In The Beginning (LP) - Maria Deirisarri (Pop) Holy shit. This album is beyond spectacular, showcasing a vocal talent and impeccable production, Maria Deirisarri blew us away with her latest LP “In The Beginning”, and if she doesn’t become a household name something is wrong with the universe. We don’t say this lightly. With a thoughtfully sequenced and diverse collection of timeless ballads and pop/R&B mainstream bangers, Maria stunned us with her talent, musicality and clearly painstaking and meticulous construction of one of our favorite albums of the year. Download this N O W. Let’s dig in.

Now this is the way you introduce your artistry to the world. With ethereal instruments, power driven themes and quirky use of spoken word punches, Maria self describes her work as “lyrical sentiments [that] span across love, fear, and resistance”, culminating in self-discovery. Based in Atlanta, the 17 year old dynamo showcases olympic level lyricism that defies her young age, already winning a Trailblazing Performer accolade from the International SingerSongwriters Association and a second-place finish in Omega’s Got Talent.

The production on “In The Beginning” is top notch, from the heartbreakingly beautiful piano ballads to the punchy pop-rock scorchers and fresh R&B cuts (she even spits some bars). Maria showcases a a versatility that proves that she is more than a pop singer—she is a musician in every sense of the word. One of the many qualities of “In The Beginning” that stood out to us are the surprising turns in instrumental production with specific songs, which made each track incredibly engaging. This is a listen straight through album.

But our favorites have to be the simple guitar numbers which let Maria show off her vocal prowess. With a sound that at times reminded us of Sara Bareilles, and others a touch of Fiona Apple, Maria’s serenades are beautiful, and we must specifically shout out her moments of duet with a male vocalist, whose rich baritone melds seamlessly with Maria’s alto to create honey for the ears.

It’s difficult to pick our favorite tracks because we cannot emphasize enough that they are all equally spectacular. “Te Necesito” is probably our favorite ballad on the album, with heartstring pulling guitar and strings met with Taylors strong and centered performance. We’d love to hear this one live. “Diamond” is also a standout, which feels like the most Top 40 of the tracks. We are particularly in love with the lush harmonies in the backgrounds which sing like a siren song—seductive earcandy. Album closer “Pieces” also shines as a perfect finale—resolute and heartfelt.

We should also point out tracks like “Blindfolded” and “Junctional Rhythm”, where Maria ventures into pop rock. The latter’s production makes this another Top 40 track, incorporating an almost country flavor, with a distorted delay on the vocal that elevates the track without overproducing Maria’s voice. Interlude (we assume) “Freedom” also stuck with us for its haunting beauty, reminding us a lot of Adele’s recent work (elements of this carry through to the aforementioned “Diamond”).

We celebrate Maria Deirisarri’s masterpiece that is “In The Beginning” and bow to an artist destined for stardom. Hats off to you, Maria, and we look forward to watching you ascend.