INTERVIEW: I Just Want to Be Wild For You - MAITA (2021)

In her second studio album I Just Want To Be Wild For You, we tag along with indie rock singer-songwriter MAITA as she rides the chaotic, emotional rollercoaster that accompanies a dying relationship. Through her mellow, yet buoyant instrumentation and intricate songwriting, MAITA has certainly proven herself to be one of the best up-and-coming musicians in the genre.

The album begins with “Loneliness,” which, with its melancholy guitar riffs and MAITA’s wistful vocals, perhaps captures the themes permeating the entire album — loneliness — whether it stems from literally being alone, or feeling alone even within a relationship. “Pastel Concrete” immediately picks things up as MAITA laments her inability to “afford” her partner’s love, accompanied by much more upbeat instrumentation.

Next is the “You Sure Can Kill a Sunday” pair, beautifully dissimilar both in lyrical and instrumental content. “Let me help you,” MAITA begs in part I as guitars and drums bounce around behind her, before seamlessly transitioning into the much more laidback part II. Here we see MAITA come to the grim conclusion that she must move on from this relationship, although she “tried to tend [her lover] like a garden.” Other highlights include “Light of My Life (Cell Phone Song),” an eerie tune that follows MAITA as she navigates the conflicting feelings accompanying a difficult breakup, and “Where Do You Go?", a delightfully edgy track featuring MAITA’s questioning of both herself and her partner. We conclude with the acoustic “Wild For You,” in which MAITA wistfully reminisces on her love lost (and possibly regained).

Although MAITA’s discography may be small, Wild For You is her most raw and emotional piece of work to date, and does a fantastic job of highlighting her pure talent. After finishing her North American tour and a concert for SXSW, MAITA is finally receiving the recognition she has long deserved — and it looks like it’s only up from here.