I have been listening to Maia, aka mxmtoon, since my junior year of high school. When her single, “Falling for U,” came onto my Spotify playlist, I was instantly hooked. mxmtoon has been a regular part of my music personality ever since.
mxmtoon’s musical style blends indie pop and bedroom pop, characterized by an intimate, introspective vibe and relatable, conversational lyrics with singles like “feelings are fatal” and “prom dress.” Her sound started as mellow and lo-fi using a ukulele, soft guitar riffs and minimalistic production that captured a diary-life quality.
Since then, mxmtoon has branched out into more upbeat songs with a full-bodied sound. Her 2022 album, “rising,” brought a new era with hits like “frown,” “mona misa” and “coming of age.”
Her latest album, “liminal space,” brings each genre to fruition with 12 songs that showcase her growth as a person and an artist.
“dramatic escape” opens the album with catchy guitar riffs that encapsulate the aura of a surreal experience. mxmtoon has been vocal about becoming a stoner in recent years and has since incorporated it into her music.
“I can take another gummy and I’ll see how I feel / Got brain cells to burn and I don’t know what’s real,” she sings.
“i hate texas” explores new territory for mxmtoon — a mid tempo country song about moving away after a breakup. While it has a new sound, “i hate texas” stays true to mxmtoon’s confessional style in being introspective and navigating change from a toxic past.
“I want my own to be something that you can’t escape / Grinning harder now just in case / …you’ll know that my pain became the reason that I end in first place,” mxmtoon sings.
This is an interesting paradox given, that pain and victory are often seen as opposing concepts. mxmtoon uses pain as a source of motivation that inspires her to move forward with her life.
“i hate texas” was one of the three singles mxmtoon released before the album dropped, and it was an instant banger.
“rain” has a mix of nostalgia and yearning for a sense of belonging. Upon its release, mxmtoon teased on her Instagram to “listen to this if you’re missing home.” The song talks about the tension between her current state of life and what she’s left behind.
The track is also a mid tempo song, but unlike “i hate texas,” “rain” is less energetic and more melancholy in its instrumentals. I find it to be easy on the ears when I’m driving home from college, reflecting on the life I have at school versus what I’ve left behind.
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“elevator” slows the pace of the album with an acoustic tune that unpacks feelings of longing, self doubt, and frustration. It fits into the larger theme of “liminal space” where lyrics talk about being stuck in emotionally extreme situations.
“just a little” goes further in depth about pent up emotions and the ongoing fear of how others might perceive this breakthrough. This track is consistent with one of the overarching themes in mxmtoon’s music — growing up and adapting to changes.
“One year short of a fourth a century / Part of me’s still stuck at fourteen,” she confesses.
Growing up and making transitions is a concept that often resonates with me as a listener, and “just a little” is no exception. mxmtoon is surprised at her strong emotional intensity and learns how to express that anger is important for both of us.
“VHS” was one of my favorites off the album — ah yes, more nostalgia and exploration of the complex relationship between one’s past and present self. mxmtoon sings more about the passage of time and personal growth.
It’s interesting to compare the lyrics from this song to songs from her last album, “rising,” that explore the same themes, such as “growing pains.” “VHS” and “growing pains” both circle around self-reflection but from different angles. “VHS” focuses on the inevitability of growing older, while “growing pains” takes on the present struggles of change.
What’s more intriguing is that “growing pains” ends on a hopeful note:
“Everything’s gonna get better, everything’s gonna get worse / When it gets hard remember that’s the way it always works.”
“VHS,” however, resonates as bittersweet about the acceptance of ongoing change: “Looking through your eyes and I / See the girl I left behind.”
Rating: 9/10
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