When I first got TikTok in September/October 2018, mxmtoon (pronounced em-ex-em-toon) was one of the first users I followed. Her videos were funny and she seemed like the type of person I would be friends with. When I learned that she was also a singer-songwriter, I knew that my follow was there to stay.

Maia, also known as mxmtoon, released her debut album the masquerade on Sep. 17th, after an EP and numerous singles. I was so excited to listen to this album and I wasn’t disappointed. Not only did I like her music, but mxmtoon was different from the other artists I liked. She was on TikTok, which meant that I saw her face more often and because of that, she seemed more real than other artists. She was a teenage girl just like me, who felt everything from happiness to anxiety to loss and was able to encompass that in her music.

the masquerade is a satisfying representation of what it’s like to be a teenager. mxmtoon covers everything from going to therapy to growing up. While her songs aren’t the kind played at homecoming, they’re the ones that you listen to while you’re studying or driving home at sunset. I would describe her style as a bedroom pop, almost coffeehouse sort. All in all, her music is the kind you’d hear in a coming of age film.

My favorite song on this album is “untitled.” The first time I heard this song, I instantly loved it. It’s real and the more you listen to the lyrics the more you want to hear it again. mxmtoon starts the song with a somber tone, with lyrics like “I just feel all alone”, but then progresses to a accepting, heartwarming one, singing that “I’ll make it through”.

What stood out to me is that every song on the album had an acoustic counterpart. This gave the album an appreciated, more personal touch. I feel like I can listen to any song on the masquerade, love it and enjoy it on another level thanks to this.

Like I said before, the reason why mxmtoon stands out from other artists is her social media presence. Similar to other artists, she promotes her music on her social media, but thanks to her TikTok, fans get to see her day-to-day adventures as they would a friend. I’d say that seeing her in that position makes me enjoy her music even more; I know that her work is not just something written to make money, it’s something that she put lots of work into and truly reflects her feelings.

Despite only being 19, mxmtoon has created a name for herself in the music industry. She brings a friendly face to her music through her social media and expresses herself in a way that is genuine and engaging. She’s currently on tour, with most of the shows being sold out, but I can’t wait to see what she does next.