Growing up is rarely cinematic — but in Makaio Huizar’s hands, it becomes a soundtrack. Born into a family of eight siblings and raised in Oceanside, California, Makaio’s early life was shaped by financial strain, divorce, and emotional distance. Now 18 and based in Arizona, he channels those experiences into his debut EP, What Do You Want To Be When You’re Older?, arriving April 24. The 7-song project is a cohesive narrative arc — not just a collection of tracks. It begins with “Older,” a dark bedroom pop confession about isolation and identity confusion. “Father” explores the longing for parental validation, while “Town” reframes a physical place as a metaphor for the mind — claustrophobic, looping, and heavy with intrusive thoughts. Presave the EP Now: http://Makaiohuizar.tunelink.to/whatdoyouwanttobewhenyoureolder At the heart of the EP is “Oceanside,” a soft yet cinematic reflection on brotherhood and childhood trauma. Referencing the avocado tree that stood in front of his childhood home, the song grounds its emotion in vivid, lived-in detail. Home, in Makaio’s world, is complicated — something you miss even when it hurts. The second half of the EP turns inward. “Medicine” confronts emotional dependency in love, while “I’ve Never Been Much Of A […]