When listening to Mary Anne by LIANA LUXE, you are immediately aware of the raw emotional gravity it carries. It’s a narrative steeped in the real-life struggles and resilience of women of colour with loved ones in the military. Liana Luxe joins forces with Chicago’s hip-hop maestro, No ID, to craft a soundscape that’s as eclectic as it is poignant.
The song’s narrative centres on Mary Anne, a figure embodying strength amidst the turmoil of waiting for her husband’s return from war. It’s a story of love, fear, and the quiet battles fought on the home front. LUXE’s lyrics speak of hope and heartache and offer a glimpse into the depth of longing and the fantasy of escape from harsh reality.
And say it’s all a dream
Nothing’s ever as it seems
When I’m king, no I won’t weep
Oh like the willow tree
And some things do end
Before they begin
Poor mother dearest, Mary Anne
He’s still your son, but he’s my man
LIANA LUXE discusses her new release exclusively with Neon Music: “It was an extreme honor to work with No ID on Mary Anne, since he’s the King of Chicago Hip-hop and a Grammy winner in the pop space as well. Mary Anne in a nutshell is the name of a mother of a soldier (could be any time or any war) and the narrator is the soldier’s woman. The song explores the complex emotions in the struggle to keep it together under stress, which is a universal struggle.”
Musically, Mary Anne blends pop, R&B, and soul, with LUXE’s voice serving as the thread that binds the emotional narrative to the soul-stirring beats. The song’s structure, with its sombre and dynamic instrumentals, mirrors the ebb and flow of Mary Anne’s internal and external battles. It also examines the dehumanisation and blatant vulnerability that those engaged in conflict experience, reflecting on the personal cost it exacts on those who wait for them.
Mary Anne is a song with a window into the souls of those who love from a distance, fight silent battles, and hold onto hope with fierce resilience. LIANA LUXE and No ID have created music that paints a portrait of endurance, love, and the complexity of human emotion tied to the realities of military life.