangement that gives this first scene so much texture, such an exciting shape. Over just this guitar and a subtle bass, he’s able to make a full and beautiful song.
I love the way these phrases get delivered, a couple short open lines left to ring out “in the sun” stretching out forever, really ringing out with warmth and shine over these chords. Then as delivery darkens the guitar matches it. So sick the way the two work hand in hand.
There at 1:23 we dive into a new room. Flipping the bright to dark pattern around, letting amon explore a new rhythm. It’s a brilliant little move, but so subtle and so well done that it all flows naturally. The shift opens the door for the drums too. Lightly adding more momentum behind us, another friend helping push our stalling car. But this song is not a stalling car, it’s a charming tune, like cruising with the windows down on a warm summer evening.
One final push, sneaking some more perfect vocals in before letting the guitar glide through those last chords and fade out.
If you’ve made it this far, god bless you fr. So so so proud of this compilation. So excited that it’s out in the world. Hope you’ve enjoyed it too. Please consider supporting this project, this newsletter, and most importantly these artists <3 <3
Back to our regularly scheduled programming (two new discoveries which are somehow both the best song you’ve ever heard) on Monday.
Until then,
Max