Singer-songwriter and Why Don’t We alum Jonah Marais has been through it all — from heartbreak to struggle and even coming to terms with his mother’s cancer diagnosis. It can feel like you’re all alone, and fitting in can seem like a world away. It can feel impossible to see the other side. But what happens when you finally reach that breaking point? Do you overcome it or just let the pain fall apart? Marais is sharing his story in a raw way on his new EP, More Than Enough, and it’s like he’s become your closest friend.
Between punk-rock, 1980s-inspired music and acoustic pop, Marais has been experimenting with who he is as a musical artist since Why Don’t We disbanded in 2022. Nearly a year after releasing his mixtape, The Jonah Marais Mixtape and the song that started it all, “TWISTED LULLABY,” the 26-year-old singer-songwriter is building his discography with relatable and empathetic music, offering a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on for those who need it, which is exactly what More Than Enough achieves.
“It’s exciting. I’m building a catalog now, so when fans go to my artist page, there are more songs to discover,” Marais said in a Zoom call with Melodic Magazine about a month before the EP’s release. “‘TWISTED LULLABY’ was very therapeutic — it got everything out there right away and helped get the ball rolling. But the new music feels like a shift in direction. I’m excited about where it’s headed.”
Over the last couple of years, Marais has tackled vulnerability and authenticity in his solo work — dealing with his mental health in such a public way and having to refine his musical artistry since the band. On this new EP, Marais reflects on his struggles with mental health, sharing his heart fully, especially on the title track, “More Than Enough,” which encapsulates the entire EP. He explained that he went through what he calls “a psychotic episode not sleeping for a few days that ended with [him] in the hospital.”
For Marais, the song “Better Place” was a “big, anthemic song.” He explained that his producer played him an early version during the writing process, but that he wasn’t in the proper mindset and headspace to write it until fall 2024 — around the time when One Direction member Liam Payne died in October 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“But I wasn’t in the right headspace to write it until last fall, around the time Liam passed. That was really hard for me and so many others,” he said. “I’ve dealt with addiction and came from a boy band too — I could relate. I called my bandmates after I heard the news. Just checking in, telling them I love them. Liam was a kind guy. Writing the song after that made it more emotionally grounded.”
Marais shared that this song served a powerful message to help people, as he felt a loss like Payne’s so deeply: “The phrase itself captures what I want people to feel — you are already more than enough. I believe that deeply.” This message carried itself throughout the entire 5-track project, as the singer remained increasingly open and vulnerable.
“Fake Friend” and “Miracle Fruit” — two exciting songs on the EP — came along before The Jonah Marais Mixtape even came to be. Told from a place of vulnerability and honesty, Marais had previously picked five songs for that first project, and “Fake Friend” saw Marais struggling with a friendship, where he “didn’t feel like he could put the words into a conversation with that person, but he was able to put it into a song, and it was really nice to say.”
A song filled with synth pads, specifically Juno synths, Marais asks for clarify and validation from a friend who still matters on “Fake Friend”: “I wanna know what you think about / I wanna know what you think about me now / I wanna know how you see me now / I got to say that I’m thankful for your doubt.” The bittersweetness within his vocals is powerful, and you can hear the sadness pouring out of him.
“I think the main message of the whole thing is just being able to connect with people is so important, and be[ing] vulnerable,” Marais said. “It’s so important. Also, the main message of the EP is that you are more than enough, and I really believe that. And, yeah, sending love to everyone out there.”
After originally putting it all out on the line on “TWISTED LULLABY” nearly a year ago, Marais is deliberately himself on More Than Enough, sharing his honest truths and vulnerable heart with us, all paired with his soaring vocals. From tackling career insecurity to facing death and finding yourself at the bottom, the singer rebuilds everything from the ground up and shows us his soul on his most vulnerable solo music to date.
“Something that’s been helping me lately — I’ve been working with a sports psychologist who said something that stuck: To find your GPS coordinate in life, you need four satellites — your spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health,” Marais shared. “If you get those even a little dialed in, you’ll start to feel your light. I thought that was really profound and just wanted to share it with anyone who might need to hear that.”
Last month, Marais went on his headline tour in Europe, and now will embark on a tour across the U.S. supporting Nightly from May 6 to May 30. For more tour information, visit Marais’ website here.
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