The inspiration for Matt Maeson’s third album A Quiet and Harmless Living is just as varied as the sounds of the alt-rock songwriter’s prior catalog might suggest: the project was influenced by a move from Austin to Nashville and the birth of Maeson’s first kid, while everything from Big Thief to the Final Fantasy VII score was on repeat during the recording process. Manchester Orchestra even makes an appearance on the album’s final single, “Cursive.”
For his “Neighborhoods” set, filmed in his new hometown of Nashville, the artist spotlights his powerful vocals while performing the album cuts “Downstairs” and “Halfway to Whole” in a nearby green space. Playing solo on a heavily strummed acoustic guitar, Maeson squeezes every last bit of emotion out of both tracks’ lyrics, delivered with belted-out vocals. Check it out below.
