Maria Karakusheva blooms with strength and grace in “The Wild Iris”

In “The Wild Iris,” Maria Karakusheva welcomes us into a world where vulnerability is not weakness, it’s the foundation of resilience. The latest single from her upcoming album, “Forget Me Not,” this soulful piano piece is packed with as much personal reflection as it is a universal declaration of life. Karakusheva’s soft but purposeful touch at the piano is a statement. It’s like walking through a quiet field after a storm. The music releases space for feelings to change.

“The Wild Iris” proposes that our greatest strength lies in letting ourselves feel everything, from sadness and fear to awe. This is a masterclass in expressive reserve. Every phrase sounds intentional as if she’s carefully selecting her words for a heart-to-heart with the listener. The swelling of the tune also matches the emotional push and pull of reflection, high points of realization, low points where you have to simply reflect, and slow spots where things just stop to catch their breath. “The Wild Iris” reaches out with grace and reminds us that femininity isn’t at one pole of a binary with strength on the other, the two are a pair, intertwined.

The music pulses with the quiet assurance of someone who has known hardship and elected to rise. This is a place to be still, to remember yourself, and to be present to witness your own persistence and find the beauty in it. With “The Wild Iris,” Maria Karakusheva continues to broaden our understanding of power and the courage involved in blooming in all kinds of weather. And if this single is any indication of what we can expect to hear from “Forget Me Not,” we’re in for a treat.