Madeline Rhodes is back with her track, ‘Pep Talk,’ for any indie-pop darling; her candour in lyrics with sparkling melodies rests atop her standout and catchy singles and almost brutally transcendent inspection of mental health. ‘Pep Talk’ jumps in with a bold statement from Madeline, quickly slotting listeners in: “I Woke Up”. The beat, with a heartbeat-style percussion, sets the foundation for being rhythmic before it launches into a vibrant pop vibe. Supported by layered vocals and harmonies, Madeline’s voice glides smoothly from sweet to powerful, carrying the essence of the lyrical depth in the track.
Growing up on the Upper West Side of New York City, Madeline took many cues from her youth as a “feral” thoroughbred raised entirely by women. Her background in musical theatre and life experience contributed to what makes her sound—in cool colours. It is through her songwriting that Madeline has found solace and liberation, and this bleeds on every note of ‘Pep Talk.’ Last June 2018, though Madeline started releasing her music under the the nickname, MuMu, the the debut feminist “Free the Nip” went viral. This became an anthem at a lot of Pride events and festivals, with Madeline opening for acts like Pussy Riot and Todrick Hall. Her music vessel is one that touches so many people, and her new stuff under her given name is taking a more vulnerable approach to making it an intimate project.
‘Pep Talk’ is the third single unveiled from her forthcoming full-length LP ‘The Brothel’ and is just one of a sad number of scenarios in which Madeline’s self-exploration brings forth a painfully relatable inner monologue. The lyrics are raw and honest and show a struggle of negative self-talk and inner doubt: “criticizing, paralyzing, go outside and stop your whining, no one’s listening anyway.” The anthemic chorus offers a powerful revelation when she insists that her self-loathing saboteur gets out of her head so she can be her best friend. Musically, the song is plastered with sugary pop hooks that one can’t shake, making “Pep Talk” both emotionally challenging and undeniably catchy. Her lyrics find a way to chart around the toxicity of positive thinking, underlaid by those important realities of mental illness, self-loathing, and addiction, and yet—she has melodies that are entrancing. It’s quite the tear, offering up a new way for listeners to safely dive into their darkness.
With production carried out by Certain Self—a.k.a. NYC-based producer, songwriter, and engineer Zeno Pittarelli—’Pep Talk’ sparkles with his signature: ethereal pop with a tinge of alt-folk aesthetics. This collaboration added an emotional touch to the track, which took it a little further and made it stand out in the evolving discography of Madeline Rhodes.
The switch to something more vulnerably styled, brave self-disclosure in memoir pop is a genuinely exciting, authentic spark in the landscape of modern music. “Pep Talk” is a war cry for self-love, with the listeners being urged to be their best friends. With an LP on the near horizon, The Brothel, this would be hoped to mean that “Pep Talk” only establishes a bar for what is coming from this young songstress.
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You can listen to ‘Pep Talk’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.