Today, after the universally enthusiastic reception of her first two singles, Maple Glider announces her debut LP To Enjoy is the Only Thing out June 25 via Pieater / Partisan Records, pre-order HERE. To accompany the album announce, third single ‘Swimming‘ is now out now, listen + watch HERE.

Zietsch says “this was meant to be a love song, but by the time I finished it, it kind of premeditated a break-up.” It’s set on the south coast of both France and the UK – strangely romantic locations to juxtapose falling out of love. Zietsch teamed up with creative collaborator Bridgette Winten for the music video, with whom she made captivating clips for ‘As Tradition‘ and ‘Good Thing‘. The video for ‘Swimming‘ was inspired by black and white horror films, for their ability to combine satire with emotionally evocative themes. Intimacy, estrangement, confusion and loneliness are highlighted throughout the clip. Maple Glider’s romantic partner-in-crime – an inanimate skeleton.

To Enjoy is the Only Thing is an album full of brittle intimacies and effortlessly balanced instrumentation (not a note wasted). In the singer-songwriter tradition, the solo project of Tori Zietsch (‘peach’ with a z) is centred around the lyrics, exploring deeply personal themes and often serving as a self-catharsis. Over plucked acoustic guitar or deftly weighted piano chords, Maple Glider shares vignettes of her life; growing up in a restrictive religious household, falling in an out of love, interstate and international relocations, the new perspectives travel can bring along with the alienation of being away from the familiar.

Maple Glider shares, “This is what the album looks like to me: walking past tinsel covered trees in mid-September, swimming along the calanques in the south of France, car-bonnet frost, darkness at 4pm, lightness until 10pm, a muted feeling, the perpetual grey fog that swallows the Silver Coast, the colour red, this ugly green dress, red wine, red blood, red lips, red is the colour of the cardinal’s robe, Switzerland, my mother’s diaries, a coroner’s report, the sun on my face, the end of love, “To enjoy is the only thing. BTCH$.” 

Based in Brighton abroad in the UK was where Zietsch experienced heavy loneliness. But it was during this time that she entered a pool of self-reflection. She returned to Melbourne late 2019 with a soundcloud literally full of demos. She enlisted Tom Iansek (Big Scary / #1 Dads / The Paper Kites / Hockey Dad / full credits HERE) to record, mix and produce the first batch of songs she was ready to get down. During the shared time spent at Pieater‘s studio BellBird with Iansek, the wider team got to fully appreciate the wonderful artistry and beauty of Maple Glider, and welcomed her to the family. 

Since its release mid-September, debut single ‘As Tradition‘ has had over 1 million streams (thanks largely to love from Apple Music’s editorial team), has been added to Double J, triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio, 2SER and Edge Radio, and was spun first by Bob Boilen on NPR’s All Songs Considered. In the months that followed, Maple Glider’s domestic label Pieater has joined forces with beloved indie imprint Partisan Records (Laura Marling, Cigarettes After Sex, Fontaines D.C.) for releasing her music to the rest of the world.

The first song they released together was ‘Good Thing‘. Garnering over 100K streams per week since its release, it was KUTX’s song of the day; shared by Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music 1, who said it “floored me”; Mystic Sons named Maple Glider as artist of the week; was featured by Uproxx, American Songwriter, Dork, Consequence of Sound, Brooklyn Vegan and many more; and it was added to triple j Unearthed who put an artist spotlight on Maple Glider.

‘Swimming‘ is out now, buy/stream it here.



TO ENJOY IS THE ONLY THING
The debut album by Maple Glider
Out June 25th via Pieater (ANZ) and Partisan Records (ROW)
Pre-order is available now.

TRACKLIST
As Tradition
Swimming
View From This Side
Friend
Be Mean, It’s Kinder Than Crying
Good Thing
Baby Tiger
Performer
Mama It’s Christmas

PRAISE FOR MAPLE GLIDER

“Hell of a song and hell of a tone”
Tommy Faith, triple j Unearthed

“Glider’s airy vocals float beautifully throughout the song,
with Iansek’s signature slow-burning and evocative production making for a stunning listen”
NME

“A piece that tries to unravel the intricacies of a religious upbringing and a relationship,
both of which kept her from being her true self”
Bob Boilen (NPR)

“As Tradition quivers with its intimacy,
drawing from the same deeply personal chord of Julia Jacklin and Angie McMahon,
albeit with nuances and touches that make it distinct to herself”
Pilerats

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