Australian singer-songwriter Mariae Cassandra returns with ‘Splinters’, an indie-pop reflection on self-worth and learning to trust yourself. Originally written at 16 before being revisited two years later, the track finds Mariae looking back at old wounds from a new perspective and beginning to leave the uncertainty of her younger self behind.
A steady, unhurried rhythm carries ‘Splinters’, while Mariae’s clear indie pop vocal sits at the centre of a warm, nostalgic sound. There’s an understated quality to the arrangement rather than an obvious musical transformation to mirror the song’s journey, allowing its melody and storytelling to do much of the work. It’s easy to imagine ‘Splinters’ appearing on the soundtrack to a modern coming-of-age film.
The accompanying video leans into that feeling, following a white-dressed Mariae from isolation – samurai sword in hand – onto roads, into a passing car and eventually along railway tracks. The beautiful, occasionally intense imagery suggests movement and independence. At just 18, Mariae already carries herself with the assurance of an artist whose story is only beginning.
