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No summer is complete without a nostalgic coming-of-age anthem that perfectly encapsulates the magic of our hottest season, and this year MARIS has delivered. To kick off August, the rising pop sensation has blessed our windows-down car rides with her euphoric new single, “Salt Water Taffy”. The track joins previous singles “The Fight” and “Julia Roberts.” Fluttering with optimism but laced with a tinge of melancholy, the track has every element needed for replay value as one season fades into the next.

“Salt Water Taffy” flows from verse to chorus to bridge with ease, while being dynamic in its sonic journey. The track’s inception was born from a poem by MARIS, which contained the eventual song's first lyric, and the rest is history. On the inspiration behind it, MARIS says, “I wanted ‘Salt Water Taffy’ to feel like summertime as a kid. The smell of rolling in the grass, the taste of salt water taffy from this old candy store called the Sweet Palace in Philipsburg, Montana, and the feeling of sunscreen on my skin.” 

MARIS’ lyricism is descriptive, evoking visceral imagery and sensation in every line. There are so many small details that make up this explosive track, including genius elements such as the chirping of crickets before the first chorus. As she sings, “Don’t go yet / I was finally happy” in the scream-along anthemic chorus, there’s a lifetime of emotions being conveyed. Summer feels so long and so short all at once, and in this track, MARIS naturally compares it to the melancholy of fleeting adolescence. The bridge of “Salt Water Taffy” is a standout moment where we hear her evoke an almost Elvis-like vocal cadence. Combining this delivery with its early 2000s pop production pushes the track even further.

MARIS released her debut EP Gravity last year and is continuing to enchant fans with her gorgeous vocal abilities and unique pen. Drawing inspiration from artists ranging from Whitney Houston to Michael Bolton to MUNA, this young artist has a lot to offer the pop community. “Salt Water Taffy” is a colorful explosion of summertime, capturing the simultaneously long and short passage of time during this special season. You can catch MARIS opening for Melt on their North American tour this fall, but in the meantime “Salt Water Taffy” is a sweet treat sure to stay on repeat throughout the tail-end of summer.

Watch the "Salt Water Taffy" lyric video below: