Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Maisyn
THE RELEASE
Maisyn, the indie-pop vocalist, began a thrilling new era with the release of her debut EP "Cool Grl" in September 2021. Maisyn unites with Grammy-nominated engineer and producer Joey Messina-Doerning, well known for his work with HAIM and "Women In Music Pt III," to create an album that mixes contemplative lyrics with irresistibly charming pop tunes. She tackles the intricate regions of love that feels nurturing, existential dread that seems crushing, and personal progress that is honestly earned with a careful yet unabashed attitude. Maisyn's musical journey promises to be an engrossing story of self-discovery and artistic development.
The fascinating hymn of strength and emotional growth "Long Hair" by indie-pop star Maisyn turns the simple act of a post-breakup haircut into a powerful symbol of reclaiming and reinventing oneself. The guitar and energetic drums definitely get your feet going. Maisyn develops an appealing "pop girl" sound evocative of singers such as Maisie Peters and Maggie Rogers, making "Long Hair" an alluring, soothing trip. This song is the second single off her highly anticipated sophomore EP, and it provides a cathartic experience suitable for both deep introspection and carefree dance floor excursions.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
Joni Mitchell of course. When I started listening to her music she completely widened my understanding of what good writing sounds and feels like. I love the fluidity of both her music and lyricism. Also of course, Taylor Swift. I found her debut album when I was in 5th grade as I was just starting to play guitar and write songs. Seeing her write about crushes and feeling misunderstood completely propelled me. Plus I loved her sparkly dresses and cowboy boots. I’m a really big fan of HAIM, I love how they fuse their edginess with their sense of humor. They’re also all incredible instrumentalists so I love looking to them for inspiration. I think Dolly Parton also belongs on this Mt. Rushmore, I’ve always been inspired by her writing and attitude. For someone so successful, she’s so humble and I really admire that.
Were there any specific experiences or events in your life that influenced the song's lyrics?
This song is extremely autobiographical. About four years ago I went through a really hard breakup and around that time I cut off all my hair and got a bunch of tattoos. I feel like getting a breakup haircut is a little cliche but the more I thought about it, I realized that maybe people do it to feel more in control of their bodies. I think my short hair was cute but it became symbolic of a really tumultuous and exhausting phase of life. The day I wrote “Long Hair” I looked in the mirror and really liked what I saw. I looked happy and healthy and my hair was down past my shoulders. It felt like a nice metaphor for my emotional growth.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes about the song's development with your co-writers or producers?
I’ve been working on music with my friend Joey Messina-Doerning for years now, and I think we have a really nice flow together. Something I really appreciate about our collaborative dynamic is that Joey will always push me to make sure the song is as good as it can be. For “Long Hair” we spent a lot of time re-working the second verse. It was Joey’s idea to condense the phrases and make it punchier which was really smart. Now I feel like the second verse is its own little “moment.”
What was the biggest takeaway or lesson you learned while creating this song?
To trust my gut. Usually I sit with a song for a while before starting the production but making “Long Hair” was a really fast process. I think I had immediate faith in the song and I didn’t give myself time to second guess it.
How has your recent growth as an artist influenced the direction of your future work?
I think the more I release music, the more confident I feel. Working on “Long Hair” definitely inspired me to be more fearless with releasing music in the coming months. I’m excited to just try stuff - I’m less interested in control and more interested in finding what really resonates with people.
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