Calla Mae is a Minneapolis-based artist who says their introspective and blunt lyrics embody what it is to be a young adult navigating the world. Their sophomore 4-track EP, ‘Pixie’, is somewhat of a bookend on the last three years of their life. Calla says their music ranges from synth-pop to punk – but given the epic metal brutality of Pixie’s final track, I think that might need to be updated!
‘Pixie’ – Lots of surprises from the start. A chugging, metal guitar riff opens the EP, together with a conversational vocal with punk tendencies. There’s a classic, throwback vibe to the metal riffs. A nice groove, and some great light and shade in the track. I liked the variation and range as the vocal switched between conversational, sung and screamed. As promised, those blunt lyrics appear from the get-go:
“If I hear ‘hey baby’ one more time, I’m gonna find your house and set that shit on fire!”
‘Counterfeit’ – Calla writes: “I spent the majority of my life up until I wrote this song moulding myself into what people wanted me to be. I had a sort of epiphany with…this song…I would rather be disliked and seen as a sort of “manic Pixie” type than sacrifice my morals any longer”. I liked the sparse production and effortless groove. The clean vocal cuts through perfectly. There’s a really expressive melody, which manages to convey the emotion and passion of the subject matter – and still be really catchy. The song feels satisfyingly complex as it goes through multiple incarnations.
‘Quiet Life’ – An atmospheric intro which felt like it was carried on the wind from some twisted carnival. I liked the soulful quality of this track – to me, it had shades of a country song too, which added another dimension. I like the way Calla manages to wring every drop out of each song, exploring each corner to find new possibilities.
‘Venom’ – My, oh my – what a song! A totally addictive groove that starts with all the body of the track stripped away, only to explode fully into a riff that absolutely tears the place apart. I loved the brutal energy and the intensity of that guitar part – it’s an absolute BEAST! This could battle any heavy metal track you would care to mention – and it would destroy. A riff that crushes so hard it could level a city. One of the best vocals on the EP, too, as Calla rides the crest of that groove perfectly with another great melody. An incredible (and well-named!) final track.
Calla really has an ear for a hook, and this EP delivers a boatload. Complex arrangements and songs that morph from one form to another create an unpredictable and electrifying ride. However, all songs must bow down to the immense power of the final track ‘Venom’ – which is worth the price of admission alone.
Written by Grubby
