On July 19, Maia, professionally known as mxmtoon, kicked off the hot summer night with a fun and upbeat performance to ramp up the crowd for AJR’s highly anticipated The Maybe Man Tour stop at Ball Arena in Denver, CO. mxmtoon set the perfect tone for the evening ahead with her blend of indie-pop and folk sounds.

From self-releasing songs on YouTube to headlining her own tours to now opening for stadium tours, mxmtoon’s music trajectory has skyrocketed since releasing her 2017 collaboration with Peachy!, “Falling for U,” where she then released her debut EP, Plum Blossom, and set out on her Plum Blossom Tour the following year. After years of releasing new music and performing at intimate venues, mxmtoon has been guest appearing on larger tours with artists such as Cavetown and AJR.

Fans welcomed mxmtoon to the stage as she ran from the shadows to greet the crowd. mxmtoon opened with her song “fever dream” from her 2020 album, dawn. mxmtoon’s soulful voice effortlessly drew everyone into her world of introspective melodies and poetic lyrics. She then went into her catchy upbeat song ironically titled “frown.”

Throughout her set, mxmtoon’s connection with the audience was wholesome. She expressed her gratitude for being able to perform for such a large crowd and for all the support she has received. She told the journey of her career as an artist while navigating life as a young woman. Her song “seasonal depression” exemplified her emotions and struck a chord with her listeners touching on self-discovery and emotional growth. 

A special moment of the night was when mxmtoon performed her famous TikTok track, “Prom Dress.” Fans excitedly sang along to the lyrics as mxmtoon danced around the stage. She then asked the crowd, “Do you guys know The Lego Movie?,” which received loud applause. “Well, this next song is inspired by ‘Everything is AWESOME!’” The crowd cheered as mxmtoon went into her song “coming of age.”

For her final song, mxmtoon closed her set with another fan favorite, “Mona Lisa.” Fans sang along and pulled out their phone flashlight illuminating mxmtoon in a sea of sparkles. As the song came to an end, mxmtoon thanked her fans again and waved enthusiastically as she walked off the stage.

mxmtoon’s opening act for AJR was a moment filled with nostalgia and euphoria. Her unique blend of dreamy vocals, vibrant melodies, and infectious stage presence created an unforgettable start to The Maybe Man Tour. mxmtoon still has many stops with AJR on tour and you can catch her opening set if you haven't had the opportunity already.

What’s your favorite mxmtoon track? Let us know by leaving a comment below or by reaching out on Instagram or X (Twitter)!

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Edited by Martina Yee