Am I Drowning Or Am I Just Learning How To Swim (2020)
What an artist … Maggie Miles’ debut record, Am I Drowning Or Am I Just Learning How To Swim, is an absolute journey through sound and self. It’s packed with genre-blurring moments, soulful reflections, and bold experimentation. This record doesn’t just introduce Maggie’s style—it fully immerses you in it.
Swing Your Concerns sets the stage like a perfect little appetizer at a party. It’s got that “small bites” feel, giving you just enough to get a sense of where we’re headed. It’s soft but intentional, inviting you into Maggie’s world.
Then Move takes over with effortless swagger. This track is dripping with funk. Maggie’s voice is like a perfect blend of soul and jazz, with just enough pop to keep it catchy. The bass is bouncy, and the guitar dances around, bringing so much energy. And can we talk about the production? It’s layered in all the right ways, filling every little pocket of space with something to catch your ear. And that guitar outro? Pure. Perfection. It’s that kind of detail that makes Maggie’s sound so distinctive. Lyrically, Move is about walking your own path, carving out who you are, and not letting anyone tell you otherwise. Maggie sings about living authentically and moving to the beat of your own rhythm. It’s a statement of self-empowerment, reminding you to embrace who you are unapologetically.
Shiver leans into innovation and risk-taking. The way the production weaves through the track feels almost experimental, reminding me of a band like Bastille, but still totally her own. This song is ridiculously catchy, but it’s also complex—there’s so much going on under the surface. Maggie’s ability to layer her voice and instruments keeps you hooked. And yes, she told me that she played everything on this record and her next. Insane, right? It’s raw and full of vulnerability. Maggie paints a picture of insecurity and longing. "Your mouth may smile, but your eyes beg to differ," is one of those lines that just hits hard. It's like she's begging to be noticed, to have someone see that she’s not okay, which is something a lot of people can relate to. She tells us not to let that fear and insecurity take over—don’t shiver under the weight of it all. Be yourself, without apology.
Whatdoisay? is like a masterclass in vocal layering. Maggie’s harmonies are everywhere, and she uses them in such a rhythmic, almost percussive way. It’s poppy, soulful, funky, and electronic all at once. It reminds me of Maggie Rogers’ Alaska, in how it feels like the artist is truly carving out their own sound. “Doin’ her own thing” like Pharrell told Maggie Rogers back at NYU. You can feel Maggie Miles pushing boundaries here, creating a space that’s entirely her own. This one feels open to interpretation. Is it about faith? A relationship? The universe? It could be any of those things, and that's what makes it special. Maggie’s songwriting here feels therapeutic—like she’s grappling with the challenges of life, the uncertainty of what to say or do in tough times. She’s questioning, but also finding some kind of release in the music.
Split brings a dramatic energy shift. The piano is driving and intense, and the drums push the song forward with purpose. The chorus flips everything on its head, with a bluesy, jazzy halftime feel that hits hard. The way it moves between all these different vibes is dynamic and keeps you on edge in the best way. Maggie’s vocals are raw, powerful, and just hit you deep—like, you feel them in your core. The song tackles that feeling of being torn—living in two worlds of doubt and hope. It's a human experience—trying to balance the darkness with the light, the fear with the faith that everything will work out. The energy of the music perfectly matches this back-and-forth tension.
Deserve This is where things get really heavy. The piano lines are dreamy, and the drums carry this hip-hop feel, but then it turns electric and gritty. It’s not distorted in a grunge way, but everything has this fuzzy, dense weight to it. The production fills every gap, giving the song this rich, full-bodied sound. And that live performance? Unreal. The sax hook is an unexpected but perfect bridge to the track’s explosive finale. Lyrically, it’s gut-wrenching. This track really dives into self-doubt and self-deprecation—Maggie questions whether the bad things that happen are her own fault, like she deserves it. The heaviness in the music mirrors that sense of being weighed down by your own thoughts. “I’m so tired, why can’t I just let go?” That sums up the exhaustion that comes with trying to shake off negative self-talk. It’s dark, raw, and full of emotion. We have all said it at some point.
My Motivation Died starts off gentle and intimate, with soft R&B elements and hip-hop percussion, but it doesn’t stay there. It builds into something that feels almost trap-like, yet freeform in a way. It’s dynamic and brimming with energy. The production is top-tier—there’s really nothing like it on this record nor in my own music library. The title pretty much says it all—Maggie is grappling with losing her drive, her passion. It’s a relatable struggle, but the way she builds the song shows that even in moments of doubt, she’s still pushing through.
Hilary Duff is another standout. Immediately jumped off the page when I flipped my vinyl copy over to see the track-list. It’s jazzy and soulful, with Maggie channeling an Amy Winehouse or Norah Jones vibe but with her own modern twist. The piano and brass interplay gives it this light, bouncy energy, and the grandeur of the song is almost overwhelming in the best way possible. It’s one of those tracks you can’t help but want more of. Hilary Duff continues the theme of confusion and hurt—of facing the world with a brave face even when you’re not quite sure how to.
Swim is the anthem of the record. It’s soaring and atmospheric, a song that feels like it’s lifting you up as you listen. The way Maggie’s vocals rise and fall with the music gives the whole track a sense of urgency and emotion. You can’t help but get pulled into it. The lyrics mirror that feeling of trying to stay afloat in life—if it doesn’t hit you in the heart, you might not have one… This is all about navigating life’s intensities and learning to swim through the challenges rather than sink.
I’m Always Smiling When I’m Crying About You is a heart-wrenching acoustic number that pulls things back down after all the soaring intensity of the last few tracks. The strings and orchestration are delicate, and Maggie’s harmonies are gorgeous. It’s a tender, vulnerable moment on the record. This track feels deeply personal—Maggie is singing about heartbreak in such a relatable way. You can feel that longing, that bittersweet feeling of loving someone who might not feel the same way or think of you as much as you think of them. “I wish you’d say things to get my attention / The beauty of it is the fact that you’re different” singles out how we find someone so different and so unique, it feels so meant to be. We sometimes think every time we meet someone like that, it’s the last time. So we cling. We hold on. We fear. We hide. We do it all. Love makes us crazy. But that’s also what is so great about it. It makes you feel.
139 is a piano-driven interlude, with beautifully played keys layered over a mashup of voices. It’s haunting and ethereal, leading us perfectly into Sanitized Things, the album’s final track. And what a closer. It’s the culmination of everything this record has built up—powerful vocals, gritty guitars, modern production techniques, and a sense of grandeur that’s impossible to ignore. Sanitized Things hits hard. Maggie is tackling the idea of self-acceptance. “If I can’t be me to myself, why should I be me at all?” It’s about stripping away the polish, the pride, and the misplaced ideas of who you thought you’d be and how you thought others would be. It’s accepting you for who you are. Be authentic, be unapologetic, be kind and be true.
Maggie Miles’ debut doesn’t just show off her musical talent—it feels like she’s sharing a piece of herself with you. Every song brings something new, but the record as a whole is cohesive, tight and incredibly well thought out. If this had dropped in 2024, it’d be my no-brainer pick for album of the year.
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Highlight Songs:
Shiver
Split
My Motivation Died
Hilary Duff
Swim
Ah forget it … every song on the record is highlight
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Own. It. Not owning a physical copy of this record is a crime. I will report you.
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Album Ranking:
5 Stars
