Marilyn Hucek Contemplates ‘Love and Loss’ with New EP
On Nov. 24, rising D.C.-based singer-songwriter Marilyn Hucek released her latest EP, “Love and Loss.” The collection may be Hucek’s most personal yet, and she explains that listening to the songs is like reading from the pages of her diary.
It comes as no surprise that “Man of the House” is the EP’s lead single. The poignant track, and one of my personal favorites, finds Hucek reflecting on the painful experience of losing her father to Alzheimer’s disease.
“It has been a hard year for me, and trying to understand how to move forward from experiencing grief is challenging,” said Hucek, who explores “a range of emotions and feelings” on her new 6-track EP.
The remainder of the songs on “Love and Loss” recount the ups and downs of falling in love.
“Hey,” a bouncy, radio-friendly track about “the fluttering feelings of a teenage crush,” showcases Hucek’s strengths as a lyricist and her ability to paint a vibrant picture that allows listeners to see themselves within Hucek’s experiences.
And “I Tried” underscores the naivete of young love. “You said we were forever,” sings Hucek, “And I believed you like a teenager.”
“Love and Loss” closes with an acoustic version of “Man of the House,” and it is a worthy addition to the EP. Accompanied solely by acoustic guitar, Hucek’s vocals soar, and listeners get a glimpse of how the song was likely inspired before the added production.
The rawness of the stripped-down version of “Man of the House” parallels the overarching themes of the EP: being dealt a blow, rebuilding, wondering if you have what it takes to move forward, and ultimately, realizing that you do.
“Love and Loss” follows an impressive run of releases from Hucek, which have collectively received more than 2 million streams on Spotify, including “Internet Romance” and “Boy Drama.” “Love and Loss” was mixed by Grammy nominated producer and engineer Matt Leigh and mastered by Mauricio Gargel.
The most important message that Hucek wants listeners to take away from “Love and Loss” is found in the EP’s title. “Joy and pain co-exist together,” said Hucek. “That mindset has helped me move forward.”
While difficult experiences can sometimes harden us, there is a maturity to Hucek’s processing of her complex emotions. You get the sense that she has instead chosen to allow the bittersweet nature of the journey to intensify her zest for seeking out new beginnings in life and love.
I’m happy for you
I’m moving on too
We had our time, no regrets
We both grew up, now that’s true
I’m happy for you
I don’t think I had a chance to say
You know time runs away
I’m happy for you
“Love and Loss” is available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
On Nov. 24, rising D.C.-based singer-songwriter Marilyn Hucek released her latest EP, “Love and Loss.”
