Berlin has long been a sanctuary for those looking to turn their shadows into art, a city where the past and present collide in a beautiful, gritty mess. On December 12, 2025, the international alternative rock outfit Maia and the Squires added a poignant new layer to the city’s sonic tapestry with the release of their single Long Gone. This track is far more than just a typical indie release; it is a deeply personal excavation of memory and the complex emotional labor of love. Dealing with the heavy reality of mental illness, the song serves as a bridge between a difficult past and a healing present. It is a rare piece of music that manages to be both hauntingly specific and universally resonant, marking the band as a vital new voice in the European underground.
The creative heart of Long Gone is rooted in the lived experience of lead singer Maia Luker, who wrote the track from the perspective of her younger self. The song is inspired by her childhood in Buenos Aires, growing up alongside a grandmother who lived with schizophrenia. It captures that strange, disorienting feeling of being physically close to someone who is mentally lost in an entirely different space and time. For anyone who has ever acted as a caregiver or witnessed a loved one slip away into the fog of illness, the track feels like a mirror. It documents the friction between being present in a room and feeling the crushing weight of a disappearance that leaves no empty chair.
Maia describes the writing process as a necessary release for emotions she had carried since she was a girl. A recent experience triggered those old memories, leading to a session where the lyrics finally took flight. The song focuses on the small, devastating details that define the life of a caregiver: a cold cup of tea, a coat left on a seat, or the eerie feeling of being a forgotten friend in a permanent game of hide and seek. These images paint a picture of helplessness and devotion, highlighting the delicate line between caring for someone and feeling utterly lost yourself. It is a song that values honesty over comfort, choosing to stare directly into the pain.
Formed in Berlin in 2024, Maia and the Squires are a testament to the city’s ability to draw talent from every corner of the globe. The band features a wide cultural background that informs their eclectic and powerful sound. Guitarist Phan Anh hails from Hanoi, Vietnam, while drummer Merlin Ricco Laudien comes from Buxtehude, Germany. Bassist Ulysse Zimmer represents Vaux, France, and Maia Luker brings her Argentine roots to the vocals and guitar. This intersection of cultures creates a musical silk road that allows them to blend diverse influences into a cohesive and strikingly authentic alternative rock identity.
Their signature sound is a deliberate balance between the dreamy and the abrasive. Heavily inspired by the raw energy of 90s alternative rock, shoegaze, and grunge, the band creates immersive sonic worlds. They combine ethereal melodies with a powerful driving energy that keeps the listener engaged while letting the storytelling lead the way. The use of atmospheric sounds and gritty textures ensures that their music feels grounded and alive, avoiding the over-polished sheen of mainstream pop. It is a sound designed for a community that values sincerity and wants to feel seen in their own struggles and triumphs.
Long Gone serves as a masterclass in this “dreamy vs. abrasive” philosophy. The track builds a soft, atmospheric layer that reflects the confusion and distance of the lyrics, only to be punctuated by the grit of the guitars. This musical contrast mirrors the internal conflict of the caregiver: the softness of love meeting the harsh reality of an illness that cannot be fixed with a song. By grounding the track in such heavy personal truth, the band has created something that transcends mere entertainment. They are building a community of listeners who find strength in the shared acknowledgment of difficult things.
This release is just the beginning of what promises to be a massive year for the group. Long Gone acts as the lead-in for their upcoming single, Spaghetti for Breakfast, which is scheduled to drop on March 27th. Both tracks will be featured on their highly anticipated debut EP, Sinking Into The Ocean, arriving on May 8th. The band plans to celebrate the EP release with a major concert in Berlin, followed by a string of shows across Germany. This roadmap shows a band that is confident in its vision and ready to take its message of authentic, powerful connection to a much wider audience.
The power of Maia and the Squires lies in their commitment to emotional transparency. In a world that often encourages us to hide our struggles, they choose to wear them openly on their sleeves. They believe in creating songs that make people feel accepted, regardless of the baggage they might be carrying. By turning the pain of her childhood into a song like Long Gone, Maia Luker has provided a sense of solace for others who may be navigating similar waters. The band proves that when you lean into the rawness of your own story, you create something that is not just beautiful, but deeply necessary.
As we look toward the May release of Sinking Into The Ocean, Long Gone stands as a lighthouse in their discography. it is a song that rewards repeat listens, revealing new layers of instrumentation and lyrical depth with every spin. Maia and the Squires have successfully captured the ghost of a shared experience, documenting the disappearance of a loved one with grace and grit. They are a band that understands the value of the quiet moments and the loud declarations alike. If you are looking for music that stays with you long after the final note has faded, your journey starts here.
