Written by: Isabella Martino

Maya Hawke released a brilliant and insightful music video that depicts a queer orgy broken up by the police to accompany her new song “Thérèse.”  

The song is based on the painting “Thérèse Dreaming” by Balthus, which depicts a young girl getting her period for the first time. This is not the first time Hawke has played homage to this work and imagery as she replicated the painting in her music video for her last song, “Blue Hippo.”

Her songs are like little poems and her voice is so unique that there is an appeal to her music for everyone–It’s not uncommon to hear that Maya Hawke is the exception to people’s distaste towards folk music. 

The video is a brilliant depiction of her struggles with sexuality and gender and the way that bodies have been policed by society and our own minds. 

It portrays sexuality as something that is sacred and beautiful–the music video reads as a coming-of-age self-acceptance narrative that counteracts how nudity and law-breaking are traditionally depicted in media.

“We all should aspire not to fear different parts of ourselves because that only makes us fear things in others, and the more we get to know ourselves the more we can love and get to know each other,” Hawke said at her release event.

Maya Hawke’s new album is coming out on September 23; pre-save here!

NSFW content warning for music video below.