Review: are you sure? by Mae Krell
By Alec Smith
Set to the backdrop of a simple 3-chord guitar loop, singer-songwriter Mae Krell’s latest single, “are you sure?” ponders the existential pain of someone desperately trying to maintain their sobriety (and their grip on life in general). Krell’s voice opens with the line, “It’s been three days and I’ve lost my way again/ A week’s gone by and I can feel my face again.” Lyrics like these make the song a stand out for anyone who has struggled with their mental health. In that way, it’s the perfect song for the last year, living through a pandemic. As we come up on one year of life in lockdown, one can’t help but reflect on the strange lapse of time. As next March approaches, we find ourselves wondering what happened to last March. Many of us feel like we have been stuck in the same place over the last year, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. We are sorely reminded of that as the line, “And I wonder why I’m in the same place again” rings throughout the song. This newest single may not have been written directly for the moment we are living in, but it is certainly felt.
Krell’s strength lies in their vulnerability. You can hear it in their vocals. The slight quiver in their voice feels like an exposed nerve: intimately vulnerable, afraid, and uncertain. The song is sung from the perspective of someone just trying desperately to hold it together. It is a feeling that continues to be felt as Krell lets out an exhausted, defeated sigh between verses. It’s an expression that speaks just as loud as the lyrics, one that can be felt deep in the bones. Krell’s latest single may have been written as a personal account, but it is certainly relatable.
