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Maiah Wynne — Into the Waves
(Kscope 3077, 2026, CD / 2LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-11-11

Into the Waves Cover art

When this album arrived, my first thought was, “Maiah Wynne… why does that name sound familiar?” It wasn’t long before I realized that she is the lead singer of Envy of None, a band that features Alex Lifeson of Rush. I really enjoy the Envy of None albums, so I was curious what Wynne’s solo album would be like. In some ways, it’s just what I might expect, with the excellent vocals and lyrics she contributes to the band in a more intimate context. But it’s also delightfully surprising, full of wonderful touches in the arrangements that give each song a distinct character. It starts with “Nothing Stays the Same,” an intimate and beautiful song with a smooth bossa-nova-like rhythm on acoustic guitar, a touch of second guitar, and some minimal strings, only bringing in a bit of percussion towards the end. It’s a showcase for her voice, which has a default tone that’s breathy and tender, but is quite capable of more force and an impressive range. “Satellites” introduces a folky violin part and finger-picked guitar, along with subtle keyboards for ambience, and what might be some brass instruments. At this point, you might think you’re in for a tender singer-songwriter album, but “In a Dream” dispels that with a bouncy groove backed by keys and strings. It’s catchy and uplifting without being simplistic — a near-perfect pop song in my book, with all the best qualities that good pop is capable of. Each one of the twelve songs on the album is another facet of a stunning gemstone. It’s also impressive that some of the songs on the album were written when she was as young as 16 (she’s nearing 30 now). One of the most rock-oriented tracks is “False Gods,” which reminds me a bit of Rosalie Cunningham. Into the Waves embraces its artistry in a way that brings together folk, country, and rock without any distinctions. In various places, you’ll hear banjos, dulcimers, and pedal steel guitar, but also synthesizers and electronic percussion, and even experimental touches like sounds recorded underwater. While her name might be new to many readers, she’s been honing her musical skills for many years and is far from a beginner. Into the Waves is powerful evidence that she has both learned her craft well and has meaningful things to say.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Maiah Wynne

More info
http://maiahwynne.lnk.to/Into_The_Waves

 

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