After a series of excellent singles, Maxi Millz finally drops off his long awaited EP ‘Captions‘. Diverse in style and sound, Maxi is influenced by a wide range of genre, fusing a concoction of R&B, Hip Hop, Funk and Jazz. Having spent much of his childhood in America, Maxi has taken in a variety of rich musical cultures, from New York to London. His multifarious experiences, as well as his love for classic artists like Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder, have allowed him to establish a unique and striking tone.

A thematically expansive project, on ‘Captions’ the artist tackles topics ranging from heartbreak, unfathomable passion and personal growth and goals. It’s a condensed look at Maxi as a musician and as a person, with the narration raw and authentic as he croons his way around subtle, fluid and picturesque beats. His sonic vision for the EP was brought to life by a small group of producers, working with the likes of BNYX and Fred Cox to manufacture the cascading and resonant instrumentals.

The opener, ‘Painted Face’ offers up distorted, classic guitar whilst Maxi flows smoothly over the swinging rhythm. The singer is discussing a girl never being satisfied by his love and affection, and the lyrical heartache is mirrored in the vocal delivery and the wistful groove of the beat. The second cut, ‘Burning Ears’, is a more upbeat affair, with staccato, arpeggiated guitar riffs and an electronic drum kit the backdrop for Maxi to flow in a state of buttery anguish, as the subject of the song has pushed him to the point where he had to “stop (myself) breaking windows in the house”.

‘Danny Ocean’, the first single to be released from the project, is next up; an effortlessly smooth and sun kissed R&B jam. Maxi brings effervescent charm and serendipitous energy to the vivid and colourful laidback banger. This is followed by the other pre-released single from the EP, ‘MDNA’ which is a melancholy tinged soulful ballad with some affective guitar melodies, a pitched vocal hook and a steady, nostalgic groove.

The fifth track, ‘Part III’, is a cinematic and kaleidoscopic offering, with rumbling bass and jazzy guitar chords giving the sonic landscape depth and finesse. We hear Maxi exercise his vocal ability on the heartfelt hook, expressing how he and an unnamed lover are stuck going round in circles, frustrated by a lack of clarity and romantic progress. The subsequent offering, ‘Screentime’, delivers catchy vocal flows and a fast paced, imperturbable instrumental.

The ‘Outro’ interlude is a snapshot of mellow serenity; pitched vocals, natural drums and retrospective guitar chords leave the listener desperate for the tune to be longer. The finale ‘SFP’ is a slight change of mood - a dramatic and thought provoking endeavour - contributing an instrumental that is abstract and ambiguous. With echo’d, atmospheric production and vocals marinaded in reverb, it is an engaging interpretation of the R&B ballad.

Speaking on the project, Maxi said:

“The project is about relationships, the highs and lows, the different stages... from the Infatuation filled honeymoon stage to the boring routine that a lot of relationships fall into, I tried to condense all the emotions I have felt in relationships, small and big, into a small project, Captions”

This is an impressive project. Maxi Millz is able to attain a nonchalant magnetism throughout the runtime; keeping the tracks short and concise, never outstaying their rich, vibrant welcome.