Mary Bue - The Wildness of Living & Dying (2025)

Minnesota music at its best! Singer/songwriter Mary Bue celebrates the release of her highly anticipated, soaring new album, The Wildness of Living & Dying. Her ninth release, the album exquisitely showcases Mary’s remarkable ability to blend raw honesty and her warm, folk/pop sensibility.

During your average week, maybe even during your typical day, something so out of the ordinary might happen that will make you say, “That’s wild!” It could be a video of a dog jumping higher than you have ever seen. It could be an incredible new song you just heard on the radio. There are a million examples, and some can be wild in a good way while others can be wild in a negative way. Whatever the case, life is wild – so much so that Mary Bue turns to music for comfort and clarity. It was after a traumatic car jacking accident in 2020 that she processed her feelings through the songs on her new album, The Wildness of Living & Dying. It is here where Mary expresses vulnerability, resilience, and hope, which are essential to survival.

It is only natural to feel vulnerable in this world, and being open about vulnerability is healthy – even if doing so is terrifying. On “The Wait (Don’t Tell Me),” Mary opens up about the fears that hold her back. Over layers of guitar and twinkling piano, she sings, “I don’t wanna go / I don’t wanna see / I don’t wanna leave / I don’t wanna know,” letting her thoughts get in the way. Ultimately, Mary knows that it is a mistake to hold on than to let go, and her desire to let go comes through on “Salt in the Wound.” The track plays out like an empowering folk ballad, complete with sweet strings and steady bass that encourage Mary to move on from her past. Attempting to find closure, she sings, “Help / I’m looking for it / And I’m running from it / Help / I pray that I will help myself.” There are times when you have to depend on yourself to make a change, but counting on yourself is not a simple task. With “Bones and the Marrow,” Mary ponders this concept, wondering if continuing a relationship would be worth her time. A sentimental yet downhearted vibe comes through when we hear, “Reaching out is so unnerving / And alone is so easy, no one can ever really see me then,” especially against the strings and light piano.

As vulnerable as Mary feels at times, there are also moments when she conveys sheer resilience. She remembers that the bad times do not define us, as heard on “After the Disaster.” There is a momentum throughout the track that does not stop, reflecting the concept of ceaseless determination. All the while, Mary sings, “After the disaster, life goes on,” ready to face the next challenge ahead. This next challenge comes in the form of “Draw Blood,” where Mary confronts someone who hurt her in the past. Instead of her usual warm folk vocals, Mary takes on more of a grittier tone, giving the track a rock edge. She takes charge as she tells this person, “It’s not my job to heal you” and “You can’t love if you can’t laugh / You can’t give if you don’t have.” While it is great to have a fire that drives you, it is also important to know when to ease up. Mary realizes that not all fights are worth winning, which she shares on “Trying to Fight the Wind.” Listeners will be placed right in the middle of a windstorm, as the buzzy quality and layers of sound resemble these forces at work. Overall, it speaks to the bigger picture of the outside forces in life that are too powerful to control, and how fighting against it all could potentially backfire.

Still, amongst it all, is hope. The title track will rekindle any weakened spirit with its soothing visuals and enlightening messages like, “If you’re hearing this, you ain’t dead yet.” Additionally, the repetitive quality of lines like, “It’s in the air / It’s in the water” and “The wildness of living and dying” help ground the song, and in turn, the listener. On “Right Now,” a similar vibe comes through, as Mary takes in her surroundings. Clearly, life is a lot to take in, as everything is always in motion. So, the more Mary observes, the more chaotic the track sounds, driving her to “stand alone amongst the tall pines” and center herself. It seems as if Mary does find herself by the time we get to the closing track, “Bedding Down with the Deer.” The tone of the track progressively changes from menacing to comforting, as Mary surrounds herself with the right crowd. She sings about “spending most of my nights bedding down with the deer,” against the “soft padded pillows of grass and their warm bodies near.” It reminds listeners about the power of feeling supported and heard, which comes through in the line, “Rest as long as you need / Sleep as deep as you can / Reach when you need a hand / We’ll do our best to understand.” Basically, kindness can inspire kindness.

All in all, life is unpredictable. It can break you down as hard as it can lift you up. With so much going on, it is easy to lose yourself, to surrender to the inexplicable forces of the universe. But with The Wildness of Living & Dying, Mary is encouraging listeners to take in all parts without dying on the inside. Her songs on the album promote vulnerability, resilience, and hope, which are needed to navigate the world. As long as we let go, carry on, and believe, we can get through anything – even this wild thing known as “life.”