What does Mia Doi Todd sound like?

When introspective alt-folk can finally exhale… in Hawaii.

The review of ‘Human Experience’ by Mia Doi Todd

The world around us is a constant inspiration. Mia Doi Todd has spent the last few years living in Maui, Hawaii, with her family. ‘Human Experience’ is something of a chronicle of that experience. Mia says the album came to her in between domestic chores and trips to Maui’s various natural beauty spots. It is an album full of island charm, marking it as the brightest album of Mia Doi Todd’s discography to date.

‘A Song to Make You Smile’ opens with rich, dreamy zithers ringing out over acoustic guitars that threaten to take Hawaiian folk into the rock world but never do. The chords, Mia’s voice, and every aspect of the track are full of colour. The track sparkles with playful percussion and a sunny demeanour. Beyond domestic bliss, ‘Love Is’ takes us into acoustic rock territory as Mia details how a family day together doing simple things can be the best day ever. There is a Beatles beauty to this track, as the brushed waltzing frame of it allows Mia to lilt into curious chord progressions that could sound melancholic, but come across more like escapist dreams. I can see why this was the lead single, as it’s familiar to Todd fans.

‘Loco Moco’ is a delight. The rustic hand percussion of Hawaii takes centre stage over surf rock electric guitar jams and psychfolk vocals. The whooping guiro mixed with almost bossa nova beats creates a dynamic backdrop for a beach shuffle. I could hear a dance version of this doing incredibly well in the summer! It’s a far cry from the taut, demo-like approach to dirge guitar work from Mia’s early records. ‘Matteo’ brings in vibrant, tuned percussion that rings out. Balancing a jazzy approach to cascading plinks and plonks, a driving electric guitar, and warm backing vocals creates a rapid current and flow of beautiful sound. The track gallops and stumbles with handclaps and hand percussion trills, and it feels like the song is one giant love chase.

Since we’re at the beach, Mia Doi Todd takes on reggae with ‘Show Me The Way’. This carefree-sounding track has a fantastic bass groove. I love how the lap steel guitar is integrated into the pre-chorus, and retro synth toms and sirens create strange surprises to keep you guessing. It’s just a happy, affirming song. We then go back to the late 50’s and early 60’s rock n roll with ‘Pink Sunglasses’. These are traditional chuggathon guitar chords following blues patterns, with retro backing vocals, and a party vibe. “Everybody’s feeling warm and fuzzy”, sings Mia, and I agree. Elvis Presley meets The Beach Boys? Who’d have thought it! ‘Mango Tree’ is another reggae track, this time about the scandal of someone else picking your ripe fruit before you do. It has a nursery-rhyme quality to it that feels wonderfully innocent for 2026. Childlike play enters the track from the bridge with a jew’s harp, whistles, and lap steel guitar, all creating a parade of sunshine. If a football anthem were chilling at the poolside with a lemonade, this would be how it would sound.

As the album continues to surprise, we enter the final trio of tracks that offer a very different sound. The title track is a real standout. Mixing the island percussion and ukulele into an alt-folk rock track blends decades of Mia Doi Todd’s songcraft into five minutes of excellence. The chorus rises up like an angelic bliss with a slightly sinister undertone. The step-and-shuffle groove lets the guitar solo unfurl perfectly, winding up the tempo as the track draws to a close. This is the alternative bite always present in Mia’s work. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson guests with strings on the sumptuous ballad ‘Gummy Bears and Jelly Beans’. This ode to a child growing up wraps everyone up in motherly love. It is adorably sweet without feeling saccharine, partly due to its electric grit in the performance.

The closing track is ‘Kaupakalua’. It features George Kahumoku Jr on vocals, Geri Valdriz on lap steel guitar, and is a tribute to Hawaiian mele. A mele is a chant or song that passes on culture and emotion. It is everything you’d expect from a Hawaiian song in the best way. The reggae rhythm bounces with ease, and the warm duet of Mia and George’s vocals make the heart swell.

‘Human Experience’ is very different from Mia Doi Todd’s previous work. In other albums, such as ‘GEA’, there have always been elements of world folk scattered throughout. This album fully embraces Maui, reggae, and early rock and roll earnestly and respectfully. Whilst previous albums have had moments of joy and gratitude, this is a genuinely uplifting and joyful album to embrace. I rarely discover and enjoy happy albums on Higher Plain Music, so well done, Mia, for slipping that in under the radar! Put simply, I think I’ve found my summer album. Now, where is my mango ice cream?

Recommended track: Human Experience

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