Some artists chase spectacle. Makaio Huizar chooses introspection.

At 18, while many are still defining themselves privately, Huizar has decided to do it publicly. His debut EP, What Do You Want To Be When You’re Older?, documents a transitional period with striking composure.

The project opens in uncertainty. Themes of isolation and emotional confusion dominate the early tracks. As the EP progresses, the narrative shifts. Responsibility replaces blame. Reflection replaces reaction.

The emotional climax arrives not in confrontation, but in aspiration. “Stars” closes the project with quiet ambition. After wrestling with identity and memory, Huizar answers the question posed in the title. He wants to be a star.

Not as fantasy. As possibility.

The strength of the EP lies in restraint. The production does not overwhelm. The lyrics do not exaggerate. Instead, the project invites listeners to sit inside its vulnerability.

For an artist at the beginning of his career, that level of clarity is notable. Huizar is not presenting a finished identity. He is presenting evolution in progress.

And that may be what makes this debut compelling.

Presave the EP Now: http://Makaiohuizar.tunelink.to/whatdoyouwanttobewhenyoureolder

At just 18 years old, Arizona-based singer-songwriter Makaio Huizar is emerging as a distinct voice in independent alternative pop, blending elements of bedroom pop, folk pop, dream pop, and atmospheric songwriting into deeply personal music. With over 355,000 total streams across his catalog — including breakout tracks “What Am I Waiting For?” and “Town” — Makaio has steadily built a dedicated audience drawn to his confessional lyricism and immersive sound.

His upcoming debut EP, What Do You Want To Be When You’re Older?, out April 24, unfolds like a series of diary entries that explore identity, mental health, family dynamics, love, accountability, and the uncertainty of growing up. Each of the seven tracks offers emotional honesty and narrative cohesion, peaking with the expansive closer “Stars,” where Makaio answers the central question of the project with quiet ambition: he wants to be a star.

Raised in Oceanside, California, in a large family shaped by struggle and resilience, Makaio channels lived experience into music that resonates with listeners navigating change, confusion, and self-discovery. Recognized in 2025 by Broken8Records as an “Artist To Watch” and “One of Arizona’s Most Promising Young Artists,” he is positioning himself as a defining voice for a generation that values vulnerability over spectacle.

Presave the EP Now: http://Makaiohuizar.tunelink.to/whatdoyouwanttobewhenyoureolder

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