San Antonio native JohnAidan “Maberry” Uribe-Kozlovsky returns with his sophomore album DUMBO!, an ambitious and emotionally raw collection that cements his evolution from bedroom-pop newcomer to a fully realised alt-pop auteur.
Where his 2022 debut GOLDEN introduced Maberry’s gift for intimacy and lo-fi vulnerability, DUMBO! pushes those instincts into new territory, blending shimmering production, wry lyricism, and confessional storytelling into something both deeply personal and sonically expansive. Drawing from influences like Jeremy Zucker, EDEN, keshi, and Between Friends, Maberry crafts a world that feels cinematic yet grounded in self-reflection.
The record unfolds as an exploration of self-doubt, contradiction, and inner dialogue, a tug-of-war between confidence and insecurity, humour and heartbreak. Maberry even threads in personal voicemail notes throughout the album, offering a window into his own psyche and giving the record a uniquely intimate texture. Each listen reveals new meaning, the way a late-night conversation might feel different depending on the day you’ve had.
Musically, DUMBO! bridges the polished sheen of modern indie-pop with the tender melancholy of his lo-fi origins. The result is a sound that’s fresh but familiar, lush synths, warm vocals, and hooks that linger long after the music stops.
At its core, DUMBO! is about reckoning with yourself, the awkwardness, the honesty, and the absurd beauty of it all. With this release, Maberry reinvents himself, offering a record that’s as emotionally intelligent as it is sonically adventurous.
A self-deprecating masterpiece, DUMBO! feels like the work of an artist who has finally found his voice, and isn’t afraid to let us hear it crack.
