On her new single, "Starve," songstress MayaAgnes delivers a stunning testament to what it's like to struggle to find self-worth in a world that so often wants us to dim our light. Combining the emotional resonance of pop with the grit of rock and the intimacy of indie, "Starve" is at once striking and personal, a fearless swim that somehow turns despair into something defiantly lovely.
"Starve" is a confession whispered in the dark. But as the synthy drums, strings, electric guitar, and cello build around her, MayaAgnes's voice ascends keening, aching, unbreakable. It crescendos into an emotional storm that maps the push and pull of fragility and strength, openness and power. It is the sound of a person taking control of her body, her voice, and her own story.
MayaAgnes doesn't simply sing about survival, she enacts it. The club announces itself and owes to Christina Aguilera's power, the gothic edge of Evanescence, the emotional clarity of Leona Lewis, but which MayaAgnes defines in terms of honesty and courage. "Starve" hangs around long after it has ended, not because it's weighty but because it feels real.
And by transforming her individual suffering into a universal reminder of resilience and recovery, MayaAgnes demonstrates that she is more than an up-and-coming artist, she's a teller of emotional truth. "Starve" is your reflection if you've ever felt unseen, and the ideal reminder that strength starts with loving yourself.