Since moving to Nashville from Philadelphia more than a decade ago, Maria Crawford has carved out a space in the city’s music scene under the name Wilby with uniquely sharp, shimmering indie rock that nods to Sheryl Crow’s bite and Mazzy Star’s dreamlike melodies, landing with the clarity of a voice entirely her own. In recent years, she has evolved from lo-fi bedroom pop to expansive, full-band arrangements that are both unflinchingly honest and sonically ambitious. That growth is clear in singles like “Pleaser” and “Spin,” with introspective songwriting wrapped in luminous guitars and delivered with a vulnerability that resonates as deeply personal yet widely relatable. Her debut full-length, Center of Affection, arrives Oct. 10 via Hit the North Records.
Watch Wilby perform “i got what i asked for,” “Pleaser” and “Spin” live at Bobby Hotel Nashville as part of the 2025 Backyard Sessions curated by WNXP.
