Exclusive: Maz Announces Debut EP with Lead Single “Kiss Kiss Boom”
The Utah singer-songwriter’s NPC is set for release on April 4 via Winspear Records. Listen to “Kiss Kiss Boom” below.
Photo by Ana Peralta Chong
Today, 22-year-old, Utah-based singer-songwriter Marley Guevara, better known by her trip-hop alias Maz, has announced her debut EP, NPC. Her first official collection of songs is slated to arrive April 4 via Winspear Records and, in celebration of the new project, Guevara has shared its intercosmic and beat-heavy lead single, “Kiss Kiss Boom.”
Maz’s hypnotic approach to indie pop is a reflection of her own upbringing— a desire to create the sounds that were absent from her small town childhood. With NPC, Guevara huddled all her influences, from new wave, to alt rock to house and electronica, in order to construct a cohesive commemoration of her diverse musical foundation. She said in a recent press statement, “I grew up on early 2000s alternative music, and NPC reaches for that raw, cool, nostalgic sound. These songs turn my day-to-day into something badass—a mix of vulnerability and strength.”
Each song on the EP is solidly anchored by her hometown of Logan, Utah, and while many of the initial ideas for NPC originated during her time at community college in Salt Lake City, Guevara was soon pulled home once more under the worst of circumstances. “I found myself back in Logan, writing songs in my grandmother’s basement when my grandpa died,” she said. “During that time I found a lot of solace in music—it gave me freedom to reflect and unpack everything I was feeling. And it made me appreciate the people around me and the opportunities and art I have in store for me in the future. It felt like a refresh button.”
“Kiss Kiss Boom” is an immediate example of her emotional jettison, but solely in Guevara’s words. The song itself is an infectious, club-ready jam with spacey synths and a drum groove poised supremely in the pocket. Yet, as Guevara sings about the hardships of rekindling love, she’s more like the person crying in the corner of the club rather than the one mindlessly partying it up. “Kiss Kiss Boom” is Kate Bush turned brat—an emotionally pointed ode to the 80’s with a modern indie pop spin.
Guevara says of “Kiss Kiss Boom”: “I wrote this song while going through the intense and conflicting emotions of getting back with an ex. I love the contrast with the idea of a bomb going off lyrically while the beat itself is so mellow. Musically I wanted to fuse a trip pop drum beat with an underwater vibe, I was drawing inspiration from the band Kitty on that.”
Watch the video for “Kiss Kiss Boom,” see Maz’s upcoming tour dates, and check out the artwork and tracklist for NPC below.
NPC Artwork:
NPC Tracklist:
Too Bad
NPC
Wa Oh
Kiss Kiss Boom
Conundrums
Circle
Maz’s Upcoming Tour Dates:
2/13 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *
2/14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell *
2/15 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club *
2/16 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
2/18 – Portland, OR @ The Old Church *
2/20 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *
2/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom *
* supporting Wallice