God. This song just illustrates Maggie Rogers’ genius. As a girl who appreciates a “wall of sound” approach to music, esp with a focus on a strong clear and unique vocal, Maggie Rogers is just That Bitch️™. I’m always impressed when artists can build their chords in ways that aren’t just a guitar strumming them on their own in the background. In this song specifically, she has a bass drone, and she uses these ethereal asynchronous synth/piano notes to build her chord structures. (Because the listener’s ear remembers, if you give them a chance to fill in the gaps.)
And she uses her voice as an intentional part of those chords. Her voice is an instrument in the greater work, the song as a whole. The way she uses the phrasing of her words as rhythmic elements that still sound like they would make sense spoken conversationally, emphasizing the right parts of words in keeping with their meanings. It’s refreshing!!
Not to mention the production. The cool shit that Maggie does that sets her apart. The breath sample as a recurring percussive element. The ethereal vocal oo’s in the bridge that have been manipulated and pushed far back in the mix. She has a “stop/drop” moment on the final if you could *cry*. Her variation on her final *feel* everything you ever caused.
And that’s all without even TOUCHING her lyrical prowess!!! This song that’s about trying to write in a soul-bearing and honest way with someone who is holding back. Her relationship with that person being strained and frustrated. And how that comes through. She paints a clear picture of her individual experience that still works as a self-insert exercise for the listener. A great writer, and specifically a great songwriter, can make the personal Universal.
TLDR: Maggie Rogers is brilliant.
