There is a specific kind of arrogance that only thrives in the neon-baked sprawl of Sunset Boulevard. MAWK3 taps into that vein of pure narcissism with their latest single Everybody Wants To Be You which feels like a mid-afternoon gin and tonic spilled on a leather jacket. It works as a high-octane celebration of vanity where the trio strips away any pretense of humility in favor of a strutting peacock energy that demands eye contact and a healthy dose of worship.
A thumping rhythmic engine drives the song forward and because they understand the mechanics of Power Pop the trio skips the subtleties when they can blow out the speakers with a riff that sounds like it was stolen from a 1970s Hard Rock treasure chest. The bass is thick and syrupy but it has enough bite to keep things dangerous so that every beat feels like a heel clicking against pavement in a crowded room where every head turns at once. You can almost see the sequins and the cheap smoke machines because the energy is so loud and unapologetic about its desire to be the center of attention and that is why it works so well.
The vocal delivery is an exercise in sneering confidence and it drips with a flirtatious edge that makes the listener feel like the most attractive person in the world. This is the sound of a band that knows exactly how to weaponize their charisma and turn a rock anthem into a personal Supermodel runway show. There is no room for self-doubt in these vocal layers and the way they lean into the higher register suggests a band that has spent plenty of time studying the greats who weren’t afraid to be a little bit pretty and a little bit dangerous all at once.
While many contemporary acts are busy hiding behind layers of irony or mopey Shoegaze textures MAWK3 is out here doing the work by bringing back the unapologetic sex appeal of Glam Rock and doing it without a hint of shame. They are carrying the torch of bands who lived for the stage and the spotlight and the sheer thrill of being watched and because they are based in Los Angeles they have that local pedigree for theatricality that you can’t fake with a plug-in or a social media filter. This is big room music for people who still believe that being a rock star is a full-time job that requires better hair and more attitude than the rest of the world.
Everybody Wants To Be You is a three-minute ego trip that arrives at the perfect time for a world that has forgotten how to have a little fun with its own reflection. It functions as a loud and colorful reminder that sometimes the most radical thing you can do is look in the mirror and decide that you are the star of the show and everyone else is a guest in your world. MAWK3 has handed us a soundtrack for our own self-obsession and it feels incredible to finally have permission to enjoy it.
