Maya Elise & The Good Dream

Today, Berkeley folk artist Maya Elise premieres her newest song, “Side of the Road.” The track tells the story of a summer road trip, which makes it especially fitting that it’s perfect for singing along with. In the first verse, as Maya describes all the people she is picking up along the way, her rich vocals fill every crack between guitar and drums with a friendly warmth. Though she gives us only a few details on each person she meets, you can almost see each of their faces: the woman in Portland making jasmine tea, the Washington man she learned to trust, the brave woman from Alabama, and the South Dakota man looking for a home all look somewhat familiar. The song gradually builds to a transcendent scene in which the car full of new friends go skinny-dipping in the Atlantic Ocean, perhaps the ultimate symbol of the trust they have built along the way. On “Side of the Road,” Maya reminds us that making friends doesn’t have to be as complicated or awkward as we often make it out to be. Sometimes all it takes is two people going in the same direction and choosing to not be alone. The rest, perhaps, will figure itself out. — Karl Snyder on January 31, 2020 - The Wild Honey Pie

Happy Earth Day from Grey Matter! To honor the day that deserves daily celebration, we’re excited to premiere the very germane, earth-supporting track, “Mycelium,” from the talented Maya Elise. Maya’s an Oakland-based folk singer who regularly invokes the power of nature in her songwriting. Her music reflects the growing importance of giving trees — and the networks that connect them — our attention and our care. In this moment of shared isolation, time spent reflecting on our earth is time well spent. - Grey Matter

"A rousing ode to intimate connection, “Mailman” is a gentle giant of country-folk beauty." - Atwood Magazine