Woodblock printmaking is a delicate process. Maria Maita-Keppeler, the Japanese-American singer-songwriter at the heart of Maita, channels her studies in the art of Japanese woodblock printmaking when crafting songs and recording music. “By the nature of the medium, you have to be bold,” she says, “but you also have to be delicate, deliberate, exacting. All those little cuts on their own add up to the whole — to a picture, a story, a life.” Her latest album is want and her fine touch and artistic vision is painted across the entire record.
Maita hail from Portland, Oregon, and started as a solo project back in 2015. Maria met the guitarist/producer Matthew Zeltzer, he became the consistent other half of the band’s core. The pair self-released their debut EP, Waterbearer, in 2017. Though their early sound was more stripped down, the record nevertheless hinted at what Maita would become: a gorgeous mix of visceral songwriting and indie rock.
Recorded at Echo Echo in Portland, Oregon in the winter of 2022, want serves as the most crystallized of Maita works thus far; like the artist’s printmaking, each song has its own arrangement of cuts that go deep, go soft, twist and bend to reveal picturesque sounds that exist in the air, in the imagination. This is what Maita brilliantly executes: a molding of both the physical and non-physical into art that is relatable yet appealing.
The album begins with, “girl at the bar”, as Maita-Keppeler’s soothing voice draws in the listener. Soft strums of barely electrified guitar accompany her cooing before drums and bass quietly join the fold. Suddenly, a quasi pre-chorus erupts with distortion and enhanced amplitude as the lyrics question, “Oh will you want her once she’s a stranger?” I appreciated the through-composed nature of the song, with hardly any repeats while still sounding cohesive. From the jump, “girl at the bar” is full of wanting and contrast, two themes crucial to the narrative of the album.
The fingerpicking and subtle drumming on “break up song x3” are exquisite characteristics that help make the often archetypical song about breaking up exceptional. “Cold Night” sounds like a perfect blend of Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers. The dynamic vocals and plethora of guitars shine during this quintessential indie ballad.
The brief, transitional song “ellipsis” highlights Maita‘s ability to paint with sound. As a fan of ambient music, I would love to hear an extended remix of this track. Electronic bells, metallic scrapes, and ad-lib guitar generate a lovely passing moment of introspection and imagery that bleeds into the midtempo and understated “at a bad time”.
“waking up at night” is a standout of the album. Situated at the center of the twelve tracks, the vulnerable lyrics and airy vocal delivery make Maita approachable yet entirely unique. The melodic pattern of Maita-Keppeler’s singing is supported expertly by the backing band. She sings, “I’m cutting out drinking, swallowing my vitamins. Rinsing and repeating, I don’t know what I believe but this greenery’s growing. The calendar keeps going.” It is a poignant examination of self-care and wanting to get better while the world moves so rapidly by.
The album ends with the aptly titled “i don’t want to kill you”. Both clever and arresting, this complex song features punctuated loud chords, stark moments where the entire ensemble is in a hushed tone, and a slow down in tempo ahead of the chorus. Maita-Keppeler’s songwriting shines here as the lyrics delve into the always tricky area of needing to have that difficult conversation with a partner. She sings, “I see you in the rearview. It’s a clear a view. Glass is shaking. I don’t wanna kill you.” This perspective is refreshing and entirely unique to Maita‘s style and execution.
want is an album that demands attention from start to finish. I encourage anyone who is a fan of Mitski, Perfume Genius, Phoebe Bridgers, Bright Eyes, or Black Belt Eagle Scout to give Maita a listen. You will be comfortable, floating around in her misty and emotive songs, compiling your own collection of impressions that changes between each listening.
Maita has managed to create a cohesive collection of songs that are as musically engaging as they are emotionally poignant. In a world where music often feels disposable, Maita’s want is a reminder of the power of honest, heartfelt songwriting. It’s an album that will stay with you long after the final note’s lasting image fades away.
Maita‘s want was released on July 26th through Fluff and Gravy Records. Catch them on the ‘want’ release tour, kicking off in Moscow, Idaho this October. You can stream the entire record here!
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