MAE KRELL - TOO HARD
Mae Krell, an indie artist based out of New York, is recently doing something quite interesting with her music schemes. To promote her upcoming album “(i think) i might be grown”, Mae had the idea of releasing a track from the album every month until the official release date on April 19th. And with recently getting the chance to listen to Mae’s latest release titled “too hard” now, I figured I’d help share her music with the world.
Straight away you’ll notice the gentle, melodic, folk-esc motifs that let you know what Mae’s inner essence and style is all about. Guitar strings and soft serenades flow, creating the spirit of the piece. And upon listening to the lyrics, it becomes clear that Mae is tenderly telling the story of someone who’s afraid of experiencing love. “What if this is all I’m meant for? Is loving me way too hard?” This is a circumstance many people can relate to. In fact, the meaning behind this song was the main reason I wanted to share my take on it because it is something I have, and still, can relate to. But to some, this is also a situation that some people can not relate to as easily and that makes the listener want to understand these feelings of the singer. There’s a fine line of what makes love so petrifying yet so beautiful, and I think Mae perfectly captures the fear behind the idea of falling in love and how scary it can feel in her own graceful way.
One of my favorite things about this track is how dainty and airy it is when the message is so strong. Most songs about the hardships of endearment tend to be either sorrowful or filled with angst, but not for Mae. The writing style Mae simulates for “too hard” makes for a compelling spin that I greatly appreciate.
Throughout the song, the deeper you dive into figuring out what could have led to this uneasiness of experiencing an event most view as something special. “What if this is all I’m meant for? To run away when things get hard?” With the constant questioning, Mae reveals there's some inner insecurity there. Insecurity and never ending worry that you’re not good enough is evidently going to trick you into thinking you’re unlovable simply for being who you are. Relationships can be hard and it’s not the easiest thing to allow someone else to see you when you’re vulnerable, but I think the way Mae expresses her own feelings regarding this issue can show people with the same struggles that they’re not alone.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with how this song was curated. When musicians switch around the norms of how music should be written or sound and make it their own, it always leaves some sort of an impact on me. For those wanting to follow Mae’s journey, her next single titled “feeling too much” comes out February 9th.