Maya Mendez – “Through and Through” review

Final verdict: 9/10 ★★★★⋆˙⟡

It’s been a while since I’ve last reviewed a nice, comfortable pop song, so here we go. The information my research provided me with is that Maya Mendez first hit the scene in February 2025 with the song “Have Your Fun” (which is a really pretty folk-pop tune, by the way! Check it out). Today’s subject, “Through and Through”, is Ms. Mendez’s 3^rd single, and it landed just two months ago! It’s as fresh as they come! New song alert, people!

A narrative of messy, unrequited love between two young people, with all that that entails; crying, resentment, crying, more crying, and the eventual acceptance. It is a tale as old as time, but one that never fails to strike a chord – especially when told oh-so-classily in song form. And so – this piece. Set in the acoustic, guitar-centered bedroom pop idiom (while also borrowing from other genres like folk and soul), “Through and Through” does the mellow “I love you but you don’t love me back and it makes me sad” song thing in the best of ways. The production is clear as day and the varied arrangement keeps things spicy. Even then, this is a very condensed song; there are no goofy solos and no messy riffing about. It’s just as long as is necessary for Maya to tell her story, and that is that. Short and sweet.

But even the safe approach of siding with the mainstream is doomed to fail if not backed by a competent performer. Lucky for us, Maya has a beautiful voice. It’s sweet as honey and fits the bill effortlessly. Just as the arrangement is simple and used merely to back the lyrical storytelling, the singer’s voice here doesn’t go crazy places either – it stays in its lane, so to say, while remaining soulful and pleasant to the ear. The way the vocals are mixed also enhances the intimate nature of this recording; between the perceived proximity of the vocal to the listener and the confessional songwriting, “Through and Through” almost feels like… a diary entry. And that is magical when done properly, which in this case, it is.

Well… to say I have added Maya Mendez to my list of artists to watch out for doesn’t quite encapsulate my fondness for the work she’s put out so far. Right up my alley! I am focusing on “Through and Through” here, but again… “Have Your Fun”, man, you’ve got to hear it. You’ve got to have your fun with it.