If you spend a significant amount of time lurking on Spotify, chances are you've probably already come across Maya Payne's music before - the young singer-songwriter from New Zealand topped the viral charts with addictive anthem 'If Only', which features on her debut EP, The Lucky Ones. This helped the 19-year old Christchurch resident garner international attention for her music, as she quickly discovered she had fans from all over the world listening to her tunes. If we had to describe Payne’s sound we'd say it's a bit of mix between Ellie Goulding and Tove Lo, with a splash of CHVRCHES and Halsey for good measure. But make no mistake, Payne is unlike anything you've heard before, as she combines her own unique sound with a pitch perfect voice.
The Lucky Ones naturally opens with her first viral hit, 'If Only'. Coated in electro-goodness, it overwhelms your senses with hazy dance beats that give way to Payne's captivating vocals. Great for summer (and entirely seasonally appropriate), this one could easily be playing in an Ibiza nightclub on your next trip with the gang. As if you could have predicted what Payne would churn out to follow this, the singer makes a point to catch you off guard and prove that she is taking you on a musical journey. Lulling you into a false sense of security with her enchanting vocals, the singer drops the bass, triggering‘Self Defined’ to descend into a edgy, sassy, self-confident party that is effortlessly catchy and unashamedly addictive. Prepare to make this your new summer jam.
The third track from the EP is ‘Breathe Again’ which starts off by introducing you to waves of synth beats that provide a bewitching opening, with Payne displaying her darker, broodier side, lyrically. There's a bit of everything in here - hope, promise, pain, emotional vulnerability - all of which allow us to take a step further into Payne's world. “I give all my love/ I give all my love to you”, Payne echoes as we reach the triumphant chorus of next track, ‘Lucky Ones’ - the namesake title of the EP. Combining sickly sweet pop beats with a techno vibe, Payne’s ‘Allie-X’ style sound is dominant, bold and memorable; ‘Lucky Ones’ is certainly lucky for this young Kiwi.
‘Falling’, takes a turn away from the dance smash hits as Payne opts for an understated sound that highlights the heartbreak in her voice, backed up impressively by smooth piano chords that add to the solemn introverted atmosphere. It's not as commanding and dynamic as other songs in her arsenal, but it's still satisfying. Meanwhile, ‘We Are the Wild’ is, put simply, a highly energised, retro 80s song full of life and vibrancy – and it doesn’t try to be anything else. This is all about having fun and the true enjoyment of music, Troye Sivan style.
Drawing the EP to a close, ‘Fragile X’, a song that details the singer’s vulnerability and struggles, ensures the venture end on a positive note. A self-reflective song detailing her journey from youth to now, it’s every bit as electric as you’d expect, and Payne doesn’t hold back, giving it everything and showing off the reversed beginnings of her experimental sound. Whilst The Lucky Ones might not hit every pleasurable note, there is an impressive amount of genuinely engaging music, elevated by Payne's strong and addictive vocals, that is highly commendable for a debut EP. Like select newcomers before her, she has produced a barrage of memorable material that doesn't just attract interest - it sustains it; particularly promising for the future.
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