Recording with GarageBand in her parents' guest bedroom, creating percussion tracks with hair straighteners, Maia began self-releasing songs on YouTube as "mxmtoon" in 2017. After initially attempting to write comedy songs, she began writing songs that embodied her emotions such as "feelings are fatal", which only required a USB microphone and GarageBand. The song currently has over 23 million streams on Spotify. Her 2017 collaboration with Japanese lo-fi producer peachy!, "Falling for U", reached nearly 40 million streams on Spotify by June 2019. Maia began secretly releasing music to the public, but was later compelled to tell her friends and family after experiencing viral success online. In 2018, Maia released her debut EP, plum blossom, which was reviewed by Earmilk, i-D and Hypebeast, and gained more than 100 million streams on Spotify by August 2019. The EP's single "i feel like chet" is a tribute to one of her favorite jazz musicians, Chet Baker.
After high school, Maia took a "gap year" by postponing college to focus on her music. She was planning to study architecture after graduating high school, until her music went viral in April 2018. In November 2018, she announced her "plum blossom tour". Her first tour, initially scheduled for five US shows with fellow Californian singer-songwriter khai dreams in March 2019, sold out, and was extended to include additional concerts in North America and Europe, including opening appearances for bedroom pop YouTuber Cavetown in the United Kingdom. Maia made her first appearance on a billboard in Times Square when Spotify advertised her single "dream of you" for their New Music Friday playlist.
Prior to the release of the masquerade, Spotify announced the release of 21 Days, a music podcast that follows Maia while she works on the album in New York City. Liz Gateley of Spotify praised Maia's online following as well as her social presence, stating that "She obviously has lots of followers already, but that's not enough. The person had to be the right human too, and we felt she had both." The podcast is an eight-episode audio diary that includes interviews with family, friends and collaborators, including the album's producer Cavetown.
Maia's debut studio album the masquerade was released on September 17, 2019. The album peaked at 17 on the US Heatseekers Chart and at 45 on the US Indie Albums Chart. It features "prom dress", a "light and peachy tune" described as "relatable, infectious hook-led pop that speaks to millennials". The single is inspired by experiences from her own big night and deals with social anxiety and the problems that come with being a teen in modern society. The song has been streamed over 30 million times on Spotify, and has been used in 100,000 videos on TikTok. Maia's back catalogue of songs have also received tens of millions of online streams.
Joshua Bote of Paste described the ten-track album as "comforting twee-pop that wrings out genuine pathos from mxmtoon’s internet celebrity". Matt Yuyitung of Exclaim! wrote "[Maia] brings her wry sense of humour and diary-entry lyricism to her debut record, recalling the lo-fi relatability of Frankie Cosmos."
Maia embarked on her sold out "the masquerade Tour" of North America and United Kingdom in September 2019. She released her first graphic novel "The Adventures Of Mxmtoon: The Masquerade" in October 2019. Kirsten Spruch from Billboard wrote, "The novel seamlessly pairs with the album, encapsulating her introverted, teenage tendencies and free-flowing creativity." Gabe Bergado from Teen Vogue described the book "a captivating, charming visual journey that complements the dreamy album." She released an accompanying animated short film for the graphic novel in November 2019.
In November 2019, Maia announced via Twitter that she would be joining American singer-songwriter Lauv for his 2020 summer tour of Asia supporting his album how i'm feeling.
On November 19, 2019, Kobalt Music Group announced that they would be signing mxmtoon to their label under a global publishing deal. This deal will include administration and creative support for current music catalogue and future works. Creative Vice-President at Kobalt, Melissa Emert-Hutner, stated "Maia is truly the voice of her generation; by sharing her beautiful, heartfelt music with the world and growing her brand organically, she exemplifies the DIY spirit and aesthetic that Kobalt embraces." Emily Bines, a senior creative director at Kobalt added "Mxmtoon is exactly the type of forward-thinking creative that we dream about working with at Kobalt. Her vision, matched with her team’s passion to bring it to fruition is unwavering. We will be hearing from Maia for a long time to come."
Maia released the masquerade (the edits) on November 22, 2019. The EP features remixes from songs on the masquerade from names like Chloe Lilac, Alexander 23 and Chloe Moriondo. In November 2019, Dork put Maia on their Hype List of 2020, alongside names like girl in red, Beabadoobee and Maisie Peters.
In December 2019, Maia re-recorded the song "prom dress" in Simlish, the fictional language used in The Sims games, to help promotion. The Simlish version was added to The Sims 4 on December 12, 2019. Maia reacted on Twitter with "countless hours of playing the sims has helped me become fluent in simlish... and guess what?? prom dress was just added to #thesims4 today!" A week later Maia released the music video for "unspoken words", which revolves around her Chinese-American upbringing as well as her relationship with her Chinese grandmother.
Maia released her first single of 2020, "Fever Dream" in January 2020.
Hong Kong
mxmtoon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Line the skyline with much power
Yellow cars and smoggy skies
With neon lights that attract your eyes
Hong kong is moving around you
You can't help but stand there in awe
Hong kong is moving without you
A home away from home
Yet oh so far away
Been years since I've been back
And my memories will slowly fade away
My memories will slowly fade away
Late nights were alright
And dim sum was always fun
Big family with too much food
Oh just eat more and don't be rude
Your family is living without you
All the way across the sea
Your family is moving without you
No matter how much you plea
A home away from home
Yet oh so far away
Been years since i've been back
And my memories will slowly fade away
My memories will slowly fade away
I don't know when i'll be back
It feels like i'm losing track of time
My memories they feel so vivid
Yet so much time has passed
You're missing a piece of yourself
Ou left it behind you there
You're missing a piece of yourself
Don't it feel so unfair
That your family is living without you
All the way across the sea
Your family is moving without you
No matter how much you plea
Maybe one day you'll see
Then again
Maybe one day you'll see
In "Hong Kong," mxmtoon sings about the feelings of longing and displacement that arise when living away from one's family and hometown. The imagery used in the song is of Hong Kong, a city with a distinctive skyline made up of red brick and bamboo towers, yellow cars, and neon lights. The lyrics describe the awe-inspiring effect this skyline has on the singer, who feels like an outsider looking in. However, the city is always moving without her, and her memories of it gradually fade over time.
The second verse of the song talks about the joys of being with family, eating too much food and enjoying late nights and dim sum. But the singer is sad because her family is living without her, all the way across the sea. She feels like she has left a piece of herself in a place she can no longer return to. The last verse expresses the uncertain hope that, maybe one day, she will return.
The song evokes a powerful sense of homesickness, even for those who have never been to Hong Kong. It touches on the universal experience of feeling disconnected from one's roots when living far away from family and friends. Mxmtoon's intimate and relatable lyrics allow listeners to connect with their own emotions around the theme of homesickness and cultural displacement.
Line by Line Meaning
Red brick and bamboo towers
Hong Kong's architecture is characterized by red brick and bamboo structures that tower high into the skyline.
Line the skyline with much power
These structures give Hong Kong its dynamic energy and overwhelming presence.
Yellow cars and smoggy skies
Hong Kong's crowded streets are full of yellow taxicabs and polluted skies.
With neon lights that attract your eyes
These lights highlight the city's bright and vibrant culture.
Hong Kong is moving around you
The city's non-stop hustle and bustle creates a feeling of energy, excitement, and movement.
You can't help but stand there in awe
Despite feeling overwhelmed, it's hard not to be impressed by the city's grandeur.
Hong Kong is moving without you
The city is always changing and evolving, even if you're not there to witness it.
But you can't help and drop your jaw
The city's magnificence is always arresting, even if you've seen it before.
A home away from home
Hong Kong can feel like a second home, despite being far away from your actual home.
Yet oh so far away
Despite the familiarity, the distance from home and loved ones can be painful.
Been years since I've been back
It's been a long time since the singer returned to Hong Kong.
And my memories will slowly fade away
Despite the memories, the passage of time can cause them to dim and become less vivid.
Late nights were alright
The night-life and parties were enjoyable and fun.
And dim sum was always fun
The food and family gatherings were treasured experiences.
Big family with too much food
Family gatherings were always characterized by abundance, love, and food.
Oh just eat more and don't be rude
The family culture of generosity was always present, even when it came to food.
Your family is living without you
Being far away from family can be difficult, knowing they're existing and thriving without you.
All the way across the sea
The distance between the singer and her family is vast, making the ache of absence palpable.
No matter how much you plea
Despite the longing, the singer cannot magically be with her family whenever she wishes.
I don't know when I'll be back
The uncertainty of being able to return to Hong Kong is difficult and painful.
It feels like I'm losing track of time
Time changes the way we experience memories and life events, and the singer feels that distancing pain.
My memories they feel so vivid
Despite the passage of time, the singer's memories are clear and bright in her mind.
Yet so much time has passed
Despite the clarity of memories, the singer knows that they're from a time long gone.
You're missing a piece of yourself
Being away from family and childhood places can feel like part of yourself is missing.
You left it behind you there
Despite the homesickness, the singer knows that she had to move forward, leaving part of herself behind.
Don't it feel so unfair
The feeling of loss and distance can be overwhelming, unjust, and cruel.
Maybe one day you'll see
The singer hopes she can return to Hong Kong and reunite with the city and family she loves.
Then again
But the uncertainty and distance remains an ever-present challenge for her.
Maybe one day you'll see
The hope for reconnection and homecoming is a constant source of longing and sadness for the singer.
Writer(s): Maia Xiao-en Moredock-ting
Contributed by Liam G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
el
For me, this song isn't just about Asian American roots. For me, this song is about growing up and moving out and how it's hard to leave something.. ill give almost all the lyrics all meanings so it'll make sense for what I'm going to say.
Red brick and bamboo towers
Line the skyline with much power
Yellow cars and smoggy skies
With neon lights that attract your eyes
These lines remind me of an average childhood. "Neon lights that attract your eyes" like bright toys, and "Yellow cars" sounds like a toy car...
Hong Kong is moving around you
You can't help but stand there in awe
Hong Kong is moving without you
But you can't help and drop your jaw
For me, hong kong is like growing up. I feel like. some people, like age 12 want to be 16, and 16 wants to be 18 and 18 wants to be 21, and 21 wants to be 21.. growing up is a fear for a lot of people...
A home away from home
Yet oh so far away
Been years since I've been back
And my memories will slowly fade away
My memories will slowly fade away
"A home away from home" once you move out, you'll get used to it. but it doesn't feel like home. you miss your siblings, your parents, your friends, and possibly your pets.
"Yet oh so far away" it feels like, you'll never see them again because you're so far away, and you're scared.
"been years since I've been back" it could have been years or one week. Either way, it feels like you've spent a lifetime away from them. "And my memories will slowly fade away, my memories will slowly, fade away. " these lyrics really hurt. When you're older your memories fade away. You miss when you were a child and everything was normal. You can't always remember when your room was hot pink and you had friends over with all your dolls.
Your family is living without you
All the way across the sea
Your family is moving without you
No matter how much you plea
"Your family is living without you, all the way across the sea." if you live 10 minutes away, or you literally live all the way across the sea from your family. it'll still feel like, they're all the way across the sea. It's so hard to see someone you love so far away, and you're craving them and missing them to an extent you didn't know you could reach.
"your family is moving without, no matter how much you plea." no matter how much you miss them, you'll have to get over it. you'll have to finally, get used to it. no matter how much you want to see them, you can't, yes you can see them eventually, but don't get used to it..
I don't know when I'll be back
It feels like I'm losing track of time
My memories they feel so vivid
Yet so much time has passed
"I don't know when I'll be back," you tell your family you'll visit, you don't. you tell them you'll do it soon! you don't. you tell them you don't know when you'll be back.. your hurting a lot...
"it feels like I'm losing track of time" it feels like you haven't seen them in forever, and you probably have. but you're losing track of time, and you can feel it.
"my memories they feel so vivid" they feel vivid, and they are. you're forgetting everything you once loved and known in that house, your childhood, your family.
"yet so much time has passed" you'll always have a few childhood memories, and yes they're vivid, and yes so much time has passed, but you know they're still there.
You're missing a piece of yourself
ou left it behind you there
You're missing a piece of yourself
Don't it feel so unfair
"you're missing a piece of yourself, you left it behind you there" every time you leave something you've known for so long, you leave something there. whether it's just some items, toys, or accessories. that's not all you're leaving. you're leaving a part of you there. I part with fun memories and lots of love.
"you're missing a piece of yourself, doesn't it feel so unfair" you don't want to leave, but you have to. and it feels so unfair.
Maybe one day you'll see
Then again
Maybe one day you'll see
"Maybe one day you'll see them again." it feels like you'll never see them again, you will, but just not often. trust me though, you'll get over it, and you'll miss them, but you'll be okay, this won't be the end of you.
"Maybe one day, you'll see." Maybe one day, you'll see that is okay, it's okay to be sad, worried, anxious and just overall, terrible. you'll be okay, it'll take time but you'll be okay. you'll be wondering why you were so scared to leave, at a young age you were excited to move out and get your own house and friends and pets and to make your own decisions. but when you're older, it'll be scary, and rough.
trust me though, if you're going through something like this you'll be okay. sorry, this isn't like other comments and is just from my perspective. and sorry it's very long, I hope you read all of it though. and, you'll see them again. they'll still there. <3
Ben Ling
shit okay, im half chinese and i havent heard anything thats resonated this much with my asian american roots as this song. this seriously impacted me, and really embodies the entire experience of being detached yet connected with a culture thousands of miles away, and im just really appreciative because i rarely if ever see any media that actually addresses that kinda thing. thank you.
mxmtoon
just read this comment, i'm so late to getting back to you, but i mean this sincerely, thank you. thank you for listening, i'm so glad that it resonated :-)
LiAn Song
SAME! only im full chinese in america ;w;
Jason Ng
+Ben Ling There's so much Asian American representation and media on Youtube! Guys like Wong Fu Productions have definitely helped develop a community and are trying to increase awareness and representation
Leswin Cabrera
Love you UwU
li
Ben Ling ohmygod same I’m half Chinese (cantonese)
natasha
I'm half korean and this was utterly beautiful. it captured the feeling of straddling two cultures while still maintaining your personal identity. and it just made me smile.
Always A Bigga Fish
Nobody cares
Nicole
This song really describes the feeling of being a mixed race kid detached from one of their cultures, but missing it
mosa mosa
I'm in hk rn listening to this song. Only when I'm not in mainland can I get access to YouTuBe and your videos. I've translated a few of the lyrics your songs into Chinese. Isn't it fantastic to see so many people from different countries speaking different languages yet all enjoying your songs? Love u mxmtoon, please keep singing. ;) I can always feel u through ur voice