Virtually famous: mxmtoon

Insular: mxmtoon
David Smyth27 March 2020

Californian singer-songwriter mxmtoon put her latest song and its accompanying video online on March 12. As each individual’s world becomes ever more insular, it’s becoming more relevant daily.

It’s called Quiet Motions, a simply plucked acoustic charmer with a chorus that begins: “Isn’t it nice to be all by yourself?” The video shows her doing nothing more exciting than getting up and slowly beginning her day – slippers, tea, a handwash (though not the obligatory 20 seconds) followed by settling down with a good book. At no point does she venture outside or go within six feet of another person.

Like Clairo, Beabadoobee and Cavetown before her, she’s a bedroom pop artist who isn’t going to find it hard to stay at home and be creative. She retains some privacy by going just by her first name, Maia, or her internet username, which is pronounced M-X-M-Toon. Otherwise she’s an open book, becoming popular with chatty YouTube videos before she started putting out ukulele-led original music.

On an album last year, The Masquerade, she headed towards a full band sound, but she might be at her best working alone, singing in your ear. It feels right just now.

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