I spent my childhood soaking in classic crooners like Sinatra, Martin, and Prima, thanks to my 2nd-generation Italian-American grandfather. Those songs are timeless to me, which is why I had some pause when I first glanced at this submission. It only took a few seconds to shift my perspective, though, falling in love within a few bars.
If you’re not hip to mxmtoon, now’s the perfect time to get acquainted. Having soared to immense heights over the course of last year, this soft-singing, Oakland-based, 18-year-old indie songstress has an endearing style that’s worthy of your attention. Admittedly, this is my first experience with her music, but it certainly won’t be the last.
Her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” is wonderfully unique, which is necessary when approaching a larger-than-life track. What drew me in particularly, was the inclusion of building vocal harmonies over the chorus. It was a clever way to deal with the power from Sinatra’s vocal prowess. But, that’s the mark of a well-done cover, right? There has to be something that’s ownable and different than the original, with enough remnants to pay respects to the creator. And, mxmtoon has executed that perfectly.
While tickets are sold out, I’d like to still mention that she has an upcoming tour this March, with dates listed below. You’ll be hard pressed to get in, but it’s always worth a shot.
Chicago – Schubas – 3/6 – SOLD OUT
Brooklyn – Baby’s All Right -3/9 – SOLD OUT
Seattle – The Crocodile – 3/13 – SOLD OUT
San Francisco – Rickshaw Stop – 3/14 – SOLD OUT
Los Angeles – The Echo – 3/16 – SOLD OUT