Conor Maynard

(Album Review)

 Artist: Conor Maynard

Album: Contrast

Release Date: July 30^th 2012

Label: Parlophone

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Conor Maynard, he first rose to fame on YouTube in 2008/2009. He began by uploading cover songs of popular artists such as Chris Brown, Taio Cruz and Rihanna. Conor was discovered by singer/songwriter Ne-Yo after he watched Conor’s cover video of Ne-Yo’s song “Beautiful Monster”

Maynard is only 19, although he does look a little younger; some of the songs of the album are about the break up with his first girlfriend a year a go. He shows the youngster inside of himself by using the Looney Tunes theme song at the stat of “Mary Goes Round” and “Peel my banana” is about as explicit as he gets.

Maynard’s album is much more sophisticated and slicker than most other teen-marketed singers. His catchy number two hit from last April, “Can’t Say No”, may be about how much he likes girls – a lot like most teen pop songs – however fantastic his bass riff and minimal R&B beats go to places other acts wouldn’t dare to go with their music. “Vegas Girl”, is just as full of bass and is laced with urban sound topped off by a little a capella line about tequila.

This is Maynard’s debut album full of boasting collaborations with Ne-Yo, Rita Ora and the N.E.R.D man Pharrell Williams also produced the record. Pharrell even claimed that Maynard “Will change the face of pop music”, now that certainly is giving the 19 year-olds first album a lot to live up too.

Maynard’s vocal ability gives the impression that he is much older than he actually is, with far more range and depth than most other teenagers demonstrate. Contrast is definitely an album engineered for 2012 with the dubstep sounds frequently featured in the background.

This is a fantastic debut album from 19 year-old Conor Maynard and is definitely worth a listen and we recommend that if you haven’t heard of Conor before that you check him out.  

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