Last Year Was Weird trilogy is an open sandbox, a way for the Australian artist to try out as many genres as she likes without overcommitting. Since the first volume arrived in 2018, sheâs paved a fresh, reliable lane: With a dexterous flow and a close ear for wordplay and melody, she infuses her music with a breezy, effortless mix of pop, rap, R&B, and reggae. The new Vol. 3 caps off the EP series with another round of plush, laid-back songs that mingle with some of her toughest rapping yet. Her bright, boastful personality remains front and center. Vol. 3âs songs are newly tactile: Maidza is soft like cashmere and rich like syrup, comparing a loverâs bond to sticky honey. The lyrical flourishes give way to deeper ideas as she digs into the sense that sheâs been overlooked, whether by a former flame or the public at large. âYes Lord, I been slept on,â she sings over a jittery beat and choral backing vocals on âHigh Beams.â Maidza, of course, is nonplussed: âThey late, canât cope.â On the leisurely âCashmere,â she allows a more vulnerable side through: âI disconnected myself,â she sings in a lilting voice before letting loose a haymaker: âAnd when I wanted your wisdom/You just gave me a reason to put a hole in your chest.â The delicate balance between big talk and forthright emotion colors the EP, closing the distance between Maidza as a person and a performer.