CMAGIC5 crafts her own fairytale ending on ‘Happy Never After’

Recommended Tracks: “Happy Never After,” “No Falling in Love,” “Like a Dream”
Artists You Might Like: Tate McRae, Avril Lavigne, Lady Gaga

The older we get, the more it seems like fairytales are just that—tales. They are not to be mistaken for reality. We don’t need to be rescued by a prince or princess to be happy. We don’t need to go on a journey to a kingdom far away for our lives to change. We don’t need a cute sidekick animal to help us out when times get sticky, even though cute animals are always welcome. No, no, no. What we need is a plot twist, starring ourselves. What we need is Happy Never After, the sophomore EP from pop-rock artist CMAGIC5.

On Happy Never After, CMAGIC5 turns those fairytales upside down and creates a world that is better suited for an anti-prince or anti-princess. We enter this world through the “Intro,” where the vibe goes from Cinderella’s Castle to Haunted Mansion really quick. As we listen to the spooky narrator, we hear about a girl who wants to escape. He claims, “Her blood burns with hunger, with purpose, with power. Ready to break free. They’ll call it ego. They’ll call it madness. She calls it power. Now she’s coming for this world, and nothing will stop her.” Cue the sound of glass shattering.

CMAGIC5 then enters the scene, and she is ready to take back what belongs to her. On “Lego My Ego,” enticing riffs and feisty pop-rock melodies ensue, bringing in some good “bad bitch energy.” Lines like, “Mirror, mirror on the wall / Who’s the baddest of them all?” and “We own the night / We don’t even try,” can definitely stroke someone’s ego, encouraging them to get up, get out, and make a mark. There’s also “Happy Never After,” which focuses on strength after heartbreak. Here, CMAGIC5 sings, “Once upon a time, you loved me / All because I let you break the rules / I played the fool” and “Always in my way, you manipulate / I’m done with fairytales,” turning the lock on this toxic story and throwing away the key. It’s a lively breakup anthem that will have listeners defiantly singing, “Oh no, not another Romeo!” in the choruses. But, if you thought that CMAGIC5 was done calling out her enemies with this one, you are mistaken. On “Passenger Princess,” she really lets this other person have it, telling them that there will be “no more free rides.” She will not be used anymore, and she says so without shame as she shares, “I drove right through your jealousy / Treated you like family / I let you get too addicted / You were just a passenger princess.”

While ending things can be fulfilling and empowering, the process of doing so does not come easy. On “MONSTER,” CMAGIC5 has some hesitation to cut the cord, even though she knows that it is the right move to make. Over the rhythmic drums and steady guitar strums, she describes the sleepless nights and the toxic elements of the relationship. She wants to escape, but admits, “You’re bad for me in every way / But without you, I would go insane.” In the end, she has to confront her fears and turn the darkness into light. This idea also comes up on “Like a Dream.” In this dreamy, futuristic-sounding track, CMAGIC5 looks back on a relationship to find closure. Among the dance beats and cool rhythms, she emits a spark that illuminates the space between the end and the beginning. When you start a new chapter, you tend to romanticize the old one, as heard in lines like, “Wanna make it real, but it feels like a dream.” In the end, that warmth you feel doesn’t need to leave you as you move forward.

As you move forward, you can take some time to have a little bit of fun. To be a little petty. To just do you. On “No Falling in Love,” CMAGIC5 is determined not to catch any feelings. If “Happy Never After” was the breakup anthem, then “No Falling in Love” is the going out anthem. Its vast-sounding melodies and lively synth-pop sound will convince anyone to let loose for a little. It’s true that “nothing ever lasts forever” and “what will be will be,” as CMAGIC5 sings, so as you protect yourself from love and put a pause on relationships, you can still treat yourself to a good time. And if this good time involves being flirty, like it does on “Delirious,” so be it. There is some spice and sass on this power-pop track, with CMAGIC5 wanting to be the top thought on someone’s mind. She asks, “In the middle of the night, am I turning you on?” and “Am I making you delirious?” allowing the desire to take control.

All in all, Happy Never After lets listeners know that they are the ones who can save the day—nobody else. From track to track, CMAGIC5 unleashes a relentless spirit and an unstoppable pop-rock energy that sets the mood for this personalized fairytale, allowing listeners to stroke their own ego, confront their fears, and do what feels right. She also gives these songs her magic touch, making them fresh, exciting, and downright catchy. With Happy Never After, CMAGIC5 embraces a sharper and edgier identity while crafting her own fairytale ending. She lets go of the beautiful, luxurious ending that princesses are known to enjoy and makes room for one that is bigger and better than anyone could ever imagine.