MAYA HAWKE’S ‘BLUSH’
The ‘Stranger Things’ Star Teases Her Album
Maya Hawke is best known for her role in Netflix’s Stranger Things, but she may also become one of our favorite musicians. The actor-turned-musician’s debut album Blush was scheduled to drop this month, but delayed at the last minute, so we’re taking a look at the songs already released as we wait for the full collection.
Hawke shared her musical talents shortly after she rose to stardom as Robin Buckley in the third season of Stranger Things. In August 2019, she released two delicate indie rock singles: “To Love A Boy” and “Stay Open.” This past March, she announced an upcoming full album.
Hawke explained to Pitchfork that Blush is an artistic accident. She worked alongside producer Jesse Harris to write and record the tracks, which she calls “secret messages, hidden communications with the people in my life.” The pair then felt driven to share those happy messages with the world.
The lead single from Blush, “By Myself,” was released when Hawke announced the album. The lyrics explore complicated emotions and relationships using vivid imagery; it’s a tactic Hawke often utilizes in her songs.
Next came “Cover Me,” a soft rock track with a sad chorus and stripped-down instrumentals. Its music video was directed by her father, actor Ethan Hawke. It is an impromptu performance in the barn and has that unique homemade quality that only a video made during the coronavirus lockdown can achieve.
In May, Hawke released her third single, “So Long.” This sorrowful tune has a kind of western charm, complete with slide guitar and lyrics that would be the perfect soundtrack for riding off into the sunset.
The week before Blush was to drop, Hawke announced a postponed release to August 21. She wrote on her label’s Instagram account that in the wake of the recent Black Lives Matter protests, it is more important to focus on activism and education than self-promotion.
Until then, Maya Hawke.
