Q&A: Maria Lane Bares All in New Album, 'Black and Blue Deluxe: Deeper Shades'
WRITTEN BY FAITH LUEVANOS
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Taking a closer look into intimacy and the trials and tribulations that come with it, singer/songwriter Maria Lane captures it all in her latest album, Black and Blue Deluxe: Deeper Shades. Overflowing with vulnerability, the album shares the story of her personal experiences with intimacy and the trust that can be formed or broken along with it.
Inspired by the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Lizzy McAlpine, Lane has paved her own path with intricate storytelling and gentle vocals. Lane shares that this album symbolizes the betrayal and complicated aftermath when a person who hurts you tries to remain close to you, still reaches for you, but you can’t give in. "Unraveling that betrayal also comes with questioning your worth, your beauty, and feeling sick remembering the first time they kissed you, realizing what it’s all led to. The song captures the push and pull between longing and self-preservation, between missing what was and knowing you can’t go back."
Recently, Life On Jupiter had the chance to sit down with Lane to delve into the creation of Black and Blue Deluxe: Deeper Shades, explore the musical influences that shaped it, and hear the heartfelt message she hopes to share with her listeners.
LIFE ON JUPITER: What inspired the creation of the deluxe album and did it feel like a continuous story?
MARIA LANE: At the start of last year, I had written “Empty Bed, Empty Sheets,” and it felt like the next chapter—diving deeper into the intimacy side of things. Intimacy has never come easy for me. My first time was with a stranger who was just after my virginity, and that experience really impacted how I understood closeness, trust, and my own worth. On the deluxe, there’s a song called “It’s Not You, It’s Me (Afraid of Making Love)” that unpacks how all of that began. The extended edition of this album is about intimacy in a relationship all the way to experiencing it with strangers again, and how it can become a cycle of “casual” intimacy, which, to me, feels like a very different kind of loneliness.
Within the entire album as a whole, were there any specific songs that felt the most challenging to write?
LANE: “Painted a Certain Color” was definitely the most challenging, it’s rooted in reclaiming my identity after it had been shaped and distorted by someone else. It’s raw and reflective, and because it’s the final track, it felt like writing the “credits” to a very personal film. Capturing the weight of all that came before it while still ending on a note of self-empowerment was delicate but important.
Who are some of your musical inspirations that have shined throughout the album?
LANE: Sonically, I was very inspired by Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher and Lizzy McAlpine’s entire discography. They both have this cinematic flair that I tried to weave into my own songs, and their ability to capture vulnerability really impacted how I wrote. Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet also influenced some of the newer tracks. I was especially inspired by how unapologetic she is in calling people out. I leaned into that energy, especially in songs like “Safekeeping,” “Body Count,” and “Placeholder.” It ended up being a mix of folk melancholy with a bit more edge.
What sort of visual landscape do you envision when you think of the album?
LANE: I always picture somewhere up north—gray skies, the kind of cold that bites at your skin, fog rolling in slowly over a quiet, deserted beach. It’s 40 degrees, the water is freezing, and everything feels still. That’s the emotional landscape of the album: standing barefoot at the edge of something vast and cold, trying to make sense of what just happened. For the cover, I was actually in freezing cold water on a not-so-warm day, and the physical numbness felt symbolic of everything I was holding emotionally.
What message do you hope to convey to listeners with this album?
LANE: I hope listeners find comfort in knowing that their scars, their trauma, and their struggles are valid. We all have our own battles, and sometimes we end up loving the wrong person instead of the right one. But you are not alone in this, and I hope these songs can make you feel seen, understood, and accepted.
What were some highlights while making the album?
LANE: Every time I start a new project, I get so excited about the visual elements. I immediately think of the cover art and the backdrop I want to create to tell the story. I really love how the album’s visuals turned out, from being freezing cold in ocean water drenched in a white dress to being stripped to intimates in an empty bed. It's all part of the emotional journey I wanted to capture. I loved bringing these to life with photographers Lucy Blumenfield and Maddie Barkocy. I had so much fun making this album with Justin Meyer, we really created a safe space to explore and be honest. One of my favorite parts was how connected the songs ended up being. There are little lyrical and musical callbacks woven throughout the record, and I wanted it to feel like a movie told in songs, one long, emotional arc from beginning to end. I also loved highlighting the amazing musicians I got to work with: Hannah Burke on cello, Jessica Li on violin, and Andrew Friedman on steel pedal. And mastering by Joey Messina-Doerning really brought everything together in the end.
What drives you to make music?
LANE: What drives me to make music is the way it allows me to communicate emotions and experiences in a way that words alone can’t. I’ve always loved storytelling, how a song’s lyrics, melodies, and vocal delivery can come together to capture a feeling. Music has been a huge part of my life growing up, and I was inspired by so many different artists. Now, I hope to be that source of inspiration for others. More than anything, I love providing comfort to listeners, giving them a space where they feel understood.