Mapei Don't Wait

I don't want to like "Don't Wait" by Stockholm-based singer Mapei. The song piggybacks on a handful of musical devices I have a pretty low tolerance for: Imogen Heap-style vocoder work, a single totally misplaced stanza of unwarranted vanilla rap, and  lyrical composition that sits more or less on par with Kesha in terms of complexity.

I don't want to like it, but despite the aforementioned grievances, I do.

"Don't Wait" is catchy like the flu. The chorus bores deep into your brain. I found myself unconsciously humming it throughout the day long after I had dismissed the song. Mapei's voice is undeniably beautiful. It has a soulful almost gospel like quality that really draws me in. "Don't Wait" is also carried by its incredibly sharp production, and a snap-driven beat that sounds like something off a Big Boi track.

Despite my reservations, I found myself continually revisiting this song. Mapei is slated to release a full length album sometime next year, and I'm curious to see what kind of staying power this single has for me. But for now I'll consider it one of my guiltier pleasures, and keep my eye on rising artist Mapei.