For this third MAVI studio album, shadowbox, she has found a product that results from really well-balanced contrasts- where darkness and murkiness in sound are brought into balance with shiny and alluring aesthetic aspects. For MAVI, this would mean the complete exploration of one’s personal growth and artistry, inspired by The Black Experience in Design and other styles such as Impressionism and realism. From raw and honest music videos to Paris-inspired creative strategy, listeners of Shadowbox are within an experience deeply layered between sounds and emotion.
Personal Growth Reflected in MAVI’s Shadowbox
MAVI’s third studio album, Shadowbox, embodies a duality in which its sound contrasts with its emotional depth. The album blends “dark and murky” elements with a “shiny and alluring” quality.
The rapper drew inspiration from “The Black Experience in Design,” aiming to create an exhibition-like experience with a clean, monochromatic visual style. He focused on a museum-like aesthetic to make the visuals quiet and organized.
Music Review: The Unique Blend of Dark and Alluring Sounds in Shadowbox
MAVI’s artistic approach involved exploring both Impressionist art and realism. He was influenced by the Centre Pompidou’s architecture and artists like César Domela, Piet Mondrian, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, as well as documentary and street-style photography by Dawoud Bey, Gordon Parks, and Jamal Shabazz.
The album reflects personal growth and the impact of past experiences. Tracks like “Tether” and “Grindstone” explore the expansion of MAVI’s inner shadow and its influence on his life and music.
Raw and Authentic Music Videos: A Look at MAVI’s Visuals
MAVI’s music videos avoid CGI and use raw and authentic footage. “Drunk Prayer” features CCTV from his grandfather’s funeral, while “The Giver” and “I’m so tired” highlight raw emotions and abstract movements.
Mis en place” in French means when something else elevates an element; the very same concept works with MAVI as it connects visuals into music, making an all-together greater experience than anything would have been itself. Shadowbox guides an unlikely confluence of sound and emotion, reflecting diverse artistic influences and introspection that MAVI holds.
