Young up-and-coming indie folk-pop artist Makaio Huizar, known for his soft sound and introspective lyrics, dropped his debut album “What Do You Want To Be When You’re Older” on April 24. This album fits well into his discography with the held-back tempos and deep lyricism that tackles mental health struggles and issues within interpersonal relationships. Two highlights from this album are ‘Oceanside’ and ‘Medicine’, the fourth and fifth tracks included.
Oceanside
‘Oceanside’ utilizes a piano-based instrumentation and a bit of reverb to build a somber, ballad-like sound that strikes straight to the emotion. The vocals rest just above the piano in the mix, and they’re produced in a way that gives clarity and allows raw emotion to shine through. There are also some string sounds in the background and backing harmonies that fill out the piece in the first portion of the track. At around 2:25, drawn-out synths rise in the background, and some guitar is added softly in the mix, before it fades back into softness. This helps deliver an emotional climax in the piece before it ends, once again in softness. ‘Oceanside’ captures the lyrical narrative of a brother who grew up alongside another in an abusive home after their mother left. It acknowledges stolen childhoods and a rift that grew as both got older.
Medicine
‘Medicine’ follows along a similar sound to ‘Oceanside’ in a way that pairs them well back-to-back in the album. It’s a bit shorter than the last track on the album, and this one focuses even more on the simple piano melody, with some bass that joins the mix and other synths that cut in and out to add atmosphere. There’s a percussion bit a little before the end that sounds like the beating of a heart. Where the additional sounds are a bit more scarce in this one, the piano does well at carrying the emotional weight, and the synths are used to craft an atmospheric sound. In terms of lyrics, ‘Medicine’ is about yearning for the love of another while also struggling with mental health issues. It shares noticed struggles of wanting to feel loved and wanted while also experiencing a sort of disconnect.
Makaio Huizar did an amazing job at crafting “What Do You Want To Be When You’re Older”, and though ‘Oceanside’ and ‘Medicine’ are some of the favorites here at Popfad, every other track has narrative depth, musical emotion, and crisp production. Additionally, these two tracks have some great music videos to go along with them. This entire album is a must-listen!
Listen to “What Do You Want To Be When You’re Older”
Written by Sage Plapp
FOLLOW MAKAIO HUIZAR
