Gingham is a collection of songs centered around her upbringing, as well as the film that meant so much to her growing up – The Wizard of Oz
Maria called New Orleans home for much of her life, which allowed her to channel its rich cultural history into her own odyssey of an EP. Gingham is an immersion of everything that has made Maria the artist they are today. The dreamlike, extraterrestrial album cover is a perfect indicator of the project’s overall sound.
Gala Maria lures listeners in with the transformational opener “Rabbit Hole Waltz”. It commences with a swirling, old-school cinematic string section, before evolving into a jazzy, captivating slow jam. “Spin me round,” she pleads, as she spins her deeper down the titular rabbit hole. Maria combines the narratives of stories like Oz and Alice and Wonderland, furthering the nostalgic feel of the EP.
The rest of Gingham experiments with a plethora of different sounds and textures, with lead single “Femme Fatality” serving as the laid-back, more straightforward comic relief. “Let me be dead to you,” she begs in a monotone, hushed tone alongside strokes of beachy guitar. Maria’s sonic explorations continue into tracks like “Call It Cosmic,” which expands on the sounds of its predecessors into a disorienting, yet upbeat, hymn. This section of the EP’s “Visual Experience,” portrays a tasteful Maria, smoking from a hookah on a sunset-lit crescent moon.
The playful, yet purposeful, nature of the EP is perhaps at its strongest in the essential “Mardi Gras Beads.” She illuminates the traditions of her childhood home whilst connecting it to her life now, wanting to “fall into [a lover’s] hands” like the nominal necklaces do.
To hear more of Gala Maria’s shimmering new EP, check out Gingham on major streaming platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Cameron Landry is a former journalism student at The George Washington University, and a current writer for Alchemical Records. He’s shared a passion for music journalism for several years, and focused much of his reporting as an undergraduate on how independent music venues have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based in Washington, DC, Cameron can often be found at local concerts (and record stores!) in the district.
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