Some people are ruled by a fear of the mundane, dreading the prospect of an ordinary day or life. Staying continuously preoccupied can remedy this free floating anxiety. However, “Mahoning,” the latest single by alt-rock artist Alex Stanilla, is about staying relentlessly busy while seemingly sacrificing what’s in front of you. In turn, “Mahoning” is about realizing that the life you chose is not fair to the one you’re with.
Stability doesn’t always equal peace. For example, the pre-chorus reflects how someone naturally thrives in chaos, but can also suffer in tranquility. Also, “Mahoning” refers to a relationship that ends up taking a backseat. Although, it’s also about being self-aware of your own shortcomings. Altogether, “Mahoning” relates to when the delicate balance of a relationship has neared its tipping point.
The atmosphere of “Mahoning” ranges from subtly emphatic to selectively aggressive. At first, it’s a relatively tame mood with the exception of deeply resonating drums. Before long, the chorus serves up the first taste of a more rambunctious energy that leaps out from the progressive uncoiling of the pre-chorus. It’s also where the song itself delves into laying everything out on the table, leaving no doubt of the emotional tumult they feel inside.
Every so often, our priorities can end up muddled and complicate our lives. In part, “Mahoning” is about when those priorities collide, leaving you to come to grips with what it means for your relationship and how you’re wired to live your life. All in all, “Mahoning” is tense, contemplative and energetic.
Written by Travis Boyer
FOLLOW ALEX STANILLA:
