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Mariya May - Mariya May TDRCO-108

Her second solo album, Mariya May's self-titled release embraces an impactful sound with rock, folk, and jazz influence throughout. The tracks are often immediate and full of personality; engaging songwriting pairs with a versatile vocal presence, flexible in tone and emotion. "Got 'Em Buried" dazzles with its "layers and layers" of debonair vocal harmonizing, lamenting about the "weight of it all," alongside acoustic pulses and escalating emotion. The finale consumes with its intermingling vocal harmonies, a recurring strength through 'Mariya May'.

"Close your eyes, and take my hand," May sings during the spacious "Heartbeats Echo." Dreamy, quaint guitars and wordless vocal effects concoct a dream-pop direction. The album impresses with more understated efforts like "Still Been Driftin", whose prancing piano tones, woodwind injection, and stirring vocals concoct a sound reminiscent of Weyes Blood. May shows an ability to provide both suave retrospection and more upbeat exuberance, accompanied by inventive songwriting.

In a livelier mold, "The Way That I Do" would feel at home in a smoky New Orleans barroom. Brassy exuberance and colliding guitars complement driving, descriptive lyrics that admit "I don't know where I'm going, I'm just traveling wild," -- the feelings of fearlessness and adventure are embodied in the track's confident vocal layers and jazz-minded arsenal of instrumentation. "I Got to Smile" also captures the spirit of adventure, lyrically referencing traveling a thousand miles just to "see you smile," over a brisk mix of guitars and woodwinds.

The album's original songwriting shines -- and two cover songs add a fun, throwback sensibility. The hypnotic, twangy nostalgia of Donovan's "Catch the Wind" opens the album with a warming charm, while the seasonally laid-back cover of The Miracles' "Christmas Everyday" exudes a '60s Motown spirit with its playful vocal harmonizing. "Don't Be Careless" also finds inspiration from another artist; TDRCO label-mate Ryan Massad wrote the track, with Massad's version appearing on his 2017 album, 'Alone & Overdressed'.

'Mariya May' captures the artist's numerous strengths, varying from a spirited and eclectic vocal delivery to an arsenal of styles that range from heartfelt folk to free-jazz exploration. May's releases on TDRCO continue to impress with their passionately melodic displays and sing-along ardency. (Mike Mineo)

1 Catch the Wind
2 Don't Be Careless
3 Got 'Em Buried
4 Heartbeats Echo
5 The Way That I Do
6 Feelin' It Once More
7 Still Been Driftin'
8 Out of the Dust
9 I Got to Smile
10 Christmas Everyday
11 Lemon Balm and Lavender

Release Date: October 5th, 2018