Rising UK pop sensation Mae Muller has found her voice on her highly anticipated debut album. Her 17-track record Sorry I’m Late captures the messiness of the feminine experience, all while maintaining a danceable pop rhythm. From upbeat songs like “I Just Came to Dance” to soft ballads such as “Porn Lied to Us,” Muller’s versatility shines through, making for a refreshingly candid and undeniably catchy record.
For an artist who first started releasing music on SoundCloud in 2017 while working at an American Apparel, Mae Muller has come an incredibly long way. After six years of music industry experience, she has garnered a worldwide audience. But now she’s finally ready to let her vulnerable side show. For her, that looks like singing about the different sides of herself and all of the complex experiences she has had as a woman.
“For a long time I thought that I just had to be one version of a strong woman to survive in this industry,” Mae said in a recent press conference.
There are an array of characters on this album, all of which Mae connects with differently, and which she hopes will connect with a diverse audience. A shy, love stricken persona appears in “Nervous (In A Good Way).” A fierce, heartbroken Mae sings of wanting revenge in “Bitch With A Broken Heart.” All of these stories weave together in the complex tapestry that is the female experience.
The album includes some of Mae’s biggest hits such as “I Wrote A Song,” which she sang in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in which she represented the UK. Although the song shot to a top 10 spot on the UK Singles Chart, Mae placed second to last in the contest, a tremendous upset. However, Mae turned this experience around by announcing her album after Eurovision, which she received massive support for.
It took many mistakes, disappointments and heartbreak for Mae to embrace vulnerability in her music. Many of her personal experiences shaped the record. While she took inspiration from artists that inspire her, she stayed true to her own voice during the writing process. The resulting songs have a uniquely personal feel, almost like the audience is reading the contents of her diary aloud.
“Most of it was just what I was going through and however I was feeling that day. Whatever came out, came out,” she said.
In staying true to herself, Mae conveys a universal message of empowerment that extends far beyond her personal thoughts. Undoubtedly, Sorry I’m Late shows that Mae will not let failures define her. The tracks on this album, while irrefutably authentic, provide an invigorating burst of energy sure to fuel a night out.
By: Izzy Wagner
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