Singer-songwriter Maïa Davies has devoted much of her professional life crafting music as the power behind an array of musical thrones. Davies is an in-demand composer and co-writer who has penned hits for Monster Truck, Mother Mother, Serena Ryder, Jill Barber and more. After her start in folk band Ladies of the Canyon, she has released two solo albums in French. Her latest, Lovers’ Gothic (2024) is a chronological storyboard of the artist’s emotional journey ­– compositions that encompass the visceral throughline of her cycling through stages of grief and mourning after a toxic relationship. Recorded in 12 different studios across the country in collaboration with a large cast of co-producers and star musicians, it’s a conceptual gem with musical short stories built from potently raw and resonating lyrics around piano-driven indie pop, enveloped with rolling beats and echoing synths. Whether she’s on the stage in full view or orchestrating behind the scenes, Davies is a force to be reckoned with.

-Kerry Clarke