Hot on the heels of recent high-profile performances at JUNOFest, SXSW, and Treefort Music Fest, MAUVEY is set to release a new mixtape, BEFORE THE ALBUM 2: a brief overview, on April 14 via 604 Records. 

The Vancouver-based experimental alt-pop artist and songwriter has already shared a double A-side single, “I DARE YOU TO BREAK” and “ON THE 14TH,” a pair of songs that perfectly exemplifies his wide-ranging musical palette. 

“I DARE YOU TO BREAK” is an electro-pop banger with R&B textures and a rap verse, while “ON THE 14TH” is a heart-wrenching ballad with sparse production and top-of-the-lungs vocals. Both are—as is representative of MAUVEY’s work—underscored by a message of love. (His goal last year, he told Canadian Beats in an interview, was to distribute love to as many human beings as physically possible.) 

“Being vulnerable is hard, trusting is hard, some people won't ever get there without being dared to, I know that's true for me,” MAUVEY explained about the single in a press release. “‘I DARE YOU TO BREAK’ is a fun way of yelling. WHATEVER HAPPENS, I'M HERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.”

The new music follows MAUVEY’s last mixtape—a Part 1, if you will—BEFORE THE ALBUM: A love letter to the moons of Mars, which was released last November, as well as an excellent collaboration with Lights, “WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER.” 

Keeping the momentum going for what’s poised to be an exciting year, the visionary artist hits the road with Toronto alt-rockers July Talk for a U.S. tour in April.

If this is all before the album, we can’t wait for the record itself—and everything else MAUVEY has in store. 

BEFORE THE ALBUM 2: a brief overview is out on April 14 via 604 Records.