Maeve Steele – No Control
When I think of the word ‘steel’ I think of strength, or the heat melted from iron. Maeve Steele, an exciting new pop singer/songwriter has a solid foundation and strength in the tempestuous “No Control”. Throwing things back a bit to 90s girl pop, and mixing in dark, mysterious emotions Steele’s track is an impressive follow-up to her previous releases “Real” and “Tourist”. While the song may not turn up the heat in a conventional way, “No Control” will pick up steam.
Unlike fellow peers Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish or even Ariane Grande, I think Steele’s essence is generally less dance pop and more ‘noir’ as she describes it in her official biography. I would agree with that word ‘noir’ and as I sit here contemplating that description it deeply connects. When Steele sings “I’ve been waiting all night” the feeling is that she’s a bit unhinged. She’s not stalking, but she’s hurt.
The subject in the track longs for something and that control of having to see this other person on their terms, and that’s not the case. Scorned lover. An affair. Stood up. Hard to say, but my mind wandered into some bizarre territories while listening to the track. I always appreciate artists that give their fans that connection and that leeway to create their own backstory. There’s something very dark about the song, yet very beautiful. Steele’s song allows those moments of imagination.
At times Steele’s enunciation gets a bit garbled – the same thing happens with Grande – and it’s not necessarily a distraction, it’s that I’m not sure what the lyrics were in some stanzas. No matter – the music bed and the bassline in “No Control” is airy, light. It’s a nice juxtaposition to Steele’s vocals. The beat is solid – a great toe-tapper. It’s electronic and a nice way to jam. My shoulders were moving, too. Still, with the myriad of sound surrounding me, my ears just zoomed into Steele’s magnetic vocals. I could easily hear this song with stand-alone piano keys fused with Steele’s voice or even a faster mix. It would translate well either way.
Steele, who hails from the Bay Area, Calif., definitely brings to the table a fusion of different genres and vibes in “No Control”. I can hear slight influences of psychedelic rock, big time pop influences and her voice is a throwback to Joan Baez meets Ellie Goulding. Steele has this flavor to her voice, a lingering of a worthy artist. Her voice is not abrasive or arresting, but it’s a bit raspy.
Overall, “No Control” is a keeper. Maeve Steele is a prime example of an incredible talent under the radar but will soon be on everyone’s Spotify playlist and beyond. Steele’s vocal delivery is interesting and it’s out of the ordinary.
If I wanted to hear a song that sounded like every-other Ariana Grande song, I would turn on the radio. Indie artists like Steele are worth discovering. I’m marking “No Control” down for one of my favorite 2020 tracks thus far – it’s a hit.
If you enjoyed No Control, check out the official website for Maeve Steele by clicking here. Give her a like on Facebook by clicking here & a follow on Twitter by clicking here.
