Blush (Maya Hawke album)

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Blush
A black-and-white photo of Hawke looking over her shoulder with her name and the album title in a hand-written font around her head
Studio album by
Maya Hawke
ReleasedAugust 21, 2020 (2020-08-21)
GenreFolk rock
Length38:16
LabelMom + Pop
ProducerJesse Harris
Maya Hawke chronology
Blush
(2020) 		Moss
(2022)
Singles from Blush
  1. "By Myself"
    Released: March 18, 2020
  2. "Coverage"
    Released: April 22, 2020
  3. "Generous Heart"
    Released: August 20, 2020

Blush is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and actress Maya Hawke. Initially set for June 19, 2020,[1][2][3] the album release date was delayed to August 21, 2020.[4] Blush was released independently via Mom + Pop Music. The album is a continuation of her collaboration with musician Jesse Harris, who produced and composed her solo debut with a double single set in August 2019.

Background and release[edit]

Prior to the album's release, the actress made her musical debut in August 2019 when she released a double single-set with "To Love a Boy" and "Stay Open".[5] The A-side and B-side singles were produced and composed by musician Jesse Harris, with Hawke as the lyricist.[6] This record was released shortly after Hawke had gained popularity from her acting roles in both Stranger Things and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.[2]

Hawke announced the album and released its first single, "By Myself" in March 2020.[3] The second single, "Coverage", was released in April 2020.[7] The song's music video was directed by Maya's father Ethan Hawke.[8] The album release date was delayed from June 19, 2020 to August 21, 2020[4] amid the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Hawke wrote, "I feel like this is not a time for self-promotion. It is a time for activation, education and self-examination."[9] A day before the release of Blush, Hawke released the final single "Generous Heart" and its music video.[10]

Hawke donated a portion of her merchandise sales to Food Bank For New York City.[3]

Composition and lyrics[edit]

Hawke told Pitchfork: "This album happened accidentally. From my point of view, Blush is a collection of secret messages, hidden communications with the people in my life."[1] She told Nylon, "We [Harris and Hawke] kept writing, kept collecting songs because it brought joy into both of our lives. Collecting them into an album and releasing it comes from a crazy, if not pathological desire to share that joy with others."[6] Essentially, the record is a reflection upon Hawke's childhood and early years.[11][12]

Musically, Blush is performed in the genre of folk rock,[2][13][14] with additional elements of country music.[12] Critics noted that the "carefully paced drumming"[15] and "accentual",[15] "gentle",[16] "delicate"[17] guitars are primary "flavors" to the record.[15]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic76/100[18]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute7.1/10[12]
The Forty-Five[19]
NME[17]
Pitchfork6.8/10[16]
Sputnikmusic[15]

Patrick Ryan of USA Today described the record as "a 12-song collection of playful, evocative letters to her friends, family and lovers," and noted that the "intimately personal music is reminiscent of Hawke's songwriting heroes: Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple and Taylor Swift."[20] Rhian Daly of NME wrote that the album "shows the work of a songwriter who, even as something of a rookie, can command your attention and emotions with the most effortless of lines and make you consider your own life and relationships with the gentle encouragement of a close friend. Hold 'Blush' close – it’s a special one."[17] Peyton Thomas of Pitchfork wrote, "The Stranger Things actor’s move into music is refreshingly thoughtful and understated, with emotionally incisive songwriting and a featherlight voice wrapped up in Laurel Canyon arrangements."[16] Conor Lochrie of Beats Per Minute described Hawke's musical style as "cosy and unthreatening, feeling for its place in the world," and wrote that "Blush is, in its gentle and pleasant way, a strong debut collection of country and folk songs."[12] Nicole Almedia of Atwood Magazine described the record as "an already classic-sounding body of work which, with its folk-inflected sounds and Hawke’s impressive lyricism, makes growing pains sound quite delightful."[11] Sputnikmusic noted that "Blush has a quiet confidence in its stride," and that its "bare arrangements are a compliment to [Hawke's] voice, which is nimble enough to meander through all of the record’s introspective verses while also retaining enough power to deliver the occasional knock out chorus. [...] nothing here is meant to be flashy enough to detract from the words at hand."[15]

Track listing[edit]

Adapted from Apple Music:[21]

All tracks are written by Maya Hawke and Jesse Harris

Blush track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Generous Heart"3:35
2."So Long"3:59
3."By Myself"2:26
4."Animal Enough"3:27
5."Coverage"3:45
6."Hold the Sun"2:59
7."River Like You"2:16
8."Bringing Me Down"2:35
9."Cricket"3:10
10."Menace"3:57
11."Goodbye Rocketship"3:10
12."Mirth"2:57
Total length:38:16

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Strauss, Matthew (March 18, 2020). "Stranger Things' Maya Hawke Announces Debut Album Blush, Shares New Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Daly, Rhian (March 25, 2020). "Maya Hawke: 'I'm a showboat and a ridiculous clown'". NME. Retrieved April 19, 2020. But acting isn't her only talent – she's also a gifted singer-songwriter
  3. ^ a b c DeLeo, Isabella (March 18, 2020). "Maya Hawke Announces Her Debut Album Blush, Shares New Single "By Myself"". Paste. Archived from the original on 2020-03-19. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Maya Hawke". Maya Hawke Official Website. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Nickolai, Nate (August 18, 2019). "Maya Hawke Debuts Two Singles Ahead of Album Release". Variety. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Halabian, Layla (March 18, 2020). "Maya Hawke Shares First Single Off Debut Album 'Blush'". Nylon. Archived from the original on 2020-04-27. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Strauss, Matthew (April 22, 2020). "Listen to Maya Hawke's New Song "Coverage"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2020-04-26. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Darmon, Aynslee (April 28, 2020). "Maya Hawke Enlists Dad Ethan Hawke To Direct 'Coverage' Music Video During Coronavirus Quarantine". ET Canada. Archived from the original on 2020-05-05. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Screenshot of @momandpopmusic Instagram story". June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-15. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (August 20, 2020). "Maya Hawke previews debut album with new single "Generous Heart"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Almeida, Nicole (24 August 2020). "Review: The Growing Pains of Maya Hawke's Debut Album 'Blush'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d Lochrie, Conor (August 25, 2020). "Album Review: Maya Hawke – Blush". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  13. ^ Gonsalves, Jennifer (August 21, 2020). "'Blush': Maya Hawke's debut album presents gorgeously mellow and emotional folk-rock gems that has fans in tears". Meaww. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  14. ^ Ali, Mary (August 21, 2020). "LISTEN: Maya Hawke – 'Blush'". Happy Mag. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Review: Maya Hawke - Blush". Sputnikmusic. SowingSeason [STAFF]. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  16. ^ a b c Thomas, Peyton (August 20, 2020). "Maya Hawke: Blush - Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c Daly, Rhian (August 20, 2020). "Maya Hawke – 'Blush' review: aching collection of folk-rock tales from 'Stranger Things' star". NME. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Blush by Maya Hawke". Metacritic. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  19. ^ Matheson, Anna (August 21, 2020). "Maya Hawke – 'Blush' review: confident folk-pop debut from the demogorgon-fighting star". The Forty-Five. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  20. ^ Ryan, Patrick (August 20, 2020). "Maya Hawke on debut album, famous parents and dealing with online trolls at 14". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "Blush by Maya Hawke". Apple Music. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
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