Malena Smith – 27 In Maine
Rising St. Louis-based singer-songwriter Malena Smith has unveiled her debut EP, 27 in Maine. It’s a heartfelt and introspective collection chronicling the emotional landscape of her twenties.
Smith invites her listeners into a deeply personal journey of self-discovery, reflection, and transformation.
27 in Maine is an exploration of time passing. The moments that define us, the beauty of change, and the bittersweetness of those moments becoming memories.
The title track, written by Malena Smith, Sonca Nguyen, Joshua “Paco” Lee, and produced by Brian Owens, captures a poignant moment of nostalgia and self-awareness inspired by a solo trip Smith took to Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
“The inspiration for this song was a single moment on a solo trip I took to Maine,” Smith shares. “I was driving around just after sunset in Boothbay Harbor, overlooking the water and a footbridge lit up by string lights. A deep pang of joy, wonder, and grief hit me all at once. I realized how fleeting these moments are and how they become memories before you even know it.”
Recorded at Shock City Studios in St. Louis, 27 in Maine (The Ride) features Chuck Harmony on piano, with engineering by Sonca Nguyen and Sam Maul, and mixing and mastering by John Rausch. The track’s warm instrumentation and reflective lyrics beautifully encapsulate the EP’s central themes, time, coming-of-age, and the bittersweet beauty of change.
The release of 27 in Maine (The Ride) follows Smith’s emotionally charged singles “Paralyzed” and “Maybe”, both of which offer intimate glimpses into Malena’s evolving perspective.
“Maybe”, written by Sonca Nguyen, Jack Pordea, and Joshua “Paco” Lee, explores love in limbo, blending delicate harmonies and mandolin textures with vulnerable lyricism: “I’ll wait for your answer / Just ask me the question / Don’t leave me to figure it out…”
Meanwhile, “Paralyzed” delivers an empowering message about self-doubt and rediscovery, a reflection of Smith’s own journey through anxiety, growth, and sobriety.
“My hope for this song is simple,” she says. “That the people who need it most will hear it and know they’re not alone.”
Together, these songs form a cohesive sonic diary. It’s an honest and heartfelt meditation on growing up, letting go, and learning to remain present through life’s ever-changing seasons.
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