Album Review: Maxine Ashley - MOOD SWINGs EP

After garnering a successful buzz from her cover version of Portishead’s “Glory Box” and pulling in more than 9 million views on her YouTube channel, songbird/songwriter Maxine Ashley releases her debut EP, MOOD SWINGs. For this exclusive EP, the Bronx, N.Y., native delivers nine infectious tracks with whimsical vocals over imaginative, experimental production by the likes of Kerry “Krucial” Brothers, Zeke MacUmber, The Outsyders and the one and only Pharrell Williams.
With MOOD SWINGs, Maxine doesn’t fail to bring listeners to her world where R&B, soul, jazz, pop and alternative elements come together to live in harmony, if only for a moment. Her vocal capabilities shine brilliantly throughout the EP, as she never lets the star-studded production take center stage. Ashley is certainly running the show here, and songs like the early-'90s house-inspired “Here We Are” further proves it.
The highlights of MOOD SWINGs turn out to be the more subtle tracks like the breezy “By Your Side” and the cool, psychedelic “Mary” that leads up to the more upbeat Pharrell-produced “Perpetual Nights.” Overall, Ashley delivers an impressive project complete with solid vocals and stellar production. Each song carries an air of its own, whether it’s moody, reflective, groovy or just plain cool; and this gives us a glance into just what kind of artist she is and who she’s becoming. Can’t wait to see what else she has in store.
More from Tia Scott (See All)
New Music: Lael Summer - Unavailable
Tia Scott 0Los Angeles-based songbird Lael Summer gives us the ultra-sultry "Unavailable" that can be found on her new EP entitled Life in Color, available on June 23rd. For the single, Lael speaks on a relationship that could never be, but shows...
Jun 25, 2015New Album: Rise of Realism - Mirage
Tia Scott 0Amsterdam symphonic rockers Rise of Realism deliver their new full-length album by way of Mirage. Composed of eight phenomenal tracks, the overall sound of the project emits a quiet quality with dramatic build-ups and serene melodies. Still...
Jun 5, 2015Comments
Recent posts
Subscribe!
Receive updates on what's going on in live entertainment, events, and music.

