THEORY OF EVOLUTION
( 2019 )
Information
Maya Hart's second studio album, four #1 hits, triple platinum. An impressive album that highlights her growth from simple pop artist to something greater and more complex. The album that really kickstarts her international stardom. Followed with the Theory to Hart Tour.
Track Listing
"Pluto" || 3:17 || Lyrics by Maya Hart & Jexica. An upbeat, bouncy bop. Opens with a rocket launch countdown, with a woman voice's declaring "Houston, we have lift off," before launching into the hypnotic bass line. Lyrical focus on not letting anyone take you off the map, and having belief in something no matter what anybody else says.
TRIVIA: The mysterious female voice that declares lift-off is actually Topanga Lawrence, Riley's mother and somewhat of a second mother to Maya. She wanted to feature her on the album in some way, and when mixing this track it became abundantly clear that she would fit perfectly.
"Monkey Business" || 3:10 || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A goofy, grungy pop ballad that's all about acting a fool to impress the guy or girl you're crushing on.
TRIVIA: In interviews, Maya has admitted being somewhat embarrassed by the track. This is due in part to the idea developing as a dare of sorts, joking around with Josh Matthews. He claimed she would never make it into an actual song, which she absolutely could not let happen. "It's a lot of fun, that's definitely true, but it's just so silly. But whatever, I did what I said I would do. Always follow through, kiddos."
"Heart of Gold" || 1:46 || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A quick, soft ukulele riff that transitions tracks. Simplistic lyrics about working towards a heart of gold and going through life always with the best intentions.
TRIVIA: Although brief, the track is one of Maya's most popular from the album amongst fans. It's also one of the easiest ones to learn and perform on your own with a very simple chord structure.
"Blonde Beauty" || 3:37 || Chart-Topper || Released as Single || Lyrics by Lucas Friar. Marking the first true collaboration between Mad Dogs and Maya Hart, the record label commissioned Lucas to write a single for their new bombshell solo act. The track is upbeat and empowering, Maya adding a bit of a saucy touch in mixing. Lyrical focus on being a badass and taking the world by storm - i.e., Maya Hart is a certified force to be reckoned with.
TRIVIA: This early collaboration between Maya and members of Mad Dogs starts a successful and sacred partnership between the two artists. Preluding Mad Dogs' comeback album, the band releases the track with Maya featured as a single, only with a heavier band sound. Along with the musical partnership, a deep friendship forms between them. Zay Babineaux goes on to be featured at least once every album Maya makes, with Lucas penning most of their duets.
"War Paint" || 3:33 || Chart-Topper || Released as Single || Lyrics by Maya Hart. Following the self-confidence kick of the previous track, this call-to-arms anthem sports a heavier rock sound than presented on the album thus far. Emulating the guitar and vocal balance of early Paramore, Maya encourages her listeners to put on their war paint and face whatever is currently holding them back. The track fizzles out towards the end, setting up a transition into the next track.
TRIVIA: Acknowledging the similar sound to Paramore, Maya considers the piece an homage to Hayley Williams and the band that got her through some tough times in her early adolescence. "Hayley has always been a huge idol of mine, and in some ways it's an honor to be compared to her in a track like this. Considering Paramore was one of those bands that always made me feel like I could face the hard stuff, my anthem for that feeling being comparable to them is a huge compliment."
"Not Your Fault" || 2:52 || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A softer, acoustic piano ballad. Following the fizzling out of the previous track, frequency static transitions between the two, before Maya opens the piece with what sounds like a found footage conversation between her and a man. She states, "I just can't, I can't forgive him yet. I'm not ready." The man follows up with "Have you forgiven yourself?" From there, the piano begins.
TRIVIA: The lyrical focus is a sharply personal place for Maya, centering on grappling with people leaving you behind and not understanding why. It's ultimately a track of acceptance, realizing that it's time to forgive yourself for things that were out of your control. The man featured on the track is Cory Matthews, Riley's father and essentially Maya's father as well. Maya had doubts about including the track on the album due to its personal nature, but ultimately opted to do the thing that scares her and go for it.
"Lollipop" || 2:29 || Released as Single || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A techno, catchy bop with a rather important lyrical message. Coated underneath the sugar-sweet sound, Maya rails against the industry for its sexism and casual condescension to young female artists. The closing line of the chorus says it all: "I'm a lot of things, but I ain't lollipop."
TRIVIA: Inspiration for the song came from a conversation with Riley in which Maya was venting about all the pet names she gets casually called throughout the day, even ones as ridiculous as "lollipop." The chorus phrase was coined, and from there both girls knew a song had to be penned.
"Hollyworld" || 4:34 || Chart-Topper || Lyrics by Maya Hart & Jexica. A mystical, raunchy synth bop with a heavy dance beat. Lyrical focus on the realities of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, how everything can feel 2D and lack substance. A track co-created in part by Farkle Minkus, who contributed to the content, sound, and later music video concept. He is credited as a producer on the track.
TRIVIA: The music video for the track features Mad Dogs, always being seen through different frames that don't allow you to see them fully - mirrors, shattered glass, half-closed windows, etc. A dazzling, mystifying experiment with video for both performing artists.
"Forgiveness" || 3:11 || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A quiet, turbulent track with frequent guitar and bass solos battling throughout. The piece seems to operate in two veins, one siding with the guitar with lyrics about how hard it is to offer forgiveness to someone who has wronged you, while the counter point follows the heavy bass line and muses over how it feels to be desperately hoping for forgiveness from a loved one. The disparate sounds and messages clash in a way that is both distracting and intriguing all at once, mirroring the actual mood of both feelings.
TRIVIA: There is much speculation over whether the song is about Farkle Minkus. While the guitar-heavy to-forgive-or-not-forgive bits feel self-pitying and don't paint the former boyfriend in a very good light, it's the bass-heavy second interlude musing over needing forgiveness that gives weight to the overall piece as Maya grapples with both withholding and needing it. Fans theorize that the piece is a reflection over their break-up although the split was amicable, the first part being penned during the break-up and the second afterwards when the dust had settled. It's obvious whatever ill feelings are described in the piece have resolved, as Farkle is a known contributer to the production of the track despite not being credited.
"Safe Place" || 3:02 || Lyrics by Jexica. A soft, acoustic guitar balled. Aims to describe the feeling of knowing where your safe space is, notably within treasured people like your best friend. As the piece comes to an end, Maya continues to riff on the guitar while reciting one of her favorite quotes about friendship.
TRIVIA: Although Maya has many important people in her life who contributed to the inspiration for the song, it's undeniably known that the muse of the piece is Riley Matthews. Considering she penned the lyrics, it's a safe bet to say the feeling is mutual.
"The Long Game" || 5:42|| Chart-Topper || Lyrics by Maya Hart. A simplistic, limited production track that highlights Maya's incredible vocal skills. Lyrical focus on not rushing into a good thing, knowing when to wait things out and cherish the important moments as something develops - whether that be her friendships, her possible romances, her career. She aims to cherish each moment for what it's worth, because life is a long game. Starts soft before building into swells of emotion and vocal tricks, allowing Maya to belt her best and hold nothing back on the closing piece to the album. As the song comes to an end, there's about ten seconds of silence before Maya launches into a haunting a capella rendition of the children's rhyme Pop! Goes the Weasel.
TRIVIA: The nursery rhyme ending has enraptured fans, attempting to parse out why it was included in the final version of the album. Fans of Maya's relationship with Josh Matthews speculate it has to do with him, rehashing her somewhat silly chasing of him early in her career along with the inclusion of Monkey Business. It's also a track he would appreciate picking apart in his reviewing. On the other hand, people attribute the strange ending to Farkle, pointing to his influence on other tracks and how he would pull a similar stunt of throwing something onto the end of an album just to keep people talking. Overall, Maya has not helped end the debate. All she's said on the matter is that the nursery rhyme was one of her favorites as a child, leaving it at that.
