The UK has had its fair share of pop sensations over the past several decades. Some of the biggest names that come to mind might be the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Queen, Elton John, or more recently, acts like Ed Sheeran or Harry Styles. Aiming to be the next up, Mae Muller released her debut album, Sorry I’m Late on Sept. 29. The budding London singer is a self-described ‘pop girlie’, but brings her own unique flair to what some might call an overcrowded genre.
The album starts off with a bang in “I Just Came To Dance”. A funk-inspired bassline hits you right in the face, in a welcome way of course. Muller’s album is centered around empowering women, and this first song’s theme is the feeling of being taken advantage of. It’s got a bit more grit than the rest of the songs on the album, and for good reason.
The first single off the album, “I Wrote A Song”, is definitely worthy of note too. The beat feels EDM-inspired, with some little guitar riffs sprinkled in that remind me of a lot of Latin songs I listen to. This song is without a doubt unique, and this extra flair earned her a spot at Eurovision. In March 2023 she got to perform this song live in Liverpool for the competition, which is a moment she cherishes.
“It’s the biggest possible stage anyone can perform on, so if I can do that, I can literally do anything. I learned that I’m a better artist now, and a stronger person,” Muller said. “I knew that I was going to announce my album right after Eurovision, and it reassured me that it was the right thing to do. I wanted to remind people that I am a songwriter.”
Immediately after “I Wrote A Song” comes the next single off the album, “Me, Myself & I”. Muller hammers home the theme of self-love behind a beat that resembles something that Dua Lipa might use. With some grand synths combined with a strumming ukulele in the background, it makes for a great upbeat party song. In the chorus she throws out the names of three boys, and reasons why she can’t stay with any of them. There’s a nonzero chance these could be real names as well. Muller recognizes that she may be too self-aware of how much she shares about her personal life in her music.
“I’m still learning, but I’m a massive oversharer, even in interviews and songs. But I like to be open, and there’s nothing about me I feel like I want to hide,” Muller said. “At the same time, it’s important to have boundaries and to know what’s for me. I try to be as honest and open as possible because if even one person is able to relate to me then that’s a good thing.”
After a couple more songs, Muller slows things down with a quieter song in “MTJL (Maybe That’s Just Life)”. The song is less than two minutes long, and it’s a good pause to take at right around the halfway point of the album. An acoustic guitar is the only voice paired with Muller’s vocals until a piano joins her in the second verse. I think this song is her strongest vocal performance on the album, and I wish she would have thrown another slower song in the mix. In an album full of upbeat bops meant to bring your confidence levels up, “MTJL” says it’s okay to feel like crap every now and then.
Of course we have to talk about “Better Days”. Muller’s biggest hit, hitting number two on the Billboard Top 100, and just recently went platinum in the U.S. The collaboration with Swedish producer NEIKED and American rapper Polo G hit the TikTok gold mine and immediately went viral, effectively putting Muller on the map for many Americans. Muller’s label describes the song as a “funk-influenced song converting love, affection, and trust in a relationship”. To me, there’s no better way to put it. But if I had to add anything, I love the trumpets in the background. This special addition does a great job of differentiating this song on the album, and quite frankly, the rest of her catalog. Her reaction when the song went platinum was one of pure joy, but a lot of shock.
“It was really weird. Obviously as an artist it’s your dream, but to do that in the U.S. as a British artist felt so surreal. I have the plaque on my wall at home. Whenever I’m feeling a bit rubbish or down I look at it and I’m like, ‘You’re that girl’”.
Although it may be a bit awkward for many listeners, I wanted to touch on “Porn Lied To Us”. While the song isn’t anything special in a musical sense with a simple guitar progression, its theme is one that’s rarely touched on. A lot of modern pop music glorifies sex as a way to be cool or dominant for men, but Muller flips this sentiment on its head. This line, “It ain’t a performance // Why do I feel I’m on a stage? // ‘Cos there’s no audience // The mood is gone, but could you stay?” is my favorite because Muller is trying to maintain her sense of self while going through what should be an intimate moment. A song that tries to convey a sense of sexual security is an incredibly rare concept, but Muller hits the bullseye with this one.
Finally, the last song, “Written By A Woman” is a fantastic send-off. The song’s in a minor key which separates it from most of the other songs on the album, but it’s definitely a welcome change. The strings in the background give the song a feeling of grandeur, as Muller pretty much lays out who her ideal man is. Someone in touch with their feminine side, someone kind, someone with, “mystery, Darcy with a bit of Timothée”. For the entirety of Sorry I’m Late, Muller talks about what being a woman means to her. She talks about how she’s not afraid to be independent, but at the same time, wants to be able to have a shoulder to cry on. It’s a feeling that so many people share, regardless of gender, and I think she conveys it well in her final song on the album.
“I’d be lying to you if I told you that I went into the studio today and was like, ‘I’m going to write a song about female empowerment today,’” Muller said.” That’s always what I’m trying to achieve, and I think being a woman in music that just comes naturally. I think finding that strength in vulnerability and being unapologetic about that is so important for people to hear.”
