“How Much Sadness Can You Swallow” is the follow-up to UK-based artist Maya Yenn’s debut. Written about a particularly bad nightmare, the song touches on these darker themes without losing its light pop elements. These energies mix and meld beautifully to create a song that is best described as an experience.
Bass lines thump alongside light eerie vocals. The always evolving instrumental allows Maya Yenn to shine, without complicating the texture. Her adventurous melodic lines deliver emotion soaked lyrics and compliment everything going on around her. At times her sound is reminiscent of Billie Eillish. It’s not a loud song, and because of that it ends up feeling more intense.
Sometimes everything leans into the melancholy atmosphere, while others it sounds like something from the lead stage at a music festival. Whenever the synths would take the forefront they’d leave “How Much Sadness Can You Swallow” feeling dystopian. When they’d move behind the vocals it’d accent the delicate fragile beauty of Maya Yenn’s voice.
Although the song is based around a nightmare of visions of hell, it feels elysian. I only use that word because of it’s close relation with Elysium, the luxury paradise of Hades underworld. Although the people there are under the rule of Hades, it is not designed for their suffering. Instead Elysium is their reward for their impressive lives and built for their enjoyment. Similarly, throughout “How Much Sadness Can You Swallow” there is beauty and comfort among the chaos.
Sounding undeniably like a dreamscape, I found this song enchanting. It showcases Maya Yenn phenomenally and to say I’m excited to see where she goes from here is an understatement. An incredible work of art and an impressive sophomore release.
“How Much Sadness Can You Swallow” is available on all major streaming services.
Written by Tyler Roberts
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