Emo-Folk Duo hey, nothing Bare It All in Bittersweet EP 'Maine'
Fast-rising emo-folk duo hey, nothing, comprised of Tyler Mabry (he/him) and Harlow Phillips (they/them), lay their souls bare in their latest EP, Maine. Penned in a secluded cabin in the heart of Maine, the EP is a candid recount of Mabry and Phillips' recent experiences, presented with a rawness and emotional depth that is truly human. It's a reflection of the heavier aspects of their young lives that many can relate to—addiction, fading love, and the bittersweet departure from home.
EP opener "The Sink" places the bar high for what ultimately is an impeccable body of work. Mabry's masterful guitar riffs set the scene from the start, flawlessly complementing Phillips' enchanting vocals, which ooze with raw authenticity. In the opening verse, they are determined to leave a toxic environment and wash their hands of someone who negatively affected them throughout their life, telling them that regardless of where they move and even if they change their name, they'll still be the same sack of shit. In the howling chorus, they look back at what a typical encounter with their ex-friend was like, belting, "Fuck that, shut that / Mouth you're always talking, talking / Talk back, walk back / Act like you're not up to something / Fuck that, come back / Look me in the eyes and say I'm wrong / Oh, I'm not wrong." As the song continues, the pair's chemistry and quick-wittedness become apparent in almost every lyric, especially on biting lines like, "You found a therapist online, I'm glad you pay to waste his time, Thank god it's no longer mine."
"Timeline" is a heartbreakingly lovely addition to the record. All five and a half minutes painfully tug at listeners' heartstrings as the pair paints a picture of the right person at the wrong time. Over gentle guitar stums, Mabry croons, "Couldn't find the words, couldn't find the right time / We just existed on a separate timeline / And I get home, you go out / I drive by, your lights are out." Phillips joins the blend with their rich vocals, adding impact and a sense of yearning as they admit to themselves, "Oh, how I'd love to get to know you / Though I pretend to ignore you / It's a game of bein' forward / It's all the same, I guess." In the heartwrenching chorus, they come to the melancholic conclusion that although they finally know who it is they want to share their "timeline" with, at this very moment, "it's not the right time."
In "Piece of You," the Athens, GA, locals explore the inner turmoil that has taken hold of their psyches. Marby states that there's a storm inside his head, and he finds himself in a state of disassociation and increasing isolation, closing the gates and locking his door whenever he hears anyone coming around. Inviting the listener into their deteriorating state of mind, they burst at the seams on the track's hook, understanding how trauma has both taken a piece of them that they still long for and left them with "a piece of you" that they just can't ignore.
The EP's finale, "Maine," serves as the record opener's counterpoint, examining the pain and guilt that can follow leaving toxicity. It's an apology to those hurt by your distance but acknowledging the pain you experience without it. Rough around at the edges, the song is brutally honest and packed with experience. With lyrics like "I can't wait not to go home, so far away from everything I know," Mabry and Phillips use their pain to create a refuge for themselves and for anyone who's felt the crippling guilt of leaving home and feeling better off because of it.
Listen to "Maine" below:
