Maev: Life

Dutch indie band Maev think big on their debut EP Life, serving up a meal of five high mainstream rock songs that are quite tasty. Underneath at all is a clear message: hope, even it is against all odds. Death has come knocking by way cancer and they try to deal with it by turning their worries in grief into music to get away from the unavoidable end.

Though some of it is rather predictable with painting by numbers build-ups, the emotions take it to another level that will touch a nerve with anyone who has been caught in the fray of some seriously bad news from a doctor.

Maev: Better Day

Dutch indie band Maev deliver a melodic rock anthem with their new single Better Day. It sounds instantly familiar, taking cues from Fleetwood Mac in their "Tango in the Night" phase, augmented by a healthy of Nineties mainstream pop sensibilities. Lead singer Nikki Henskens's vocals offer comfort to insecure adolescents who try to fit in, but are also in need of a space where they are not being judged by their peers and grown-ups.

Written by the band's rhythm section, brothers Johan and Bram Brandts, the band have a songwriting team within their ranks that knows how to write a mainstream track that can cross over to the serious music lovers as well. Changes are that guitarist Chiel van Son will seize the opportunity to play a blistering solo when they perform it live.