Long Island, NY indie-pop band, MAYVE, have been striking up conversations everywhere with their newly released debut EP, Animals. Ready to take 2016 by storm, the native New York five piece – comprised of Nick Micheline, Michael Gusman, Joseph Rene, Kyle Murphy and Matt Emma – deliver a fresh sound to a rather ubiquitous genre.
Like most music writers, I get tons of submissions a day but it takes something really special to capture my attention and MAYVE has it all and then some. There’s nothing I love more than fresh, emerging talent and a heavy dose of synthpop. MAYVE’s Animals EP captures the essence of both of those things while still managing to give you more than you bargained for.
Opening track, “Talking To Myself” shares the struggles of introverted loneliness as one’s demons continue to haunt them into submission while opening notes of “Higher” is honest to its title, taking the listener higher with every note while giving off some serious Runner Runner and Acceptance vibes.
EP high note is by far “Hearts On Fire,” touching on the subject of young love and everlasting youth, making even the most indifferent of hearts believe again, especially with a line like, “We close our eyes just to drown out the noise but all our thoughts glow in the dark.”
I wasn’t expecting to lose my shit with these guys but “Magic” hit me right in the feels. A chorus of, well, pure magic, I was transported back to when I’d spend nights at a family friend’s house in Center Moriches, NY staring at the stars, wishing for a certain someone to come my way. Unfortunately not all love stories end the way we wish but the memories of my unwavering patience and love are something I will carry with me forever, now with this track attached to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDrjLlw-d2U
Perhaps the best track to end an EP on a good note, “West Coast” comes barging in with a glittering synth intro – taking you to a place of pure anticipation as we await a full-length from MAYVE – while still packing a serious punch, hinting at the struggles of starting over someplace new. It’s quite evident that there’s more to be said and we’re dying to dive into it all.
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Animals is available now here.
