HART TO HART

( 2018 )

Information

Maya Hart's first studio album, two #1 hits, double platinum.

Track Listing

"Hope For Suckers" || 3:24 || Released as Single || Lyrics by Maya Hart. The upbeat, punchy bop that put her on the map. Focus on how hope is a concept that anyone will buy into if they're desperate enough. Dark lyrics hidden within an upbeat sound.

TRIVIA: When interviewed about the source of inspiration for the song, Maya admits that it's a dated way of thinking she used to subscribe to herself. "Being jaded and bitter, painting myself as somehow superior by not falling for the trope of hope made me feel better about how things were going. Overall, I realized how truly draining that kind of thinking is. So while this became kind of a bop, it's at the start of the album so that I can show how we're going to overcome that negative thinking. By the end of the album, we're going to come out on the other side."

"Hurricane" || 3:41 || Lyrics by Maya Hart. Pop rock with an angry undertone. Maya plays guitar. Lyrics that tackle the hurt she stills feels over her absent father, although it's never outright stated who the song is about.

TRIVIA: To this day, Maya still refuses to state what the song is actually about, although many music pundits have compiled evidence to predict it's about her father. Although notably quiet about her daughter's fame, her mother Katy often states this is one of her favorite songs due to its "feeling of truth."

"Bay Window" || 3:05 || Lyrics by Jexica. A softer, sweeter pop ballad. Maya plays piano. A focus on finding a safe place where you can always go back to, where words are easy and feelings don't feel so terrifying.

TRIVIA: Written about the safe place Maya used to have with Riley when they were younger. Quickly became one of the most popular songs on the album for it's authentic simplicity.

"Beanie" || 3:33 || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A cute, quirky bop about falling in love with a boy. Nothing more or less complex about it. As Riley knows, the song is actually about her uncle, Josh Matthews, a musical pundit and reviewer who is known for wearing beanies.

TRIVIA: Although asked about it multiple times over the years since it's release, Josh has vehemently denied he believes the song is about him. It's unclear whether he actually knows, considering their relationship, or if he's just very good at playing dumb for people he doesn't want in his business.

"See What U Know" || 2:58 || Lyrics by Maya Hart and Jexica. A flirty, upbeat pop track. All about teasing a guy to get his attention, and seeing what he actually knows about you.

TRIVIA: The use of the single letter "u" rather than the proper spelling was a record company decision, one that Maya had that compromise on in return for getting to keep the song Upstate on her first album. The market was attempting to spin her as a ditzy pop diva from the start, but she from the get-go wanted her tracks to have a little bit of meat to all of them. Understandably, this is one of her least favorite tracks.

"Not My Type" || 4:14 || Lyrics by Lucas Friar. A harsh, erratic pop piece with a heavy drum line. One of the first collaborations between Mad Dogs and Maya, only in this case it's simply the lyrics being shared. The studio arranged the deal. Lyrical focus evident from the title.

TRIVIA: Much fandom debate has gone into the origin and meaning behind this song. Fans of the idea of Lucas and Maya love to insinuate that it's a deeply important song to the two of them, that it hints at the fact that the only person that is their type is each other. They use the heavy drum line (a Lucas staple) to emphasize this. On the flip side, other fans point out that this was purely a studio arrangement and that Lucas and Maya didn't even meet until a couple weeks after the song was recorded. Fans of Maya with Zay or Josh like to point out that the song is clearly titled NOT My Type, indicating that from the get-go Lucas and Maya knew they weren't for each other. Maya and Lucas adamantly avoid comment on the song.

"Turn Gold" || 3:38 || Lyrics by Jexica. A break from the pop sound with a soft, acoustic vibe. Maya plays ukulele. Focus on the beauty in simple things, like a sunset and your closest friends.

TRIVIA: Aside from the profound, moving show-stopper Upstate, Riley has been quoted as stating this track is her favorite one on the album. In an interview with Josh Matthews after Maya's third album, Wholehartedly, she explained, "Turn Gold was a track that sort of came out a casual conversation between the two of us while Maya was working on her art-another talent of hers. It just struck something in me, and that serendipity coupled with the simple sound of the arrangement just makes it a fond favorite for me. It's lovely."

"Mayaville" || 5:17 || Chart-Topper || Released as Single || Lyrics by Maya Hart. Made for the party scene, the track relies heavily on the dance beat that carries throughout. Minimal lyrics. A concert favorite, as Maya gets to show off her dance skills. Later remixed as a single. One of two number one hits.

TRIVIA: Her most ambitious project on the album, Mayaville was a gleam in Maya's eye long before the album started production. A fan of the dance scene, she wanted a song that would be the perfect dance jam and allow her to experiment a little bit with sound. As the album was finishing up production, she met the boys of Mad Dogs and hit it off with Farkle. He, an aspiring producer, helped her tweak the final product into what it is today.

"Walk Me Home (Not A Crush)" || 4:22 || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A funky, sultry pop track. Lyrical focus on the great things Maya knows about her current crush at the time, and how you know when your feelings may be more than just affection.

TRIVIA: The second song on her album about Josh Matthews. The studio was hesitant about the song due to the somewhat suggestive nature of the sound and some of the lyrics, but she managed to negotiate her way into including it, under the agreement that it was stuck before the also more-mature Upstate.

"Upstate" || 3:47 || Chart-Topper || Released as Single || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A quiet, simple piano ballad. Often referred to as the heart of the album. The lyrics share the feeling of having a place where everything seems to be waiting, but being too scared to go and take a chance on it. Ultimately about how the fear of failure stops you from playing the game. An introspective, personal track. One of two number one hits.

TRIVIA: Chronicles the experiences she faced in deciding whether she was brave enough to pursue her singing dream or not. She had many conversations with her family friend Shawn Hunter, who lives in upstate New York-hence the seemingly unrelated title to the song-and he ultimately helped convince her to give it a go. When performing the song in concert to uproarious fanfare, she often dedicates the song to "her strength from back home"-Riley, her mother, and Shawn.

"Still My Voice" || 4:56 || Lyrics by Maya Hart and Jexica. A soulful, powerhouse ballad with synth backing. A jaw-dropping track where Maya really shows off her vocal ability. Lyrical focus on not letting the world tell you who you are. Stunning when performed live.

TRIVIA: The first song that made critics really consider a vocal contender in the big leagues. When performed live, it's even more impressive without the produced synth-sound that the production added to it. Often a show closer, followed by an encore of a song from a later album. Even in her later tours, she always comes back to this personal and fan favorite.

"Thunder, Lightning, Done" || 3:23 || Lyrics by Jexica. A punchy, pop rock sound. Maya plays guitar and belts her way to the end. Her laughter is the last thing before the album ends.

TRIVIA: The idea to add the laughter to book-end the entire album was Riley's. She said it would emphasize the feeling of the journey to happiness started on Hope For Suckers, and Maya completely agreed.