Maria Weissman – Bad (2022)
Feeling down and broken often comes with a negative connotation and stigma that Maria Weissman is trying to change. Through her album Bad, she is flipping the script on this understanding and lets us know that feeling broken is okay and not the fatal flaw that others perceive it to be. As she looks at this, she considers how you need to be broken in order to come out stronger and better.
Across the tracks, she touches on different moments and situations that draw you down, only to offer a hopeful feeling. This exploration of reframing a narrative has listeners diving into the depths of the darkest times and seeing the beauty within. Running across the spectrum of rock stylings, the EP also has a little something for everyone musically.
The EP opens with ‘Fragments’ which uses a gentle piano line to grab your attention. This musical line is joined by her vocals that sound like they are coming from behind a hazy veil. The strings that join bring a melancholic edge while adding to the richness of the song. It is a very tender opening to the EP, while tapping directly into the heart of the topic of the tracks. Through this single. Weissman delicately addresses the feeling of being broken and only being able to hold onto fragments of emotions. The use of hazy vocals and a clear melody is a delightful sonic device that brings the understanding of the track to life. In the chorus, her voice becomes clear like you have broken the surface of the broken emotions for a moment of understanding that this will not be forever.
Weissman’s vocals pull you into the analogy of ‘Kill a Ghost’ as she heads into the world of toxic relationships. Through her vocal performance, she considers a new way of handling toxicity while building up your strength and ability to move forward. The empowerment of her performance is tempered by the dark thrum of the melody that churns with the negative nature of certain people. While there is a darkness to the music, it has a steady forward momentum that meets up with the vocals to lead you to a feeling of strength. Where the opening track was a contemplation of your own broken nature, this is the step toward empowerment and overcoming the negativity of others who try to tell you that everything you do is bad.
‘Cool Girl’ whispers to life through the vocals and the acoustic guitar line. There is a confessional feeling to the opening of this track that turns into a plea to know what it’s like for someone who has everything together. Through the lyrics, she honestly lays out the mask that she wears to cover the fractured pieces inside. This turns into an unleashing of tiredness and a wish to be able to be unapologetically yourself, without a care for what others think. The stripped-back nature of this single makes it undeniably powerful and helps to drive home the knowledge that we are not alone in our insecurities. It is a really raw and honest track that touches on a lot of thoughts and issues that many people can relate to.
There is a lighter touch to ‘Fool for You’ that comes through in the bounce of the piano line. While the melody has a more upbeat vibe, the opening vocals tell a different story. The lyrics are rather tongue-in-cheek as they tap into all the ways someone wastes your time, only to temper this with the knowledge that you are a fool for this person. There is a really fun bounce to the performance that is at odds with the overall tale of the lyrics. As you bop away to the music and vocal delivery, the lyrics bring a story of hanging onto the crumbs of attention someone gives you. As with the other tracks, it is a really honest consideration of negative aspects of life, with the hint of something better, should you find the strength to fight through.
The title track ‘Bad’ uses a layering of a delicate piano line and tender vocals to pull you. There is an almost theatrical feeling to the music that is enhanced by the shuffle beats of the drums. Weissman’s vocals move from a soft and rather dreamy flow into a curl of power. Through this track, she really brings the beauty that can be found in the darkest moments of life. She offers an understanding that while you are feeling bad you can still be in control and appreciate some of what life has to offer. A really emotive track, the tenderness of both the melody and vocals is really touching and made more poignant by the slip into softness toward the end of the track.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Devil’s Demands’ that has a really seductive twist to the vocals. As Weismann’s vocals curl around your senses like inky smoke, the melody uses a minimalistic vibe that punctuates the slide of her satin tones. As the track continues, the seduction of the low levels of the melody remains, but the flow of her vocals moves from darkness to light. This is the perfect track to end the EP as it cements the idea that it is okay to be bad and broken. Through this track, she infuses empowerment into your veins, to help you move through the rest of the day with your head held high, regardless of how broken you feel.
Through the tracks of Bad, Maria Weissman is flipping the script on feeling broken as she brings an understanding that this is okay and finds a sense of beauty in the darkness. Each track has a unique melodic touch that highlights the experience of life woven into the lyrics. From toxic relationships to a plea to know how it feels to approach life without worries, each song touches on something wonderfully relatable.
Find out more about Maria Weissman on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bandcamp.
