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Lil Mariko is the debut EP by American singer Lil Mariko, independently released on March 18, 2021. It was produced by Mariko's boyfriend and creative partner Jared Soule, otherwise known as Full Tac.
| Lil Mariko | |
|---|---|
 | |
| EP by | |
| Released | March 18, 2021 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 16:24 |
| Label | Self-released |
| Producer | Jared Soule |
| Singles from Lil Mariko | |
| |
Background and promotion
editThe first single that would later be compiled in the EP was "Don't Touch" featuring Full Tac, released on April 21, 2020.[1] The second, "Shiny" also featuring Full Tac was released on September 4, 2020.[2] A music video followed on March 20, 2021, two days after the EP's release.[3]
On April 3, Lil Mariko performed for Chester Lockhart's Chester's Bday Party live-streamed event alongside Full Tac. The event also encouraged donations to The Okra Project and Red Canary Song.[4]
Composition and writing
editThe main genres of Lil Mariko are hyperpop and trap metal.[5]
The first track on the EP, "Hi, I'm a Slut" conveys sex positivity as a reclamation and response to "slut-shaming". It features heavy bass and electronic synths taking elements from both trap and pop. The track was also loosely compared to 100 gecs, Doja Cat, and Babymetal.[6][7] The second track, "Don't Touch" featuring Full Tac, alternates between synth-filled choruses and Mariko's screams.[8] Lyrically, the track describes Lil Mariko's disdain for men who sexually harass women or stare at them for too long.[9] Mariko's character fully portrays a personality set on spontaneous violence. "100 Dicks" criticized men who send unsolicited dick pics to women. The track follows the standard hyperpop flow. The next track, "I'm Baby" contains some minor influences from deathcore. Mainly the fact that has a heavier sound than its predecessors, and features increasingly guttural vocals.[8] The track "Disgusting" features guest vocals from Zheani. The sixth track, "Shiny" also featuring Full Tac was described in a similar vain to the previous. Being a sex positive, gender equalizing track full of energy.[7] Closing track "Catboys" is a fantasied ode to pegging Catboys.[10] Mariko commented that she wanted to combine something like catboys and drill music.[7]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Globe | 4/5[5] |
| ComUM | 6/10[8] |
| SputnikMusic | 3.7[10] |
| TuneChamber.com | 3/5[11] |
The EP received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Mariko's vocal performance and production, but criticism aimed at some tracks not living up to the hype as the full project intended to be. The Cascade praised many of the tracks on the EP, however noted that "I'm Baby" and "Catboys" fell short of the hype.[6] The student newspaper The Globe gave the EP a positive 4-out-of-5 rating.[5] Afonso Marques of the Portuguese University of Minho's online student journal ComUM gave it a rating of 6-out-of-10, although positive, the tracks "100 Dicks" and "Disgusting" were seen as the EP's weaknesses.[8] A review from Working Class Whole also positively rated the EP, noting that "Lil Mariko juxtaposes her cutesy, saccharine singing with monstrous metal screaming in a way that makes sense and does not feel out of place or too unexpected." and recommended the EP for both fans of pop and metal.[9] Bradley Timm of TuneChamber.com gave a positive review and cited "Lil Mariko's tracks lack in substance are made up for in legitimately catchy – if sporadically abrasive – productions." and hoped her next release would improve of her flaws.[11]
Track listing
editTrack listing adapted from Spotify.[12]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hi, I'm a Slut" | Jared Soule, Katherine Mariko Zhang | 2:50 |
| 2. | "Don't Touch" (featuring Full Tac) | Soule, Zhang | 2:28 |
| 3. | "100 Dicks" | Soule, Zhang | 1:52 |
| 4. | "I'm Baby" | Soule, Zhang, Russ Chell | 1:58 |
| 5. | "Disgusting" (featuring Zheani) | Soule, Zhang, Zheani Sparkes | 2:36 |
| 6. | "Shiny" (featuring Full Tac) | Soule, Zhang | 2:07 |
| 7. | "Catboys" | Soule, Zhang | 2:31 |
| Total length: | 16:24 | ||
Personnel
editPerformance
edit- Lil Mariko – vocals
- Full Tac – guest (track 2, 6)
- Zheani – guest vocals (track 5)
Production
edit- Full Tac – producer, mixing, mastering, engineering
- Russ Chell – additional production (track 4)
References
edit- ^ "Don't Touch (feat. Full Tac) - Single by Lil Mariko". Apple Music. April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "Shiny (feat. Full Tac) - Single by Lil Mariko". Apple Music. September 4, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "Lil Mariko - Shiny feat. Full Tac". Full Tac. March 20, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ CHESTER LOCKHART on Twitter (April 2, 2021). "UR INVITED TO MY BDAY PARTY 🎂 April 3, 12-2 pst twitch.tv/chesterlockhart live girlbossing by @0311asaki • @DORIANELECTRA @HANAtruly • @chaseicon @Miss_Benny • @umru_ @cartierchain • @moodkillermusic @katmarikoz • @ravennagolden @PetalSupply • @westonallen64 + many more 🧐". Twitter. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ a b c Wittman, Zachary (March 24, 2021). "Tracking New Music Releases with Zac Wittman: Lana Del Rey, Justin Bieber, Lil Mariko, Mare Cognitum, Ringo Starr". The Globe. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Dancey, Chandy (April 7, 2021). "Soundbite: Lil Mariko - Lil Mariko". The Cascade. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c Vitagliano, Joe (July 16, 2021). "Rising Hyperpop Screamo Star, Lil Mariko, Joins Four Loko Records Roster With New Single "Boring"". American Songwriter. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Marques, Afonso (April 30, 2021). "Lil Mariko: pequeno mas exuberante" [Lil Mariko: small but lush] (in Portuguese). ComUM. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ a b admin (May 5, 2021). "Lil Mariko - Lil Mariko". Working Class Whole. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ a b JohnnyoftheWell (March 21, 2021). "Review: Lil Mariko - Lil Mariko". SputnikMusic.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Timm, Bradley (March 25, 2021). "Lil Mariko – Lil Mariko". TuneChamber.com. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ "Lil Mariko by Lil Mariko". Spotify. Retrieved August 1, 2021.