Maiz’s Overbearing is a haunting nocturne that serves as a self-reflection for the song’s titular main character as she attempts to unravel the shortcomings that lead to the fragility of her relationship. Thematically, this song is quite refreshing, as it breaks from the current pop norm of placing blame solely on the ineptitude of an undeserving partner, choosing to place blame on both parties in the relationship instead. Maiz seriously pulls at the heartstrings of her listeners on this track, as her hook somberly repeats “Let me know if I’m overbearing … Only my heart is the one that’s tearing, you’re tearing me apart” – painting the picture of a smitten lover who only wanted her affection reciprocated and is now left questioning if the immense love she’s shown has left her exposed to heartache. This song also spotlights the harmful role gaslighting can play on the health of a relationship with the lines “You talked your sh*t, said I was too much” and “Said I was too much, I let it mess with my head”; leading Maiz to questioning whether her actions were smothering, and subsequently attempting to kowtow to her companion, singing “I can clean up the mess we made”. Overbearing tastefully parallels the feeling of being love drunk with the obvious resentment that comes from the romanticism not being returned, something that is sure to have all listeners emotionally invested in this pop ballad.
Overbearing opens with a monophonic synth lead, followed by delicately layered vocals and an arpeggio synth that give the song a nice, tight structure. There are some beautiful dark keys that add a feeling of drama and weight throughout, especially when paired with the mellow bass that can be heard pacing the track. It also sounds as if there’s been flowing water recorded at the beginning, which when paired with the single’s cover art of champagne being waterfalled into an open mouth, creates some artful imagery for listeners to envision as they auditorily consume Overbearing. The music is an interesting blend because it contains keys that could be found in an Adele track, drums from a Frank Ocean classic, and a lead synth that is reminiscent of 90s west coast rap song similar to what Snoop Dogg was putting out in that era. Everything in this tune comes together cohesively and, to me, is a perfect embodiment of what pop music should be: the best elements of all genres of music sonically fused into one mesmerizing piece of art.
Maiz is 21-year-old singer-songwriter from the small town of Chatsworth, Georgia who has developed an infectious sound that can be considered alternative pop with RnB undertones. Growing up in a town with only one red light, this young starlet was tapped into her rural roots and originally had dreams of being a country music singer. She began making music at just 12 years old after taking guitar lessons from her neighbor, someone she would later go on to make music with a few years later. Heavily influenced by her love of pop and alternative music, Maiz began crafting her own tracks daily on her bedroom floor using just her iPad and iPhone. At 17 years old, she made the leap to recording in a professional studio with a full team behind her and eventually caught the attention of EAZY ENTERTAINMENT as an 18-year-old. Drawing inspiration from her own personal life and those around her, Maiz’s music dives into the nuances of everyday life – a sentiment which can be felt when listening to her debut EP Short Circuit, which dropped earlier this year. In order to support her dreams of being a musician, the young artist works a 9-5 doing real estate appraisals alongside her family. That sort of work ethic will serve her well as she continues to blossom as a pop star and further cement herself as an artist you need to keep your eye on as she continues her ascent up the ranks of most exciting female artists coming out of the American south.
Written By Dan Caddigan
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