Arts
Smart Pop for the New Year
Smart Pop for the New Year
by Cynthia Potts
"This
album covers the course of a relationship," Mara Levi said, her distinctive
voice tinged with old regret. "Which obviously didn't turn out very
well."
The relationship may have tanked, but Life's
A Ball, Levi's debut album, is an unqualified success. Combining
smooth, Morissette-style vocals with ambitious, complex musical arrangements
results in an album you reach for again and again – and enjoy with
every listening. Levi's unique musical style stands up to every challenge
she takes on, whether it be the politically-tinged folk "La Di Dee
Da," poppy "In My Head," or sad love song, "Take the
Blame."
Capturing universal experiences and
expressing them the way we would – if we were smart, sarcastic,
and both uber-confident and supremely vulnerable – Levi is a talented
lyricist, writing songs that are engaging and enjoyable. She's comfortable
slinging words in an intelligent, creative fashion, which has resulted
in her work being branded "Smart Pop." You find heartbreak without
histrionics, pain without pathos, confidence without that "I've had
way too many anti-depressants for breakfast" feel found in a lot
of contemporary folk-pop.
For example, from "Without Alarm"
– the ultimate reflecting on-one’s-recent-breakup song: "It
seems that you've begun to wear me down / It's time I learned to face
my fear / And in the end you'll say you stood your ground / Well that's
not a compromise, my dear." Subtle but stinging points ring throughout
Levi's work – the type of bon mots one wants to shamelessly steal,
whilst hoping desperately to avoid ever having to use them. The chorus
from "I'm Sorry" pinpoints with razor accuracy the weight of
emotion that can hide behind ordinary words: "And I'm so sorry, and
I'm so sad / And now it's over, and we've been had. / Well it's the end,
it's the end of a long, long day / and now all we ever do is say goodnight".
All seems innocuous enough, until put into
context: "Those words, so sharp/ are full of holes, they just express
my fear,/ and leave you in the dark."
It's not all dark. At several points, Levi
celebrates strength and resilience. The album ends optimistically with
"I've Arrived," one of the best tracks.
Levi's musical education shines throughout
the entire album. She began playing piano at 4, picking up other instruments
as she matured. Studying jazz composition in college definitely influenced
her song structures. "I like to put something different in there,
something unexpected." With jazz, classical, and myriad folk elements
running throughout the album, Levi keeps listeners entertained without
ever being predictable.
"Several of these songs were written
while I was with my band before I started a solo career," Levi explained.
She'd been the songwriter, vocalist, and bass player with an indie-pop
band, Kid Sampson, for a number of years.
Currently, Levi is touring the Washington,
DC, and metropolitan New York areas. "The crowds have been good,
and it's been a great experience. I'm not on the road every day at this
point, but just about every weekend I've got somewhere to be." Don't
despair if you're not headed to the big city anytime soon – Levi
has expressed interest in playing in Vermont if the right opportunity
arises.
Beyond promoting the current album, Levi
is working on material for a second album. She also has an unexpected
project waiting in the wings. "I'd love to write a requiem."
Admittedly, writing a classical mourning song is not the traditional direction
for an up-and-coming folk musician to go, but Levi is determined. "Right
now, I'm researching and taking notes. But it's something I'd love to
get done, a large piece with lots of strings." While we'd be curious
to see how this ambitious project turns out, what we're really hungry
for is another album in the tradition of Life's A Ball.
You can listen to Levi's work on-line at her website, www.maralevi.com
A number of audio clips are available, as are links to her tour
dates and locations.
Cynthia Potts listens to music while driving around Plattsburgh.