Ava Max Shines on Diamonds & Dancefloors.
Written by: Lauren Everett
“It will make you cry and dance at the same time.”
Make no mistake: even in the face of heartbreak, pop princess Ava Max still finds a way to shine, creating her most personal work yet, suitable for crying, clubbing, or even both simultaneously. Written following a particularly bad breakup, Diamonds and Dancefloors’ fourteen tracks chronicle the breakup, while also providing an optimistic outlook on the future as a newly single woman.
“Maybe You’re the Problem”, the album’s lead single, was written immediately following an argument with her now-ex, whose breakup fueled much of the album’s lyrical content, and the raw pain in Max’ voice comes through clear as day to listeners. While emotional at its core, the track is still made to dance to, a recurring theme throughout the album, including standout song “Dancing’s Done”, arguably the best song in her discography.
Ditching her signature “Max Cut” for a new bright red hairdo, the popstar’s new era holds a new, bold energy fitting Dancefloors’ more mature themes than its predecessor, 2020’s Heaven and Hell, yet Max’ ability to create a fun, catchy pop song is still present. With interpolations ranging from “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” by LeAnn Rimes on “Million Dollar Baby” to a sample of the Twisted Nerve score on “Get Outta My Heart”, Max effortlessly creates sleek, modern hits from dated samples, introducing classics to a new generation of listeners.
Despite a number of setbacks, from the album’s original concept being scrapped following her breakup to the entire album being leaked just days before its initial release date in October, one thing remains the same: Ava Max is a star, and at the end of the day, nothing can stop her from shining.