Not letting age be a factor when it comes to her music career, Maria Wilman has impressed listeners with her retro pop-infused rock ‘n’ roll in her debut album release, titled “Dark Horse”. At 54 years old, Maria Wilman is certainly spreading hope and inspiration with this debut album release. This acts as the follow-up release of the fourth official single from her LP, titled “Full Circle”.
Maria Wilman is a remarkable artist whose journey has been a testament to transformation and authenticity. Growing up in the politically charged era of Franco’s rule in the Basque country, her bilingual and bicultural upbringing immersed her in a unique blend of influences that would shape her life. A trip to London at 16 ignited a sense of liberation and self-expression, catalysing her eventual move to the UK. Despite a psychology degree and a career in healthcare, her heart remained with the arts, a passion cultivated since childhood through theatre and ballet. While the practicality of her parents led her down a different path, music remained a constant whisper. It wasn’t until turning 50 that the whisper grew into a roar, propelling her to create three albums. Her debut, “Dark Horse”, produced by Colin Elliot (Richard Hawley, Slow Club), captures her fusion of British and Basque influences, resulting in introspective ballads that delve into heartbreak, challenges, and self-growth. With her soaring pop vocals and genuine urgency, Maria Wilman unearths the profound connection between her lived experiences and musical expression, defying conventions and time itself to fully embrace her creative calling, proving that the journey to artistic fulfilment is timeless and boundless.
“I think I always knew, deep down, that I would end up returning to what I knew was true,” she says. “I knew I would end up aligning my life with my deepest intention, with where my heart has always been.”
Stream “Dark Horse” by Maria Wilman on Spotify here:
Already proving to be a force to be reckoned with, Maria Wilman’s songs have gained tens of thousands of streams on Spotify, and we’re excited to see her trajectory. Her debut album, “Dark Horse”, starts off with the track “Full Circle”, which has a ’00s progressive rock vibe as Maria Wilman’s vocals are full of emotion and meaning. Her lyrics reflect on time itself and how it touches and affects everyone. The backing beat is progressive and rhythmic, reminiscent of a band we would’ve seen perform on ’00s shows like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. “Man With A Dream” follows next which broadens the rock energy from the first song, as she delves into positive lyrics and an addictive descriptive chorus about a guy going after his dream. “January Gone” is the third track on the album which slows down the energy, giving a rock ‘n’ roll ballad that spotlights Maria Wilman’s soulful vocals. The flowing backing track includes guitars and drums that roll well with her voice easily making this ballad stand out for all the right reasons. Next up is “Roll With Your Soul”, bringing back an addictive rock rhythm which aims well towards mainstream radio. Maria Wilman’s vocals are fired-up for this track and she really gets into the groove of the beat as the song progresses. Catchy and rhythmic, the drums play a prominent role in the backing track, and while they shine, this singer-songwriter shines with her lyrics as she paints a picture of how the choices you make are yours to own and sometimes you have to sell your soul if you want to be at the top and in power. We also absolutely love the guitar instrumental that is segmented three-quarters of the way through, that really takes this track up a whole other level.
Track five, “Through Your Eyes”, is a slight deviation from the full-on rock tracks that have previously made up this album, as Maria Wilman throws in some incredible strings that emblazon her vocals and the incredible meaning of the song, of wanting to stop self-condemnation and embolden her listeners and empower them. Another incredible guitar solo is played mid-way through breaking up the verses and giving the track an even bigger impact. “Mastermind” is next, slowing down the vibe and cutting straight in with her vocals. Laid-back and relaxed, Maria Wilman showcases her versatility as an artist as well as her ability to tell a story and create a visual within her listeners’ minds as she poetically embraces a moment where she looks back on memories and what memories are specifically. Once again a guitar instrumental is highlighted in the middle of the track adding heart and strength to this track. The following track is “Lovegrass”, which is a total storytelling track as she narrates a woman of the same name as her who lived 100 years earlier and who was a total inspiration and pioneer of her time. This song is an ode to that woman, paying homage to who she was. The eighth track is “Waterscreen” which returns to the mainstream rock sound that fits authentically with her voice. Compelling from the get-go, Maria Wilman really believes in her words with lyrics spanning on how things happen and that we can’t change them, but we can make things better.
“Who Are You” is the ninth track on the album, starting off with drum chords before other instruments pick up the rhythm adding infectious beats as Maria Wilman starts to sing. Probably one of her most vocally exposed tracks, she handles it brilliantly really showcasing her conflicting words as she works out who she is around a certain someone. There’s an astonishing Latin-influenced guitar instrumental that we absolutely adore and can’t get enough of before a violin takes up the gorgeous melody. Track 10 is “The Order Of Things” which has an almost acoustic style to it as the relaxed rock rhythm conveys so much soul. The title track is the next song on the “Dark Horse” album, and what a positive and uplifting track it is, so much so that we are not surprised that it was chosen as the title track, with Maria Wilman definitely showcasing her songwriting skills. Spreading positivity to all her listeners with a great backing beat and a full-on rock instrumental mid-way through, this is definitely a highlight on the album and one that is empowering to every listener. The last track on the album is “Every Man For Himself” which takes it down a notch, back to a rhythmic rock rhythm, as we hear Maria Wilman sing about how a lot of people only care for themselves and use others for their own gain. It’s a sombre end to this album and one that makes us excited to find out what else she’ll go on to release.
Stream “Roll With Your Soul”, our favourite track from the album, on Spotify here:
“Dark Horse”, the debut album from Maria Wilman, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms.