Maris is pop music’s next ‘Mega Star.’ It’s written all over her face

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Almost ten years ago, a high schooler named Maris drove to Rockin Rudy’s record store in Missoula, Montana, in her 2005 Chevy Impala. She brought a box of CDs she’d made herself.

When she was sixteen, this aspiring musician believed she needed to create and release an album entirely by herself to truly become an artist. She recorded a few songs, then bought 150 CD cases and used her graphic design class’s Photoshop access during lunch breaks. Essentially running a one-person operation, she packaged the CDs, designed the inserts, and wrote personal notes – all while enjoying movies.

Maris remembered being turned down by Guitar Center and Barnes & Noble when she tried to sell her music. However, things turned around at Rockin Rudy’s, where her 12-song album, “Of the Sea”—which is Latin for “Maris”—became the best-selling CD for two weeks.

Maris, now 26, wishes she could forget the songs from her past. However, each time she goes to Rockin’ Rudy’s, she buys a T-shirt to show her gratitude for the opportunity they gave her.

I’m a big believer in looking at things practically and relying on what actually works. And honestly, this project gave me proof – real evidence – that it could. It wasn’t just a feeling; I saw it succeed, and that convinced me.

Maris walked around the back of a pool table at Highland Park Bowl, looking completely different from how she appeared onstage. Dressed in a racing-style tank top and low-rise jeans, she was hardly recognizable as the pop star who had just finished her first headlining tour at the Echoplex.

Maris’ month-long concert series, “Give Me a Tour,” described as “the intergalactic sapphic pop show of your dreams,” was created in collaboration with Los Angeles-based artist Caroline Kingsbury. Kingsbury previously appeared on Maris’ retro-inspired song, “Give Me a Sign,” which quickly gained popularity, reaching 1 million streams within a month of its March release. Since then, Maris has received praise from Elton John and been highlighted as a rising artist in “Rock Hall Rising.”

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For the final song of her Echo Park show, Maris wore a vintage 1980s Bogner ski suit she’d found while thrifting in Missoula. She paired it with a sparkly bustier and tiny shorts, which she playfully removed during the performance. Her makeup featured a large, glittery star design, reminiscent of David Bowie’s famous lightning bolt.

I remember when Maris first started out, her stage emblem was so charmingly DIY – she’d use these silver, plastic stars she got from Party City. She arranged them like falling tears, which really fit the sad, beautiful music she was making then. But as she moved to the New York punk scene and got more into performing, she switched things up. She started using eyeliner instead, and honestly, I loved seeing her get lost in the music, all sweaty with those black streaks running down her face. It was such a raw, powerful look.

In L.A., where her music became brighter and more colorful, so did the emblem.

At the Maris concert at the Echoplex, many dedicated fans came dressed with stars, mirroring the band’s imagery. Before the show, Maris’s singer drew stars on some fans during a VIP meet-and-greet, and Kingsbury handed out glitter gel for fans to use.

Kingsbury and Maris began working together towards the end of last year. Luckily, Maris was already looking for a standout singer to collaborate with on his song, “Give Me a Sign.”

Maris explained that they quickly created the song and video, and then unexpectedly, plans for a tour started to emerge.

The recent ‘Give Me a Tour’ shows were a little different than usual. Kingsbury and Maris shared top billing instead of one opening for the other, and they even replaced a traditional opening act with an open mic karaoke session – an idea from Maris. But this approach made sense for Maris, who was new to headlining and didn’t have much experience with touring or selling tickets, allowing her to test the waters.

The artist explained that it’s currently very difficult for musicians to sell tickets. Sharing the financial burden of the tour with another party helped her understand her audience size without risking a lot of money.

Maris also pointed out that her collaboration with Kingsbury stemmed from shared creative ideas. However, she emphasized that the practical, business aspects of her work are always her top priority – and they have to be.

She explained that constantly paying close attention to everything around her was essential for making things work long-term. She sees it as simply part of navigating life – whether dealing with immediate challenges, planning for the future, or handling everyday situations.

Raised by entrepreneurs, Maris has always figured herself a salesperson as much as a singer.

While living in New York, she gained valuable experience in market research, which helped her connect with her fans. A key part of her approach is her online “Star Seminars,” where she asks her fans – who she affectionately calls “superstars” – for their opinions on things like new merchandise and upcoming songs.

So, Maris just released this Christmas song, “Christmas Now,” and she really wanted to connect with her fans to celebrate. She asked her dedicated “Star Club” followers – basically her Instagram broadcast channel – if they’d prefer a live celebration on Instagram or a Google Meets call. Instagram crushed it in the poll – it was a pretty clear winner! She’s clearly listening to what her fans want, which is always great to see.

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Algorithms are designed to be influenced, though it’s usually difficult to do. However, one singer in Los Angeles found a smart way to get her song played millions of times on TikTok, and now everyone wants to join her ‘Group 7’ strategy.

Some artists believe the shift to digital music will ultimately fail, but Maris argues that social media has actually empowered artists to act as their own record labels, connecting directly with their fans.

I think what really struck me about Maris is her dedication to staying true to herself. Even though she’s incredibly driven and could easily sign with a big record label, she’s choosing to remain independent. She values having complete creative control over her music, and honestly, I respect that a lot.

Her “secret album”—a collection of early demos on SoundCloud—essentially serves as a testing ground for her first official album. Usually, she releases the songs that gain the most popularity online, but she reserves the right to make the final decision, acting as the ultimate authority on what gets released.

The model not only helps Maris stay current with her fanbase, but it’s also allowed fans to learn the words to her songs, even the ones she hasn’t officially released. This probably explains why her early performances of “Mary+I” – a song about a summer of being high and abstaining from sex – felt like she was performing covers. Even people who didn’t know the lyrics initially were able to sing along by the second chorus.

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At just 23 years old, this rapper has already achieved significant success, including a top five album and a prominent performance at the Rolling Loud festival in Inglewood. He’s proven more durable than many of his fellow artists.

Dylan Bauld, a producer for many of Maris’ songs, praised her surprise album release as a remarkably clever and innovative move for an artist.

I’ve noticed Maris often takes risks with her work, and it’s definitely not always the safest path. But honestly, the people she collaborates with really seem to believe in her and her creative choices. They trust her gut, which is pretty cool to see.

Bauld recently performed an acoustic set with Maris. He mentioned the audience was mostly industry professionals, and after seeing several acts struggle to connect with the crowd, he didn’t think they had much of a chance. However, Maris remained confident and performed as if she owned the stage.

He described it as feeling like a comedy show. She got the crowd incredibly excited and laughing hysterically before the band even started playing.

According to Bauld, Maris is an exceptionally gifted artist – a rare talent with both natural ability and a strong work ethic. He believes Maris has everything needed to succeed, and it’s only a matter of time before they do.

“I feel like I’m at the ground floor of something huge,” he said.

In the raw and honest song “Super F— Mega Star,” Maris reflects on still chasing her dream – a breakthrough hit, a record deal with a major label, or the chance to open for a famous artist.

Maris got an early boost in July when John played her song “Mary+I” on his “Rocket Hour” radio show. John is known for helping new artists, and he’d already been showcasing rising stars like Blood Orange and Olivia Dean. Maris actually thought it was a hoax when she received a message from John’s team asking for permission to play her song.

Instead, the situation created a memory Maris wished she could share with her younger self. For Bauld, it was simply a clever way to draw attention to their relationship.

Once the final notes of the song faded, John finished his comments by comparing Maris to legendary artists such as Lady Gaga and Freddie Mercury, adding that he’d be thrilled to see her perform live.

Music

As a huge music fan, I’m really excited to see Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga both nominated for the big awards – Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year! It’s awesome to see such diverse artists recognized, and Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter are also up for a lot, which is fantastic.

Maris was completely captivated the first time she saw Queen perform at Live Aid. Freddie Mercury, with just a few words, connected with the crowd and told them exactly what he wanted – and they responded perfectly.

“She truly captures the spirit of a great performer,” Maris observed. The singer has spent years studying how performers like Mercury connected with audiences, and that training clearly shows in her constantly developing stage show.

Her current show includes fun surprises like an inflatable guitar solo, a group stretch, and a lively jump off the stage. She started doing the stage jump because she wanted to get the audience more excited during one especially energetic song.

Maris explained that she felt it was her responsibility to energize the crowd and encourage them to let loose. She believes her role is to be playfully over-the-top so others feel comfortable doing the same.

The singer loves getting the audience involved. During a recent concert in Columbus, Ohio, she noticed someone dancing enthusiastically at the back while she performed “Super F— Mega Star.” She invited them to the front, and soon a lively dance circle – which she playfully called the “‘Super F— Mega Star’ pit” – formed around them.

According to Val Hoyt, who worked with Maris, Maris isn’t shy about demanding audience participation. Hoyt said Maris will powerfully encourage everyone to get involved, even if they initially resist, insisting they’ll jump and dance at her shows.

“By the end of the show,” Hoyt said, “she’s won that whole room over.”

Maris seems to have quickly learned what it takes to be a pop star, but her mother, Dawn Maddux, says she’s always been a natural performer. Maddux often tells a story about when Maris was a toddler – she carried her Barbie boombox outside to entertain a construction crew working on their house.

Maddux described her voice as slightly raspy, like she’d had a little whiskey. She’d often greet construction workers with a cheerful, ‘Good morning, builder boys! Want to hear me sing?’

Maris pulled similar stunts often enough for her family to christen them her “dance-abouts.”

Maris admitted she’s always loved being the center of attention. She joked that while she might not be a great singer, she’s always enjoyed performing and being dramatic.

She eventually developed strong vocal skills through voice lessons encouraged by her stepfather. However, Maris credits her mother as her most effective teacher, someone who always gave honest and direct feedback.

Maddux recalled that Maris would often ask him, ‘Am I pitching without energy?’ and Maddux would respond honestly, ‘Yes, you are today. You need to push yourself a bit more.’

“But she is also a super hard worker, so it’s not like it was hard to keep her on track,” she said.

Maddux wasn’t pushy, but she loved being involved in Maris’s life. When Maris went to Los Angeles as a teen to record a cover of “Jolene” with Postmodern Jukebox, Maddux joined her and even helped pick out the vintage green suit Maris wore for the performance.

When Maris announced she wanted to graduate high school early and move to New York to focus on music, her mother, Maddux, couldn’t accept it. She held onto Maris’ return ticket to Montana, hoping to talk her daughter out of it. After leaving Maris in New York, Maddux cried all the way to the airport.

Maddux admitted that knowing what she knows now, she wasn’t sure she would have chosen to become a parent. She said, ‘If I’d known things would turn out this way, I don’t know if I would have had kids.’

For many years, both during Maris’s time in New York and after she moved to L.A., Maddux would receive worried calls from her daughter. Maddux quickly realized that the frequency of these calls was a sign of how much her daughter was struggling.

These days, Maddux said, Maris doesn’t call so much.

Sipping cider at the bowling alley, Maris remembered the late-night talks she’d have with Maddux, going over her performances while sharing McDonald’s. She was very hard on herself, constantly picking apart even the smallest mistakes.

You know, as someone who really connects with artists and their struggles, I heard the singer talk about her perfectionism, and it really resonated. She feels like it’s something she’ll probably deal with forever, but she’s learned to manage it – to not let it drive the whole car, so to speak. She’s pushing it into the backseat, which I think is a really healthy way to put it.

I’ve definitely had to come to terms with some things in the shows that weren’t exactly how I’d pictured them, to be honest. But you know what? I’ve realized that fans don’t really need everything to be perfect. What we really connect with is when things feel genuine and heartfelt.

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Maris plans to release a new album soon, but she’s carefully considering the timing. While she’s excited as an artist, she also wants to ensure the release is a success as a businesswoman. This means waiting until she can properly compensate her producers, deliver a polished product, and confidently book a major concert tour.

“The stars just have to align,” she said.

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2025-12-02 14:33