From the first acoustic strings of ‘One More Time’, Maria Rodhe pulls you along to her vibrant and luscious pop extravaganza that is ‘Happy Ending’. It’s controlled, powerful, and melodic without compromising on any single aspect. It starts of as a singer-songwriter acoustic piece, before climbing to a commercial pop anthem, before finally crescendoing post the chorus into an electronic, almost techno influenced, dance drop. There are elements from your favourite artists all on this record, with The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Zara Larsson all having their imprint somewhat injected within the album. That distinct mid-tempo pop production style, never too loud or too soft, is the scaffolding upon which Maria constructs her house of pop.
Maria’s story herself is well worth exploring. Without much experience under her belt, the Swedish artist is still producing mainstream-esque hits that you’d expect from a studio and major label backed newcomer. She felt herself undergoing a life crisis when she turned 40. Having cared for people her whole life, Maria had never felt so alone. Despite seeking help, she realised that there was nothing particularly wrong with her — no alcohol or drug issue that was really holding her back. Since that date, she focused herself on taking care of her own mental health. Today, she’s living out her dream in style and substance.
Her music isn’t too complicated, not sonically nor lyrically. It’s pop music in its purest form — enjoyable, digestible, and palatable. If you want mid-tempo tunes to ease your day, bring a smile to your face, or enjoy a mellow dance to, look no further. You’d be surprised to find out that she hasn’t quite broken into the mainstream yet, the arrangement and production sound straight out of a major label.