Give up, be loved: Maya Hawke’s “Chaos Angel” has arrived
Words by Julia Norton
In her latest album Chaos Angel, multidisciplinary artist Maya Hawke uses her distinctive storytelling talent to share her perspective on the erratic nature of love. Hawke pulls from her own experiences to tell a vulnerable story of an angel placed on Earth to love, only to find herself leaving behind a path of destruction and an explosion of big feelings. By using the “Chaos Angel" as a character to convey her own self consciousness in life and love, Hawke introspectively narrates a story about how the act of loving is not always happy and far from perfect. The songs on the record explore themes of codependency, zooming in and out of the grand scheme of our existence, making and breaking promises, and how easily anxious people fall into thought spirals, all through the lens of someone who is learning how to use their big heart.
“Missing Out” was the first single released ahead of the album earlier this year, an upbeat track that Maya Hawke is straightforward with in her lyricism. One of my favorite lines in the album is from the second verse in this track, “I was born with my foot in the door / And my mind in the gutter and my guts on the floor”. She recognizes the privilege that comes with being born into the industry with connections, but also her lack of privacy growing up in the public eye while simultaneously trying to figure out who she is as a person. Hawke is an artist that does not believe in conformity to industry standards, as suggested through the track “Big Idea”. In this song, Hawke takes a look at her own simple pleasures in comparison to what we are told to believe in, especially when the focus is pessimistic about our future. The line “I saw the best minds of my generation / Dismantle the system only to replace it” directly addresses the concept of history repeating itself no matter how hard we try to change the world we live in. “Dark” is another standout track that feels like a lullaby, especially with Hawke’s soothing voice sharing the struggles of insomnia as an overthinker. While the lyrics are viewed as self critical, the album takes a gentle approach to owning up to your mistakes and a desire to change for the better, leaving us with a feeling of hope through Hawke’s words.
The indie folk album as described by Maya Hawke is about breaking out of cyclical habits that have grown to be unhealthy and embracing a change in behavior. If you are familiar with Hawke’s work as a songwriter, you may know about her unique writing style in the lyrics of her songs. She uses devices such as repetition and imagery heavily in her music, inviting the listener to see the visions she paints in her mind while hearing what she has to say with her sound. Hawke also likes to weave the lyricism of her songs throughout the album, leaving traces of ideas that expand through the record in multiple tracks. These techniques in Chaos Angel create a structurally and thematically cohesive album, something that I admire about Maya Hawke’s artistry. In collaboration with her close knit group of musicians, including Will Graefe and Christian Lee Hutson, Hawke once again succeeds with her ability to use repetitive lyrics, cords, and images to convey her desired message.
Repetition in Chaos Angel feels like affirmations the narrator is saying to herself, keeping her stuck in the circular thought patterns despite her self awareness to want to grow into a more emotionally mature person. In the opening track “Black Ice”, the song ends with the repetition of the lyrics “give up, be loved” by a small chorus of voices lent by some of Maya Hawke’s closest friends and collaborators. With this as the first major takeaway of the album, Hawke expresses the idea of giving into the desire to love and accept the love of others. “Okay” is the next track to use heavy repetition, with the lyric “If you’re okay, then I’m okay” making up most of the song. On the page the song’s structure suggests simplicity, but the meaning and use of the repeated words shares the anxious thought pattern of someone in a codependent relationship. The narrator only feels okay when their partner is okay, completely disregarding their own feelings in the relationship and becoming reliant on their partner’s happiness. The album ends with one final set of extensive repetition in “Chaos Angel”, but it is a bit more disorganized than the previous lyrical patterns. The chaotic nature of the angel’s love and her final thought spiral is delivered through a lyrical hurricane of “I want you, I love you / I promise, I’m sorry”. Throughout the album, the narrator expresses how deeply she wants to be with her partner despite her own insecurities, and how most promises are made only to be broken. This track has grown to be one of my personal favorite songs by Maya Hawke, and even introduces the titular “Chaos Angel” in the final bridge:
“You struck the chaos angel, aiming for a lost balloon / She was perched upon the lamppost, singing in an old ruin / My darling is always comin’, my darling is leavin’ soon / You’re absolutely loved, absolutely free”
I have been listening to Maya Hawke’s music since the release of her first single in 2019, and it is clear that she finds comfort in her creation through how passionate she is about her art . Her sophomore album Moss became one of my comforts during my college experience, as I played the record in full at least once a day throughout the semester it was released. Something about her sound and the message of her thoughtful lyricism validates the female experience of having big feelings and wanting to be understood flaws and all, while also empowering growth and finding your inner strength. I even met Maya after one of her shows back in early 2020 where she performed songs from what later became her debut album Blush, and I remember how genuine she was when we briefly conversed about her work as an actor and musician. Hawke is determined to make music in her own way, and her authentic individuality is what drew me in and made her an artist I look up to.
I could go on about the depth of intention Maya Hawke put into this album and all of her music in general, but I will leave you to discover the whimsy of her work on your own. If you are just finding out that Hawke releases music, be sure to check out Blush and Moss in addition to the newly released Chaos Angel (some of my favorite older tracks include “Bloomed Into Blue”, “Over”, and “By Myself”). Maya Hawke’s music is available for listening on all streaming platforms.
