(Keepers album cover. Photo Credit: Danica Robinson)
As Berklee-formed trio, Tiny Habits: Maya Rae, Cinya Khan, and Judah Mayowa, enter adulthood, they explore uncertainty, heartbreak, identity, friendship, and the relationships that shaped them along the way with their upcoming album, Keepers.
Their sophomore album consists of 12 tracks, ranging from summer bops like “Someone You Love” to shower cries like “Fragile, Too”. Starting off with “Love Ruins Everything”, the album pulls listeners in with a groovy beat and alluring harmonies. Disguised as a disco bop, the track has hard hitting lyrics “won’t open the door / I could lose everything / I’ve been there before / and love ruined everything” that make you wonder what happened during the trio’s time at Berklee.
Tiny Habits describe Keepers as “an album that was fought for: break-ups, make-ups, lessons, celebrations, arguments and resolutions” with songs, “Love Ruins Everything”, “Fragile, Too”, “Pattern Of A Person”, and “Survivors Guilt” proving this. The album captures Tiny Habits transformation from Berklee students to adults navigating the real world, exploring the memories they made along the way.
“Someone You Love” brings the listener to the beach with Sabrina Carpenter-styled vocals and its beachy guitar tone. When the key switches at 1:55, the whole vibe changes from wanting to be loved with lyrics “I could be someone that you love” to being confident in your self love with the mantra “I could be somebody I love”. This transition from needing to be loved, to needing to love yourself is accomplished perfectly by the trio.
Pre-released single “Belt Loop” off of Keepers embraces a sensual, rhythmic-forward R&B sound with its steady drum beat and smooth vocals. The song navigates an emotional and physical uncertainty following the end of a relationship and moving into a new one with lyrics, “not the same when he does the thing / you used to do” and “I’m guilty wishing it could feel the same without you”. The band states “Belt Loop” allowed them to dive into a new side of their writing, tackling new topics in their repertoire.
The tearjerking track “Pattern Of A Person” starts with a child speaking through an answering machine “I love you so much, I can’t wait to see you daddy”, capturing a nostalgic feeling and the innocence of childhood in only a matter of seconds. With lyrics “I have so many questions / no one answers them” and “I stopped believing / that maybe next time he’d stay instead of leaving”, the track showcases loss of innocence and how growing up with an absentee parent affects children, realizing he deserved better than what was dealt to us in life. Towards the end of the song, he states will never treat his children the way his father did him with lyrics “instead of leaving / I’ll do better by mine”.
My favorite song on Keepers, “Survivors Guilt”, tackles the topic of leaving an unhealthy relationship with softly sung lyrics over a violin drone and acoustic guitar, “sure there were tears in my eyes when I walked away” and “but I can’t help but feel bad, I know you hurt me but still”. The song tackles the emotions of survivors’ guilt in a beautiful way, with lyrics wondering if it was for the best to leave this person when they see that they are still hurting. Again utilizing a key change to shift the mood of the song from survivors guilt to confidence at 1:05 with lyrics “I know the blames not on me” we learn that the person they left is doing well and that leaving them was “all for the best”.
Since touring alongside James Taylor, Sarah McLachlan, Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, Vance Joy, and more, Tiny Habits has expanded their fan base and artistic range, remaining grounded in the trio’s vocal chemistry. With each individual having their own lead on a song, we get to learn more about them not just as Tiny Habits, but as Maya Rae, Cinya Khan, and Judah Mayowa.
Keepers is out everywhere August 28th via Mom+Pop Records. Listen to the pre-released singles here.
The Indy Review 