Intermission - EP

“How does she do it?” Maren Morris asks herself on “cut!”, the winking opening track on this five-pack of songs. Joined by Julia Michaels, Morris pleads for a break from “put[ting] a hell of a show on” in favour of crying it out and taking a breather. A need for peace is a loose theme on this EP, which comes in the wake of Morris’ split from husband and fellow country artist Ryan Hurd. On “i hope i never fall in love”, she swears off romance entirely, asserting that “forever was a fuckin’ lie” with a deceptively pretty melody. “push me over” brings poppy, Ariana Grande-esque production and also turns up the heat as Morris asks a lover to “come closer”. The track seems to nod to her bisexuality, as she references “perfume” and a new kind of experience: “Don’t know what it is, but I like the flavour.” On “because, of course”, Morris shows her loyalty, reassuring with promises to be “a place to land” when the going gets tough. Morris closes Intermission with “this is how a woman leaves”, a defiant if heartbroken account of picking up the pieces after a relationship ends.