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Local Artist of the month

Calla Mae

    As I impatiently wait for the temperature and leaves to drop, I've started prepping a local fall playlist and the first artist to land on it was Calla Mae, which made them the perfect feature for this month's Local Artist of the Month! 

    There's something inherently emotional and vulnerable about the crossover from summer to autumn, both of which apply heavily to Calla Mae's lyrical content. When I came across their music, I was in the thick of unmasking my autism and unlearning toxic people pleasing, which is why it felt so serendipitous that the first song of theirs that I came across was 'pleaser'. The track begins with a low, slow, and emotional guitar riff that leads us into passionate vocals from Calla. They sing about how people pleasing has affected them on an emotional level, with lines like "Didn't stand up for myself and that's my fault", and "That leaves me with too much on my plate". The message hit very close to home, especially at that moment in my life.

    Just a few months after I stumbled across pleaser, Calla Mae released their debut EP, 'Pixie', and it more than lived up to the expectations of that first impression. This project has one of the hardest hitting, and most lyrically riveting title tracks that I've heard from the local music scene thus far. Calla confronts an abusive ex, who's still out harming others. This song feels like an honest response to that person, and the boldness of the lyrics made me connect with the song even more. The vocal delivery on this track also stands out immensely. With a daunting and gritty delivery, it's clear that Calla is issuing a warning to the predators of the world, especially when met with their vigorous and honest lyrics. 

    As I continued through the EP, it was made very clear to me that Calla Mae crafted this project meticulously. From the slow, mesmerizing build of 'Counterfeit' , to high energy, headbanging riffs on 'Venom', Calla shows just how wide their range is. Pixie hits nearly every mark that I look for in a project, and I truly couldn't be more grateful to have found their music when I did. Calla Mae is undeniably one of the most raw and exciting voices in the local scene, so don't miss your chance to see them live! You can catch them October 6th at the Black Forest Inn, or at Ruby's Saloon for a Halloween house show on the 31st.

Photo Credit: @katytothekelly_photos (Instagram)