Maria Deirisarri – ‘Si Vis Pacem’ [Album Review]

At just 19 years old, Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Maria Deirisarri introduces herself with Si Vis Pacem, a five-track debut EP that’s equal parts statement of intent and emotional excavation. Drawing on Latin philosophy, cinematic textures, and an impressive vocal control well beyond her years, Deirisarri threads together five thematic “paths to peace” – each embodied in a distinct song.

The title borrows from the Latin adage si vis pacem, para bellum (“if you want peace, prepare for war”), setting a conceptual foundation that’s as introspective as it is expansive. These aren’t just songs – they’re meditations on vengeance, romance, solitude, forgiveness, and spirituality, all seen through the lens of a young artist confronting the emotional extremes of early adulthood.

Opening track “Parabellum” (featuring Corey Kilgannon) sets the tone with a minimalist live take, recorded in a single session without overdubs, that captures the haunting stillness before a personal storm. Its raw delivery and subdued instrumentation amplify the tension that simmers beneath Deirisarri’s breathy vocal lines.

The mood pivots with “bluejay,” a bossa nova-tinged reverie that leans into a lighter, almost nostalgic tone. With analog textures and subtle imperfections left intact, the track feels like a candid diary entry – euphoric and fleeting. It’s a sonic foil to the heavier emotional terrain found later on the EP.

On “And I’ll Fly,” Deirisarri takes a more reflective route, weaving natural imagery into a soundscape of layered acoustic guitars and soft piano. The song’s slow build mirrors a personal metamorphosis, from self-doubt to quiet resolve, and serves as the EP’s emotional centerpiece.

“Letting It Go” strips things down again, this time in service of emotional release. Deirisarri’s vocal phrasing here is especially poignant – fragile but never weak – as she grapples with the complexities of forgiveness. It’s a moment of raw catharsis, understated but deeply felt.

Closing track “Prayer” veers into experimental territory, sung entirely in a self-invented language that leans more on vocal tone and texture than literal meaning. The spiritual undertone, combined with cinematic influences (reminiscent of Ludwig Göransson’s and Baaba Maal’s work on Black Panther), elevates the piece into something primal and borderless.

What makes Si Vis Pacem such a compelling debut is Deirisarri’s unwavering thematic focus, matched by a willingness to explore genre and form without losing cohesion. Each track feels like a chapter in a larger story, with lyrical and sonic motifs that echo and evolve throughout. The production, tastefully restrained yet emotionally resonant, lets Deirisarri’s voice carry the narrative, but leaves enough space for mood and meaning to linger.

Maria Deirisarri, image by Beatriz Deirisarri

For a debut, Si Vis Pacem is remarkably self-assured. It doesn’t chase trends or bend to commercial expectations. Instead, Maria Deirisarri offers a deeply personal, beautifully structured body of work that invites listeners to reflect, surrender, and search. She’s not just asking for peace – she’s earning it, one track at a time.

Si Vis Pacem Track Listing:
1. Parabellum
2. bluejay
3. And I’ll Fly
4. Letting It Go
5. Prayer

Run Time: 19:56
Release Date: September 19, 2025
Record Label: Independent Release