Laila Mack’s new EP “wayward“ doesn’t arrive like a big statement. It settles in. Quietly. This EP marks a chapter where things feel closer to the bone, less like performance and more like a personal journal left open on the table.
The title track, “wayward” opens the release in a stripped, almost fragile way. Acoustic guitar. Space. That’s mostly it. The vocals are intimate. The songwriting does the heavy lifting, and it doesn’t rush. It lets the silence work. Less like an intro track and more like an invitation to sit down and listen.
“tragic ballad of a stargazer” stays in that same emotional lane but feels even more exposed. Her delivery here is raw. No shine, no filter, no distraction. It feels like she’s right there in the room, which makes the song land harder than expected. There’s something very human about how unguarded it is.
Then comes “exit wound” where the arrangement grows just slightly. The guitar is driving, but still restrained. The momentum builds without breaking the mood. Her voice remains expressive, and the track shows how control can be just as powerful as volume. It doesn’t try to impress. Instead, it holds your attention.
The EP closes with “one lane road” a song we already connected with before, and it fits perfectly here. The soundscape is warm, the melodies soothing. It ties the whole project together and lets the journey end gently, without forcing a conclusion.
wayward feels connected from start to finish. A carefully paced journey that pulls listeners in and lets each song breathe. It shows where Laila Mack is now, and it feels like a confident new phase.
We’ve spent time with this EP on purpose, saving it for these last quiet days of December, and it resonates even more here. For us, this release confirms why Laila Mack remains our Artist of the Year. Honest music, done right.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Hey, I’m Laila Mack. I’m a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. My battery runs on alternative rock and coffee. I was born in 2004 and grew up in Coatesville, PA, far enough out in the country that I could play my electric guitar as loud as I wanted. My first instrument was the violin, which I started playing when I was 3. I was homeschooled and taught myself everything I know about music. I released my debut self-produced single ‘half past three’ when I was 19. When I’m not in the studio, I enjoy fiction writing, caffeinating, painting, and surfing NJ shores to Cocoa Beach FL!
I just dropped my debut album “reasons” in May 2024. I’m grabbing life by the tuning pegs and always working on something new. I’m recording 10+ new tracks for my second album. I’m loving every second of the process and can’t wait to share my new project with you.
For me, music has always been about connection and knowing that someone is listening to my music makes me smile. Thank you for being there.
