Matt Maeson - Who Killed Matt Maeson (2017) Hi Res

In a tone that’s much more Shawn Mendes than Kaleo, singer-songwriter Matt Maeson floats comfortably through his latest six-track EP, Who Killed Matt Maeson. The Virginia native spent most of his adolescence traveling to high-security prisons with his family’s performing ministry, an undeniably unique experience for a young artist. This strange, mysterious upbringing plays into Maeson’s songwriting, as much of the EP skews towards questions of self-doubt and pleas for redemption. Though his background is compelling, Who Killed Matt Maeson is a largely unsuccessful attempt at an edgier version of what basically every singer-songwriter on the radio is doing right now.

The first listen to this EP will likely conjure up comparisons to X Ambassadors or Grizfolk, both semi-successful bands who take an alternative approach to the widely popularized folk-rock blend. Additional listens, should you be interested, will probably recall an eerie and inexplicable similarity in warbly vocal technique to Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias if he suddenly decided to sing acoustic ballads. It's been argued that Maeson could be the next Tyler Joseph, a remarkable songwriter with an ability to portray immense emotional depth through aerobic melodies and meaningful lyrics. If this EP is the full extent of Maeson's artistry, the comparison seems out of reach.