Melbourne’s Mareya has made a step up this year. Last year, this manifested in the soaring dance-pop track, ‘Need You Now’, the latest of ongoing collaborations between Mareya and partner Younique. In 2025, the producer polishes an exciting, extravagant and diverse set of songwriting from the star of the show, Mareya herself. Released under Tomboi Records, Glitter Tears is a brand-new six-track EP that is fearless.
Hopping from genre to genre in a showcase of versatility, the EP strikes with pop-punk firepower and emotional candour. The first track, ‘In My Head’, is laced with vibrant break beats and warehouse-ready production.
From there, ‘Ugly’ speaks to society’s pressures in a warming, emotive ballad. The huge guitars of ‘ADHD & Me’, ‘I’m So Sorry’ and ‘Happy Girl’ each wrapped in addictive pop continue the raw and honest lyricism. Finally, fans are led to ‘Lady Of Love’, an energetic romp of MAREYA’s vocal power.
Crunchy guitars, urgency and sheer sonic size don’t take away from the intimate nature of the project. The image the world expects and the battle that lives underneath is a constant point of tension thematically. Mareya shares, “I was uncovering the illusion that it feels safer to hide behind the mask of beauty than to show the world your internal battles.”
She goes on, “Making this EP was equally cathartic as it was confronting. There were times I’d have to stop and take a break while recording the vocals for the ballad track ‘Ugly’ because I’d just start crying. The last lyric of the song was a take I kept from one of those moments. Some songs felt like a time capsule of a singular tear that held the emotional intensity I was engulfed in. Another reason why I called it Glitter Tears. The song that closes the EP is the reclamation of power and truth that comes afterwards.”
Born in New Zealand and now based in Australia. A producer, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, who’s been impressive since her debut, Mareya has earned support across Europe, the UK and the US, sharing stages with Morning Maxwell and The Veronicas.
Listen to ‘Glitter Tears’…
