Maxine Louise Delivers An Emotionally Bound EP
- BuzzSlayers
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
The new EP release from Maxine Louise delivers such a broad approach to pop-coated songwriting by bringing together elements of acoustic pop, contemporary, a bit of rock, and so much more, all rolled into one record that displays this massive amount of honesty and, in doing so, delivers so much personality along the way.
This is a record that you don't skip around. Each track has its own approach and vibe; they're very descriptive, and she really puts a lot of inner thought out there so that she can get her message across. A lot of the songs are emotional and can feel cinematic because of that.
The record is called what I did for love, and it starts off with a track called "Silhouette."
The single is an outstanding way to introduce the record, because you're going to get a lot of the staples that you hear on this track throughout the rest of the release.
Having said that, as I mentioned earlier, you don't want to skip around. You want to listen to this record as a whole from start to finish.
It's almost like a concept record in the sense that it feels like a diary.
All those inner thoughts come spilling out for everyone to soak in, and I find that brave because she's so vulnerable a lot of the time.
This first single is one of the more cinematic of the bunch, in my opinion. It's based on piano, and it has these airy synth pads that all help build on the experience, but there's also string sections that are orchestrated in an absolutely gorgeous and lushness and a new layer of texture to the track that it didn't have before.
This track itself was absolutely gorgeous, and again, it opens the record up brilliantly because you're getting an idea for how open she is with getting her messages across
This is followed up by "Waist", which is also a bit cinematic, but not until about halfway through the track.
This one starts a bit more stripped down with just acoustics and vocals, and it showcases some of that acoustic pop side of how she writes her songs, as I mentioned a little earlier.
It also demonstrates how she's able to build songs by layering these instruments and making them build to climactic moments incredibly well.
You can tell a lot of these songs were very well thought out, and they have a natural way of putting you right there in the moment with them a lot of the time.
"Save Yourself" delves back into some of that personality and again is very unafraid to express herself exactly the way she wants to, using detailed lyrics that help paint a picture as the songs unfold.
This one has a very pop-oriented feel, and it also does an amazing job of building up and still keeps that cinematic backbone, all while telling her story from her perspective, so that you can connect with it.
I feel like this is the kind of record that we need right now. I think this kind of music is relatable, but also has so much emotion behind it that you know it's authentic.
I feel like we need this level of authenticity in music. It's not just that, though. It's the way she puts the heart into it. It's also how she pays attention to arrangement and progression, builds, and waves of intensity that come and go.
One of my favorite tracks on the record is one called "myself without you", which to me, gives a very theatrical approach.
The way it's arranged and composed is intense and really just feels like you're watching a scene of a play or a musical.
I definitely am starting to sense some of that theatrical influence in the rest of the music as well, after hearing this particular track. Now I'm going back and hearing some of that aesthetic and other songs as well.
Amazing use of strings in such an orchestral sense again, and her voice is very powerful on this one. That she has a massive dynamic range with her vocals.
She knows how to make a song feel more intense at the right moments or more delicate and subtle, other times.
It takes a certain kind of awareness to be able to portray that. She's sort of falling into character with the different songs, and it's amazing to hear it unfold the way it does because with each new track, you know you are going to have something that's a little bit boundless in terms of energy.
The record closes with a gorgeous orchestrated piece. Pianos, strings, vocals that float through the song's ether, giving it depth, and I feel like it's a beautiful way to end the record and sort of shut the door on this big chapter that she let out.
This was an incredibly memorable and honest record that delivered loads of emotion and beautiful production that came together like puzzle pieces to build something that had its own atmosphere.
I suggest not only listening to the whole record, but definitely doing it with headphones on as well, this way you can soak in the lyrics, and layers of textures and tone it all gives off.
Definitely check this out as soon as you can and remember where you heard it first.
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