EP Review: Mary Middlefield – Wake Up!

Defying genres with her Rock-edged, Indie Pop sound, Switzerland- based artist Mary Middlefield loudly and unapologetically conveys spiralling inner-monologues and hard truths. Her latest EP ‘Wake Up!’ lives up to its title. Five artful and unpredictable tracks shake the listener from their reverie with slicing instrumentals and candid, witty lyrics.

Title track ‘Wake Up!’ is a conversation with the internal monologue that feeds on insecurity. Intense Rock instrumentals and lyrics like ‘your misery is my delight’ build the impression of a critical mindset increasingly turning on itself, whilst the reasonable voice begs ‘give me some space for a while’.  

‘The Feast’ opens with instrumentals reminiscent of classic Soft Rock, taking on a deep, lilting tone as Mary relaxes her voice into lyrics like  ‘I love to love but nobody loves to love me’. The track pleads for reciprocated love, plunging into depths of gothic extremity with lyrics like ‘if my lips turn blue will you bury me?’.

Tracks three and four lean into the EP’s Indie Pop elements. ‘Summer Affair’ subverts expectations with the bouncy chorus ‘Enjoy the view take me anywhere, fall in love have a summer affair’. Yet the project’s characteristic intensity remains as dizzying lyrics and rapid percussion tint the events of an unfolding romance with a crazed edge. Preceded by a lengthy, undulating instrumental, the vocals on ‘Will You Read My Mind?’ are distant and ethereal, contrasting straightforward, vulnerable lyrics like ‘I’m in love with you, will you read my mind?’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0HX1WJ_9Uc

Closing track ‘Bite Me’ returns to themes of self-deprecation as the lyrics ‘who am I gonna be if you don’t want anything to do with me?’, question the formative nature of external validation. Wavering vibrato strings accompany shifting beliefs as the lyrics ‘I’m done waiting for someone to bite’, predict a future in which criticism is tuned out. ‘Wake Up!’ engages the listener with questions and exclamations in in equal part. Showcasing confidence and versatility, Mary Middlefield imbues the poignant elements of the genres that we love with a skilful marriage of grit and vulnerability.