In 2015, Texas native Maren Morris captivated music fans eager for something new with her stellar self-titled EP. The project became an organic hit, earning thousands of streams and leading the singer/songwriter to ink a major label record deal.
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Since the release of her debut full-length record Hero in 2016, Morris has crafted a sound and style that’s all her own. Rather than cater to whatever is currently being embraced by country music’s radio industry, she’s leaned into a mix of elements from a wide range of genres. That creative versatility, which led to hit collaborations with artists like Hozier and Zedd, has made Morris a crossover success.
[RELATED: 3 Songs You Didn’t Know Maren Morris Wrote for Other Artists]
Her latest EP, The Bridge, dropped in September 2023 and marks a moment of transition for the now-33-year-old talent. As we await to see what’s next, let’s explore five underrated Maren Morris deep cuts that need to be on your playlist.
1. “Bummin’ Cigarettes”
Co-written by Morris with Ian Fitchuk and Heather Morgan, “Bummin’ Cigarettes” is one of the best album cuts from Hero. The track’s stripped-down accompaniment allows Morris’s tale of wanting to break out of toxic patterns while searching for love to take centerstage.
2. “Drunk Girls Don’t Cry”
Another gem from Hero, “Drunk Girls Don’t Cry” is a playful anthem for anyone who’s watched their friend get pulled back into a bad relationship. Morris, Barry Dean, and Luke Laird offer lyrics that sound plucked from a Sunday brunch hang between two friends.
3. “Flavor”
Morris declares her intentions to stay true to herself, even if it doesn’t appeal to another person’s palate. “Flavor,” a groovy track from her sophomore LP Girl, showcases Morris’s confident determination to do things her way.
4. “I Wish I Was”
Penned by Morris, Ryan Hurd, and Natalie Hemby, “I Wish I Was” is a lyrical gut-punch from Hero. The track finds the hitmaker admitting her role in a relationship that wasn’t meant to be, while acknowledging the pain that comes with being the one who cuts ties.
5. “What Would This World Do?”
The stunning final track from Morris’s 2022 album Humble Quest is one of her most powerful compositions to date. “What Would This World Do?” was written as a response to the loss of her longtime friend and producer busbee, who died shortly after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019. If you only have time to press play on one Maren Morris deep cut, this song is an essential listen.
Photo Credit: Rachel Deeb/Courtesy of Sacks & Co.
