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Photo: @karenhaberbergphotography // @afterdarkshots

A year after being banned from having public social media accounts, Romy Mars, daughter of filmmaker Sofia Coppola and Phoenix frontman Thomas Mars, has released a surprise EP, consisting of two singles. Although not officially confirmed, all signs point to this being the start of the 17-year-old’s debut as a new indie pop darling. 

Stuck Up opens with the titular track, a poolside pop tune easing listeners into the world of Mars. Acoustic guitar lilts over a brushed drum kit and shakers, keeping things light and breezy as we get the first notes of the bubbling pop star's voice. She sings with a narrative quality, each word delivered with simultaneous nonchalance and intentionality, perfectly depicting the tainted love she sings of. It’s a windows-down anthem for the bittersweet ride home, especially heard as the chorus detours into a darker space, inviting minor chords into the soundscape as the atmosphere shifts.  

Produced by Mikey Hart, who’s worked with legends such as Bleachers, Taylor Swift, Blood Orange, and Lana Del Rey, and indie pop artist Claud, the touch of these creative masterminds is tangibly intertwined with Mars’ own style. There’s a dynamic arc to “Stuck Up,” subtly achieved by this ethereal atmosphere, deepening the sonic story of the song. Pedal steel and soaring synth bells add a dreaminess to the track’s outskirts, expanding on the swaying groove already defined.

Claud also produced Mars’ second track, “From A Distance,” which wanders into a bit of a Lorde, early 2000s influence. The drums are richer here, hitting in the gut now that listeners have been warmed up with “Stuck Up.” Mars leans into the 2000s nostalgia with vocal callbacks doused in a radio filter, while synth arpeggios dance around the melody. There’s even a coming-of-age feel to the lyrics, mingling spite with adoration as Mars youthfully holds out hope for someone bad for you. “But you're my secret / Big picket fences / I’ll be the good girl / You'll beat my exes,” she sings. 

Glittering with fresh, summery sounds and bright-eyed stories of love gone wrong, Mars’ Stuck Up is an exciting debut, hopefully signaling the first bloom of a flourishing music career to come. 

Listen to "Stuck Up" and "From A Distance" below: