Co-produced with Toronto producer TWIGG (Ben L’Oncle Soul, YUNA), Maïa Davies’ new single “Car Crash” is a bittersweet and dramatic metaphor for a relationship shattering and falling apart, evoking the feeling of time slowing down at the moment of impact. Over rolling beats, floating piano, and echoing synths, Davies examines the power of deep love and the carnage of loss by painting a series of moments where every second can feel like an eternity.
The track is part of a forthcoming body of work, releasing in spring 2024, 8 piano-driven pieces that come from a deep catharsis within Davies,
“Songs and writing are the best way that my body knows how to express pain,” Davies explains. “I went through something very difficult and heartbreaking, and writing these songs helped me save and heal myself in multiple ways.”
The new album, due out on Toronto boutique label Acronym Records, features 8 piano-driven songs of toxic heartbreak and cathartic healing, co-produced by 8 different notable Canadian producers, recorded and mixed mostly analog in studios across Canada, in Los Angeles and Stockholm.
The song is accompanied by an eerie, evocative music video which was directed by Toronto’s
Trust!
Review
“Car Crash” is an emotionally charged track that beautifully depicts the intense emotions of love and loss. The track masterfully captures the rollercoaster of emotions experienced in a passionate relationship, painting a vivid picture of the euphoria and excitement felt during its peak moments but also conveys its tragic end through a car crash metaphor, symbolizing the sudden and uncontrollable nature of the breakup.
The first line of the chorus, “I had the time of my life, ride of my life, ride of my life,” effectively captures the euphoria and excitement the protagonist felt during their relationship. Meanwhile, the subsequent line, “We had the heat in our hearts, beautiful fire, it was a lie,” portrays the intense love they experienced, but with the revelation of deception, adding a feeling of betrayal.
The chorus, with its repetitive structure and strong imagery, effectively highlights the protagonist’s mixed feelings of happiness and heartache, creating a lasting emotional resonance.
Overall, the track’s ability to evoke genuine emotions and connect with the listener on a personal level showcases the talent and artistry that Maïa possesses.
Watch the video for “Car Crash” below and learn more about Maïa via our mini-interview.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
People often characterize me as being “very unique,” which I guess means they find me strange, but I like that. My weirdness and instinct for finding the unusual in art, fashion, and discussion has always felt like a sort of superpower to me. I embrace it. I feel that I see the world as I would want it to be, and my perception is my playground. I’m also very honest and what you see is what you get; that’s how I approach lyric writing—with total transparency. I’ve written a ton of songs in my life, for my own projects and also for many Canadian Artists. In fact, professional songwriting and producing is how I’ve made my living for a long time. I’ve been lucky to have co-writes cut by artists like Mother Mother and Serena Ryder, etc., and I attribute that to my desire for sussing out everyone’s deep truths.
You’ve released your new single, “Car Crash.” Tell us a bit about the creative process behind the release.
I was in a very deconstructed and fragile state at the time, trapped in a really toxic relationship I didn’t know how to leave. Deep down I must’ve known it was over, and a sombre melody and lyric comparing my feelings to being in a slow-motion car crash came to me, my body hurling through the windshield and into the air, with landing not a certainty. It flowed out of me from my subconscious, trying to tell me that I wasn’t safe and had to make a break to protect myself.
You worked with Toronto producer TWIGG on the single. How was that experience?
He’s been one of my best friends for a long time, one of the few people in my life I would qualify as a genius. Our sessions are focused and really connective. With this song, he just started pulling up and creating very strange sounds. He makes these otherworldly sonic backdrops, which gives me the space to express myself purely and honestly. For “Car Crash,” we then added real instruments to create an emotional, tangible presence on the track. Glenn Milchem from Blue Rodeo played drums on the track and brought incredible, sensitive magic to our work.
You have also unveiled a video released by Trust! What was the highlight of the video-making process?
Well, we flew down to a semi-deserted beach in Florida of all places as we wanted a dark and wild backdrop. The video has me running on that beach at night, frantic and scared, untying binds from my hands and feet, looking for a way out. We wanted to illustrate how a toxic relationship can make you feel like a captive, and even when you do get out, the trauma follows you in the aftermath, like a shadow that’s always chasing you. Trust! (Director Richard Meisener), and I have worked on many videos together. We have a bond, a comfort level in our workflow that always feels natural. We had a lot of fun shooting the video and even came across a shipwrecked sailboat by happenstance; on the fly, we decided to use it. I climbed up on the wreck for the shot and when we were done I decided to jump off the galley. It was about 6 feet down to the sand, and I narrowly avoided a giant metal spike in the ground, invisible in the darkness. Rich nearly had a heart attack haha—so I guess my favourite part was cheating death that night. It felt so metaphorically victorious in the context of the song. In many ways releasing these very personal songs is a leap into the unknown.
The single comes from your upcoming 8-song release, in which you partnered with eight different Canadian producers, the songs recorded at different studios across the country. What made you take this route?
Honestly, I’ve been so fortunate to work with and know some of the country’s best talent. I made a producer wish list and realized soon after that I was having no luck choosing; so I chose them all! Each song was recorded in a different city, which was both inspiring and so much fun. I knew it would make the album sonically diverse, and I worked with an incredible analog mix engineer who tied it all together with warm sounds and natural-sounding vocals. The album will be a chronological exposition of a difficult and abusive situation, and that story is the central theme that pulls it all together.
What’s your favourite thing about being a musician in Montreal?
Montreal is one of the biggest reasons I have a career in art. When I was a budding musician, the city gave me the space and pace to learn and expand my craft. The artist community there is tight but also inclusive and supportive. There is really only one rule in this community: be real. It’s no coincidence that so many great artists and bands from that community came to prominence: the city is one of the best places I know of to be truly creative: it’s just part of the Montreal ethos.
If you could work with one fellow Canadian (that you haven’t yet), who would it be?
Damn, that is a very, very, hard question. Is this a job application?
I’d love to say something clever, but to be honest I’m just a big music nerd who loves great producers that make one-of-a-kind albums. To me, that’s surely Pierre Marchand. He produced most notably Sarah McLachlan and Rufus Wainwright (my fave). Marchand just does everything with such obvious reverence for—and deep knowledge of—music. He recently followed me on Insta so perhaps I’m getting closer to my goal! Maybe this will manifest him in my life.