Maya Malkin - “Seriously?”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Olivia Rodrigo, Illuminati Hotties, HAIM

Canadian artist Maya Malkin has been branching into quirky and catchy indie pop since breaking from trio Motel Raphaël a couple years back. Her early singles are a mix of warm synth pop and eclectic indie rock, catchy but augmented with unique twists. There’s 90s pop/rock influence in a song like “Congratulations”, but Malkin never hits you over the head when constructing hooky chorus and verse. “Seriously?” is influenced by 80s R&B and pop and debut single “Hostage” is a soft-pop bouncer - there’s range in Malkin’s tight-single songwriting that should predict more growth into whatever is next. Maya Malkin showcases at Swan Dive on Tuesday night in a bill presented by Double Denim Management and Paper Bag Records. (Kevin McStravick)