Kaitlyn Williams is a newcomer to pop music who doesn’t feel the need to play by the rules of the genre, as shown by her newly released single “Maybe”. The track travels between synth sounds, electric guitars, and 808 high-hats, combining pop, rock, and R&B effortlessly against the backdrop of the deeply personal lyrics, telling the story of love tainted by insecurity.
Williams, who just celebrated 100,000 plays of her debut album Sunset, says she drew from her past to inspire her newest release. “‘Maybe’ was inspired by someone I used to know in high school who would always tell me ‘Maybe’ when I asked if we could hang out,” Williams says. “This song is me flipping the script and pretending I’m that dude saying ‘Maybe.’”
Finding power in re-living her past has a tremendous effect on how “Maybe” feels to the listener. You can tell when an artist writes a song for someone, evident by Kaitlyn’s crystal clear vocals, as she details an almost-love letter to a past version of herself.
The “Maybe” music video brings Williams’ deep lyrics to life on screen. It feels intimate, personal, which was was its original intent; Kaitlyn’s co-star in the music video is her real-life love interest, and as they interact the viewer gets to experience a love story that’s natural.
Moments of joy with her man are interspersed with faraway looks, making the viewer feel as though the song is just her inner debate come to life. As the seemingly happy couple walks off-screen, the camera pans up to the empty sky, and you can hear Kaitlyn’s voice softly singing “I just want to be free now”, showing us how some of the best music can come from past pain.
You can watch the music video of “Maybe” above and follow Kaitlyn Williams on Spotify here.
