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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Thursday, March 28, 2024

Maya Hawke gives listeners an intimate view of her life with 'MOSS'

MossAlbumCover2022
Maya Hawke's "Moss" (2022) album cover is pictured.

In the past year, Maya Hawke has solidified herself as one of television's rising stars with an incredible performance in season 4 of “Stranger Things” (2016–) and her hilarious role in Netflix’s “Do Revenge” (2022). Hawke’s characters tend to have a comedic side to them, and her nature in interviews and other public appearances shows the world her positive, cheerful side — a stark contrast to her music. In her music, most recently with the release of her second album “MOSS” (2022), Hawke delves deep into the intricacies of emotions and relationships, from relationships with family members and friends to her navigation of the world in her public versus her private life. 

“MOSS” is defined by its dreamy, delicate vocals and descriptive lyricism that aims to tell specific stories or depict moments in one's life. Categorized as an alternative/indie-pop record, the album is reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s “folklore” (2020) and Phoebe Bridgers’ “Punisher” (2020), which is unsurprising as “MOSS” has some of the same co-writers and producers that worked on those albums. Hawke even stated in an interview that she was “super inspired by ‘folklore’” and even partially worked on her album at Long Pond Studios, owned by “folklore” collaborator Aaron Dessner and where Swift filmed her documentary “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions” (2020). 

The first single released for the album was “Thérèse,” inspired by a painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The song describes the longing for a place to be free and safe from those who may criticize or misunderstand. With lyrics like “Dreamin’ of an Appaloosa / Saddled up, ridin’ out of town” and “We were sea anemones / Spelling out each other’s names,” Hawke emphasizes a sense of serenity and peace. Her second single from the album, “Sweet Tooth,” tackles the idea of loving someone despite the pain they put you through. With a bouncy beat, Hawke sings “I’m grateful for everything you put me through / It’s the only reason I’m any good to talk to,” acknowledging that the hurt she felt from this relationship built her character, before singing “When I’m sick or suffering, I’ll still call you,” proving that she will still hold a place in her heart for this person. 

Hawke does not hold back with her album, sharing her deepest, most intimate feelings and thoughts for listeners to connect to. Hawke even discusses her parents’ relationship in track 12, “Driver.” Hawke is the daughter of the famous “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” (2003) and “Pulp Fiction” (1994) actress and model Uma Thurman and her former husband, Ethan Hawke, a popular actor, director and writer in the industry. The pair divorced in 2005, approximately seven years after their daughter was born. 

In “Driver,” Hawke juxtaposes her feelings towards romantic relationships and her parents' relationship, showing how their marriage impacted her views of love. The song is stripped back, with simple guitar strings and Hawke’s vocals at the forefront. Hawke sings, “I’d give everything I’ll ever have to see them happy,” seemingly in reference to wishing her parents stayed together — a truly heartbreaking lyric. Hawke then goes on singing “And oh, I can watch it in the movies / I don’t want to see it that crafted and clear,” a relatable lyric about how films have a tendency to warp people's perception of love by showcasing “perfect” relationships where the couple always work things out. Though Hawke sings about pain throughout this song, she concludes it by trying to understand her father, singing “Happy that my father, he got free / That even though it hurt me / He can be whoever the hell he wants to be.”

Hawke’s lyricism deserves much praise. Hawke creates beautiful moments in her music with vivid descriptions of personal moments and candidly singing about the complexities of relationships. From the bubbly “Mermaid Bar” and “South Elroy” to the tranquil “Luna Moth,” Hawke establishes a sense of harmony and takes listeners to a blissful, private place throughout the course of “MOSS,”. 

“MOSS” defies expectations. Hawke survived the infamous music industry concept that is the “sophomore slump,” proving that her musical talent is genuine. Hawke, similar to another “nepotism baby” Gracie Abrams, shows the world that the success of her music is not a direct result of having famous parents in the industry, but a result of her pure, poetic lyrical abilities and dreamlike, misty vocals that come together to create a heavenly album.

Summary With dreamy vocals and poetic lyricism, Hawke sings about the intricacies of relationships and tackles ideas about love, friendship and family in a soothing, beautiful album.
4 Stars