The unmistakable voice of Award-wining Portugal artist and songwriter Mary Ann, boldly distinct in both topic and tone, reaches an unmissable peak this season, with the launch of her immense new EP Fragments.
Featuring a dark-pop to rock arrangement of soaring electric guitars, live drums, and ambient, electronic layers or Fragments, the EP sets an immersive and thought provoking vibe from the outset, with the vocal depth and atmospheric embrace of Wake Up Call.
This opening song cleverly reflects on modern consumerism and superficiality, and these ideas ring loudly amidst a superb musical production and delivery.
Mary Ann’s voice as a singer is powerful, whether gentle or impassioned – there’s a certain weight and wonder to her sound, which is not only distinct but timeless, and naturally moving. The subject matter blends personal vulnerability and accessible reflections on life, and these qualities feel exceedingly genuine throughout Mary Ann’s performances.
The second track, Pressure, draws undeniable focus to this truth, and is easily a recognisable highlight from Mary Ann so far. The track features a massive alt-rock hook, nostalgic and catchy all at once, with quieter, contemplative verses paving the way for sublime impact.
Next we get an eighties-style groove, another catchy melody, and an intimate and introspective story, as WELCOME provides a haunting sense of rising anticipation and a wholly engaging crescendo. Mary Ann’s voice is sensational here, soulful and expressive, meandering with seamless grit and fluidity combined, through a hook that’s alternative but snappy, and just as addictive as Pressure.
In bringing together the nostalgic, the familiar, the alternative, and the truthfulness, WELCOME is easily an outstanding anthem for the creative identity and power of Mary Ann’s sound.
To finish, Endless Potential injects a touch of something a little more hopeful, a colourful bounce of a groove, and a passionate rising energy and charm from Mary Ann on the mic. The arrangement stands out for its funk and swagger, while the songwriting again draws you into the depths of thought.
Influentially we seem to move from Skunk Anansie to Anastasia to Nothing But Thieves within these four songs, an impressively unexpected fusion of qualities, but a style that ultimately resounds and connects as the unique lyrical and performative voice of Mary Ann.
The songs are brilliantly thoughtful, presenting stories as unique as Mary Ann’s vocal and musicality. As such, this project is uplifting, emotional, evocative, and, frankly, unforgettable, and the closing track makes sure to wrap things up on a mighty high.
Find Mary Ann on Instagram, Distrokid, Facebook, TikTok.
