Album Review: Rising by mxmtoon
With her latest album Rising, indie pop artist mxmtoon takes listeners through the process of growing up and finding yourself.
Following the release of dual EPs “Dawn” and “Dusk” (both released in 2020), Rising opens a new chapter for mxmtoon, with bright upbeat vocals that stay true to her authentic self.
The album starts with “mona lisa”, the lead single - which garnered 5 million streams prior to the release of the album - is an upbeat song depicting wanting to come out of your shell. In an interview with NME, mxmtoon describes the song as being about “wanting to be the subject of art for once instead of being the creator” (“I’m so tired of being a book on a shelf / Tired of stories for somebody else / I think I’m ready for my close-up, baby”).
Tracks “sad disco” and “frown” have listeners partying through the tears with a bright upbeat sound and ABBA-inspired instrumentals. Both tracks serve as a reminder that it’s ok to feel your feelings, and to not be ok all of the time (“Takes your hand when you’re bored and alone, it’s your own sad disco / It’s okay to frown, smile upside-down / It’s a feeling that I’m having and I’ll have it right now”).
Debuted on the Rising tour (currently going around the US with plans for a European leg later this year), “florida” is described by mxmtoon as a tribute to her grandfather. A melancholy track, “florida” features ethereal vocal effects with a lovely fingerpicked guitar line, and is full of complete longing and love. The song details the pain of watching those close to you age, and knowing that you don’t have forever with them (Hard to believe you’re turning eighty-one / We can never outrun age).
A deceptively upbeat track, “growing pains” pairs a groovy, moving beat with lyrics that serve as a letter to your past self (“Sometimes, I wonder whether me when I was younger would like the person that I’ve become / You don’t even know all the places that you’ll go / But I’m sorry that you feel so alone”). mxmtoon repeatedly reminds listeners of how fluid emotions are, and that you shouldn’t be discouraged by it (“Everything’s gonna get better, Everything’s gonna get worse / When it gets hard, remember that’s the way it always works”).
“dizzy” serves as commentary on the pressure that comes with growing up and finding yourself in the wake of massive success. mxmtoon, who blew up at the young age of 17, speaks to the idea that she felt like she had to grow up faster, and present herself in a way that people thought she should be (“Standin’ in crowds, wearin’ pretty pink dresses / And puttin’ myself on display”). She talks about feeling like she doesn’t know who she is, and yearning for a sense of normalcy (“Changin’ makes me afraid, I would give anything to feel my age / Sharpen my pencil and write my own thoughts, to a girl that I wish that I knew”).
“coming of age” thematically wraps up the album perfectly, touching on the importance of abandoning the fear of judgment from others and embracing the process of growing up and changing (“I know I’ve changed, maybe you should go try it too / I’m not the same, so don’t expect what you’re used to”).
Check out these tracks and more on Rising, out now on all streaming platforms!
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Tracklist:
mona lisa
learn to love you
victim of nostalgia
sad disco
frown
florida
scales
growing pains
dizzy
haze
dance (end of the world)
coming of age
