mxmtoon

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mxmtoon
mxmtoon performing in September 2019
mxmtoon performing in September 2019
Background information
Born (2000-07-09) July 9, 2000 (age 23)
OriginOakland, California, United States
GenresBedroom pop[1]
Lofi hip hop[2]
Folk-pop[3]
InstrumentsVocals, ukulele
Years active2017–present
Websitehttps://mxmtoon.com
YouTube information
Also known asMaia
Channel
Genres
Subscribers473,000[4]
(November 18, 2019)
Total views38,168,176[4]
(November 18, 2019)
100,000 subscribers

mxmtoon[a] (born July 9, 2000), also known as Maia, is a Chinese-American singer-songwriter and social media personality from Oakland, California, known for singing and playing the ukulele. Her 2018 self-released EP, plum blossom, recorded in her parents' guest bedroom, has been streamed over 100 million times. Her 2019 international tour has nearly sold out, and her debut album the masquerade was released in September 2019.

Early life

Maia was born on July 9, 2000,[8] in Oakland, California, and grew up near Lake Merritt.[9][10] She is Chinese-American on her mother's side and German and Scottish on her father's side.[9] She describes herself as "Hapa" as she grew up culturally Chinese. Throughout her school career she enjoyed taking art and architecture classes.[9] She became interested in music from a young age. Her brother took violin lessons, and in first grade, Maia joined him. A few years later, she began playing classical cello and trumpet.[11] In fifth grade, she auditioned for her school rock band.[2] Expecting to audition for cello, she was asked to sing Oasis's Wonderwall, and ended up joining as a vocalist,[11] where she recalls singing The Middle by Jimmy Eat World.[7] In sixth grade, she began playing guitar, learning in part from her father.[11] Maia first coined the name "mxmtoon" on her Instagram account where she drew cartoon sketches for her 500 followers, most of whom were strangers.[7] She started her YouTube channel and began playing the ukulele in middle school.[12] She wrote her first song at age 13.[13]

Career

2017–2018: Falling for U, plum blossom

Recording with GarageBand[14] in her parents' guest bedroom,[6][15] creating percussion tracks with hair straighteners,[16] Maia began self-releasing songs on YouTube as "mxmtoon" in 2017.[17] After initially attempting to write comedy songs, she began writing songs that embodied her emotions such as "feelings are fatal",[16] which only required a USB microphone and GarageBand.[9] The song currently has over 23 million streams on Spotify. Her 2017 collaboration with Japanese lo-fi producer peachy!, "Falling for U", reached nearly 40 million streams on Spotify by June 2019.[12] Maia began secretly releasing music to the public, but was later compelled to tell her friends and family after experiencing viral success online.[18] In 2018, Maia released her debut EP, plum blossom, which was reviewed by Earmilk,[19] i-D[14] and Hypebeast,[1][20] and gained more than 100 million streams on Spotify by August 2019.[6][21] The EP's single "i feel like chet" is a tribute to one of her favourite jazz musicians, Chet Baker.[22]

After high school, Maia took a "gap year" by postponing college to focus on her music.[23] She was planning to study architecture after graduating high school, until her music went viral in April 2018.[24] In November 2018, she announced her "plum blossom tour".[25] Her first tour, initially scheduled for five US shows[12] with fellow Californian singer-songwriter khai dreams in March 2019,[19] sold out[20], and was extended to include additional concerts in North America and Europe,[6][26][27] including opening appearances for bedroom pop YouTuber Cavetown in the United Kingdom.[28][29][30]

2019–present: the masquerade

Main article: The Masquerade (mxmtoon album)

Prior to the release of the masquerade, Spotify announced the release of 21 Days, a music podcast that follows Maia while she works on the album in New York City.[31][32] Liz Gateley of Spotify praised Maia's online following as well as her social presence, stating that "She obviously has lots of followers already, but that's not enough. The person had to be the right human too, and we felt she had both."[31] The podcast is an eight-episode audio diary that includes interviews with family, friends and collaborators, including the album's producer Cavetown.[31][32]

Maia's debut studio album the masquerade was released on September 17, 2019.[18] The album peaked at 17 on the US Heatseekers Chart and at 45 on the US Indie Albums Chart.[33][34] It features "prom dress", a "light and peachy tune"[27] described as "relatable, infectious hook-led pop that speaks to millennials".[3] The single is inspired by experiences from her own big night and deals with social anxiety and the problems that come with being a teen in modern society.[35] The song has been streamed over eight million times on Spotify and has been used in 100,000 videos on TikTok.[24][28] Maia's back catalogue of songs have also received tens of millions of online streams.[3]

Joshua Bote of Paste described the ten-track album as "comforting twee-pop that wrings out genuine pathos from mxmtoon’s internet celebrity".[36] Matt Yuyitung of Exclaim! wrote "[Maia] brings her wry sense of humour and diary-entry lyricism to her debut record, recalling the lo-fi relatability of Frankie Cosmos."[37]

Maia embarked on her sold out "the masquerade Tour" of North America and United Kingdom in September 2019.[38] She released her first graphic novel "The Adventures Of Mxmtoon: The Masquerade" in October 2019.[39] In November 2019, Maia announced that she would be joining American singer-songwriter Lauv for his 2020 summer tour of Asia supporting his album how i'm feeling.[40]

Reception

I can be as ridiculous as I want but I can also be an emo teenager and people like both sides.[16]

— Maia a.k.a. mxmtoon

Maia has been credited with having an "endearingly intimate presence".[41] The singer-songwriter's[42] music has been described as "warm folk-pop tunes with acoustic ornamentations",[20] "one part acoustic-pop a-la Kina Grannis, mixed with sharp lyricism and avant-garde, off-kilter melodics akin to Fiona Apple or PJ Harvey",[43] that explores "themes such as the trials of love, being a burden to those close to you, and connecting with your family's heritage"[15] and "encapsulates many of the values her fellow Gen Zers possess".[6] Joe Coscarelli of New York Times has compared Maia's bedroom pop style to that of girl in red, Clairo and Beabadoobee, as well as the folk-pop "simplicity" of Regina Spektor and The Moldy Peaches. Her manager, Max Gredinger, has presented her with Billie Eilish and Shawn Mendes as models for potential super-stardom.[7]

Joshua Bote of Paste described Maia as "really, really good at the internet".[36] Maia makes comedy videos on the video sharing platform, TikTok, where she has amassed 1.1 million followers and 36 million likes as of October 2019.[44] To date, she has made appearances on Vine, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitch, Snapchat, Bandcamp, Pinterest and SoundCloud as well as TikTok.[7] Her music has been streamed over 150 million times across all online platforms collectively.[28] As of October 2019, her YouTube channel has over 34 million total video views and 453 thousand subscribers.[45] As of October 2019, Maia has almost 4 million monthly streamers on Spotify.[46]

Personal life

Maia identifies as "a young bisexual woman of color from a family of immigrants"[6] and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she writes, records and produces her own music from the guest room of her parents' home.[15] She graduated from high school in June 2018.[47]Whilst Maia grew up, her parents played R&B and hip-hop music from names like Salt-N-Pepa and A Tribe Called Quest, which she still listens currently listens to for nostalgia.[9] Maia owns a cat and likes to wear mom jeans.[13]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Heat.
[33] 		US
Indie
[34]
the masquerade
  • Released: September 17, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl
17
45

Extended plays

Title Details Notes
plum blossom[48]
  • Released: December 7, 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."cliché"3:04
2."i feel like chet"3:03
3."feelings are fatal"2:05
4."the idea of you"2:48
5."porcelain"4:32
6."temporary nothing"3:07
7."i miss you"3:41
Total length:22:20
Title Details Notes
plum blossom (the edits)[49]
  • Released: April 26, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
No.TitleLength
1."temporary nothing (feat. Charlie Burg) [Charlie Burg edit]"3:31
2."feelings are fatal (feat. Tessa Violet) [Tessa Violet edit]"2:05
3."i feel like chet (feat. khai dreams) [khai dreams edit]"2:53
Total length:8:29

Singles

As lead artist[50]

Year Title Album/EP
2017 "1-800-DATEME" Non-album singles
"life online"
"please don't"
"hong kong"
"stuck"
"birdie"
"the sideline"[51]
"the idea of you" plum blossom
"feelings are fatal"
"cliché"
2018 "i feel like chet"
"porcelain"
"temporary nothing"
"don't play your card" Non-album singles
2019 "My Way"
"prom dress" the masquerade
"high & dry"
"seasonal depression"
"blame game"
"dream of you"

As featured artist[52]

Year Title Album/EP
2017 "Falling for U"
(peachy! featuring mxmtoon) 		Non-album singles
2017 "Maybe I Shouldn't"
(Mochi featuring mxmtoon)
2017 "So Mean"
(Afternoon featuring mxmtoon, Samsa & Love-Sadkid)
2019 "We Used to Talk Like Every Night"
(Isiah A. featuring mxmtoon)

Tours

Headlining

  • plum blossom Tour (2019)[25]
  • the masquerade Tour (2019)[38]

Supporting

Notes

  1. ^ /ɛm.ɛks.ɛmˈtuːn/ em-ex-em-TOON; The name "mxmtoon" is derived from Maia's initials, MXMT.[5] She uses the pseudonym Maia[6] and does not disclose her full name for privacy reasons.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Cheung, HP (October 16, 2017). "15 New 'Bedroom Pop' Artists You Should Check Out". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Thompson, Bryce (November 1, 2017). "The 8 women of lo-fi hip-hop that you need to know". Revolt TV. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  3. ^ a b c Ward, Sean (May 17, 2019). "Youngster mxmtoon breaks our heart with her latest alt-folk pop release 'prom dress'". The 405. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "About mxmtoon". YouTube.
  5. ^ mxmtoon (July 23, 2017). "how do you say "mxmtoon"? (get ready with me)". Retrieved August 29, 2019 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f Cline, Jesse (August 9, 2019). "Follow mxmtoon's Journey at Outside Lands 2019". Flood Magazine. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e Coscarelli, Joe (October 11, 2019). "A Teenager, Her Ukulele and a Bedroom Pop Empire in the Making". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Thomas, Fred. "Mxmtoon | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  9. ^ a b c d e Engel, Lauren (October 8, 2019). "MXMTOON Interview- coming out bisexual, ethnicity identity problems, hiding music from parents". YouTube. Sidewalk Talk. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  10. ^ Rosas, Crystal (November 1, 2019). "MXMTOON Talks Growing Up In The Bay, Touring, & More!". YouTube. WiLd 94.9. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c mxmtoon (April 4, 2017). "music & me". Retrieved August 29, 2019 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b c Leight, Elias (June 6, 2019). "TikTok Proved It Can Make Hits – Its Next Test Is Creating Stars". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Teenage Singer Songwriter mxmtoon". Bright Lite. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Wheeler, André-Naquian (October 31, 2017). "how to become a pop star without leaving your bedroom". i-D (in US-gb). Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  15. ^ a b c "Ukulele-Playing Singer/ Songwriter mxmtoon Is the Best Friend We All Need". Ones To Watch. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  16. ^ a b c "mxmtoon". Foundations Management. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  17. ^ Irwin, Paul; Gallinari, Alex (January 2019). "Frontrunner". InTune Monthly. Retrieved August 30, 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ a b "mxmtoon Leaps From Online To Make Her Debut". All Things Considered. NPR. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  19. ^ a b Keirstead, Zachary (December 7, 2018). "Smell the 'Plum Blossom' with mxmtoon [First Look]". Earmilk. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  20. ^ a b c Ely, Paulette (February 14, 2019). "mxmtoon's "I feel like Chet" magic". Flaunt. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  21. ^ Nilles, Billy (August 30, 2019). "The MixtapE! Presents Lana Del Rey, Post Malone, Miranda Lambert and More New Music Musts". E! News. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "mxmtoon shows love to a jazz great with 'i feel like chet'". All Things Go. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  23. ^ "VIDEO: INTERVIEW – mxmtoon Talks Debut EP 'Plum Blossom', Postponing College". B-Sides TV. March 25, 2019. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  24. ^ a b Wells, Madeline (August 4, 2019). "Meet mxmtoon, the Oakland Teen Who Launched Her Music Career on TikTok". The Bold Italic. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  25. ^ a b maia [@mxmtoon] (November 27, 2018). "excited to announce my first headline tour!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2019 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author1= and |last1= specified (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Frometa, RJ (June 27, 2019). "mxmtoon Announces Debut Album 'the masquerade' + New Song "high & dry," Half of North American Tour". Vents Magazine. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Mxmtoon on Tour in September, Shares New Track "High and Dry"". gehen press. July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  28. ^ a b c "mxmtoon Gives Personal Insight in New Single 'seasonal depression'". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019. mxmtoon is a 19-year-old bourgeoning artist
  29. ^ maia [@mxmtoon] (June 3, 2019). "so excited to go on tour with @CAVETOWN in the UK this winter!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved July 21, 2019 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author1= and |last1= specified (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ Maduakolam, Emmanuel (August 9, 2019). "mxmtoon Shares New Track 'blame game'". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  31. ^ a b c Eggertsen, Chris (September 12, 2019). "Spotify Follows '21 Days' in the Life of Up-and-Coming Singer-Songwriter mxmtoon in New Music Podcast". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  32. ^ a b Dredge, Stuart (September 13, 2019). "Spotify launches a podcast about musician mxmtoon". Musically. Retrieved September 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ a b "Heatseekers Albums - Week of Sept. 28, 2019". Billboard.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ a b "Independent Albums - Week of Sept. 28, 2019". Billboard.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ "mxmtoon – 'prom dress'". Clash. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  36. ^ a b Bote, Joshua (September 17, 2019). "mxmtoon Might Be the Songwriter a New Generation Needs". Paste. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  37. ^ Yuyitung, Matt (September 17, 2019). "Mxmtoon The Masquerade". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 19, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  38. ^ a b "mxmtoon's Debut Album 'the masquerade' Out Today". Broadway World. September 17, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  39. ^ Spruch, Kirsten (October 22, 2019). "Mxmtoon Previews Debut Graphic Novel 'The Adventures Of Mxmtoon: The Masquerade': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ^ a b mxmtoon (confirmed account) [@mxmtoon] (November 18, 2019). "ahhhh i am SO so excited to announce that i will be joining @lauvsongs on the ~how i'm feeling world tour~ summer tour of asia, 2020!!!..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  41. ^ Boilen, Bob; Gotrich, Lars; Bote, Joshua (May 7, 2019). "New Mix: Faye Webster, Khiis, The Quiet Temple, mxmtoon, More". NPR Music's All Songs Considered (Podcast). Event occurs at 1:01. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  42. ^ Suskind, Alex (August 30, 2019). "EW Pop Shop: Lana Del Rey is blue, a rare Lauryn Hill feature, and more songs you'll love". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  43. ^ "Singer-songwriter mxmtoon finds beauty in the mundane on debut the masquerade". Grimy Goods. August 21, 2019. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  44. ^ "mxmtoon". TikTok. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  45. ^ "mxmtoon". Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019 – via YouTube.
  46. ^ "mxmtoon". Spotify. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  47. ^ mxmtoon (confirmed account) [@mxmtoon]. "CANT BELIEVE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAT WHAHHAHSGA I FEEL LIKE IVE LIVED 20 LIVES" (Tweet) – via Twitter. {{Cite tweet}}: Invalid |number= (help)
  48. ^ "Plum Blossom by mxmtoon". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  49. ^ "plum blossom (the edits)". Apple Music. Retrieved August 30, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  50. ^ "mxmtoon discography". Rate Your Music. Retrieved August 30, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ "The Sideline – Single by mxmtoon". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  52. ^ "mxmtoon". Apple Music. Retrieved August 30, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mxmtoon&oldid=926987193"