- Marika Hackman has slowly but surely risen to the top of the indie underground scene since 2013. Despite originally focusing on folk music, 2017’s I’m Not Your Man saw Marika embrace the popular aesthetics of the late ‘10s indie sound with a spin entirely her own. A continuation down this path has resulted in her latest effort Any Human Friend, presenting the most introspective side we’ve seen of her yet. An exploration of love, sex, identity, loneliness and the desire for human acceptance, the project depicts the realistic emotions and stories of a queer woman in the modern age.
The opening track, Wanderlust, is a revisitation of Marika’s folk-rock roots, with a distorted guitar line and whispering, crackly vocals. A glimpse into a past relationship, Hackman describes a feeling of estrangement and doubt complemented by the haunting atmosphere of the lo-fi production and backing sections.
Big single The One is a true testament to Marika’s ability to craft catchy pop anthems. The song details her desire to be adored by a large scale audience, despite having to sell out in order to achieve that dream. At the centrepiece of the track is the depressing chorus that is emotionally paradoxical to the contending guitar section, making for a both delightful yet melancholy pop anthem.
All Night is a rare, authentic look at lesbian sex that, rather than feeling like a forced and tacky way to sell a female artist, comes off as genuine and passionate. Marika sings the hook as if she’s floating without a care, which, when paired with the dreamy nature of the instrumental, make the track sound almost childlike, despite its explicit content.
The themes of emotional detachment explode on the well-crafted single I’m Not Where You Are. A seeming response to Marika’s recent breakup with Japanese Wallpaper, the cut narrates the tale of two lovers on different emotional levels, with detachment playing a significant role in their issues. The wailing instrumentals respond like a lonely howl, while Marika’s vocals conjure a despairing desire for the ability to connect emotionally with other people.
Conventional Ride is anything but what the title suggests, instead becoming an atmospheric take on ‘70’s psychedelic music mixed with conventional, modern indie. The track explores an issue that many queer people face: being used as an experiment by others to test their own sexuality. Marika writes it as a struggle – it’s hard to realise your own sexuality, when you’re wondering if your partner would rather be in a straight relationship.
The album closes with its title track, Any Human Friend, a call to be yourself despite the attractiveness of going with the crowd. “Everybody Wants to Be Made of Stone” quips Marika: people ignore their own identity just for a chance of acceptance. Elegantly summarising the themes of the record, the song is a blissful finale made even better through exceptional drum and bass sections.
Any Human Friend is a gorgeous reflection on Marika Hackman’s longing for emotional resonance and identity in both love and life. A shining combination of indie rock and queer pop, both introspective and relatable, it’s no holds barred but still sure to resonate with a wide audience. This record proves her worth as an artist, right at the forefront of the indie pack, but, more than that, it speaks to her worth as a human being.
- James Chadwick.