Melissa Mary Ahern – Maria, Maria

Melissa Mary Ahern first garnered attention with her appearance on Doveman’s mix of Sufjan Stevens’s Christmas rarity ‘Lonely Man of Winter’. Released last winter on Asthmatic Kitty Records. The track introduced the voice of the Brooklyn-based songwriter, somehow both delicate and weathered, the sincerity of the track cut by a certain rasp in their sound.

Although being part of musical scenes in both New York and Berlin, it is only now that Melissa Mary Ahern is formally releasing her own music. After a collaboration with Doveman back in 2018, two singles emerged that showed different sides to Ahearn’s talents. The slow drift of ‘World of Wonder’ played as a sunset reflection, memories cast with a new fondness in the golden light, while ‘Next To You’ injected a soulful pop edge. Shaking around wordless hums and finger-clicked rhythm, the track hinted at a moody edge, memories with the claws left on.

Today sees the release of a brand new single. If the Doveman collaboration led to cool contemporary tracks, then the new song is altogether more timeless. A love ballad revolving around the titular character, ‘Maria, Maria’ is carved out of the folk tradition, its earthy tones owing as much to the landscape as the love in question. There are hints of Angel Olsen and Adrianne Lenker’s solo writing in the song’s disarming simplicity—the plucked guitar and ambling percussion supporting a warm croon, leading to something barefoot and intimate.

You can find Melissa Mary Ahern on Spotify and Instagram.