Recommended Tracks: “Any day now,” “The other shoe,” “The wolf”
Artists You Might Like: Caroline Romano, Rachel Bochner, ROSIE
From her anxieties to her relationship commentary, Maddie Regent has put it all in her songs. Just as the NYC-based indie-pop artist is able to use music as a way to release what she is holding inside, fans have been able to do the same when they listen. They can feel what she tells them, especially when her words are paired with a catchy pop hook and glistening synth riff. Maddie’s previous EPs, MISS REGENT and Girl of Your Dreams, showcase her luminous yet introspective style and how she has evolved over time. However, her debut album, On the phone with my mom, is her strongest project to date, with fourteen tracks that not only explore who Maddie is as an artist but as the person she presents before us today.
One aspect of Maddie’s life pertains to relationships, and she touches on the different impacts they have on her throughout the album. There are tracks like “Sleeptalking” and “The other shoe,” which center on the feeling that things are going south. On the former, she gives in to her intrusive thoughts and asks, “It’s impossible / To give up so easy / Why won’t you just pick the fight?” With the latter, she brings things up a notch and tries to force out the truth. In the choruses, which will stay in your head for days, she sings, “One step over the edge / Just a little regret / Give me something I’ll work with / Say it’s not what you meant,” hoping to justify her feelings.
These songs make others like “Cutie” stand out so easily, as Maddie touches on a solid relationship. She is comfortable here, and we hear it in the lush and gentle production. She is eager to get lost in the memories of this person, and it comes through in her voice as she sings, “You could ask how I’m doing / Say what you’re thinking / Or read me a poem or tell me a secret / Tell me you love me and make me believe it.” At the same time, she knows just how quickly his love can be lost. She explains this on “You could break my heart,” which captures both the sadness and strength that come from heartbreak. Accompanied by bright, driving strings, Maddie reveals, “You could break my heart / Oh, over and over / Don’t you know that I’d let you?” and “You could break my heart / Now that you really know it.” You feel like you’re having a pure moment with her, even though she imagines this moment with her mom, who she would be on the phone with “for like two hours or so” to help her through this.
As she attempts to make sense of the present, Maddie also checks out her past. Feelings of former lovers arise on “Turtleneck” and “The wolf,” where she tries to separate herself from the memories. You feel as if you are traveling through space on “Turtleneck,” whereas on “The wolf,” you are ready to break it down on the dance floor. Both tracks show that she has matured, however, which listeners can also observe on “Miss Virgo.” One of Maddie’s most vulnerable tracks, “Miss Virgo” captures the emotional turmoil she felt when recovering from an eating disorder at 17. The strings bring about a sense of urgency, as if Maddie is determined to break away. Meanwhile, she appreciates the connections she made while in recovery and uses this song as closure. Her past also comes up on “Black Sheep,” where she paints a picture of life in a small town. She mentions Dawson’s Creek, applying sunscreen, listening to the Black Eyed Peas, watching her little sisters, comparing herself to other girls her age—you can’t help but feel as if you are spending the summer with her, teetering somewhere between adolescence and young adulthood.
Maddie rounds out the album with songs that show her as someone who is still figuring out who she is and where she is headed. She sings, “I’m still making my first impression / I’m still growing up” on “Any Day Now,” a restless track that refuses to settle. The pace of the lyrics tries to keep up with the pace of the music, prompting listeners to feel as if Maddie is always on the brink of a breakthrough. Her desire for more also comes through on “Fountain of youth / man is a knife,” as Maddie touches on the struggle to be her own person. It is an eclectic track, mirroring her conflicting feelings, as cosmic and cinematic vibes mix with pulsing, club-ready beats. She ushers us deeper into her feelings on “Girl inside her head.” The track is shorter than the rest, as if the lines we hear are quickly passing through her mind—intrusive thoughts that she does not need to take seriously. It all leads up to the closing track, “Goodnight,” where Maddie tells herself that she’ll “be alright.” In context, this is what she tells herself before going to bed, but it also brings the album to a strong close. It is as if Maddie is reminding listeners that despite all that she has been through on the album, she will be okay.
Overall, On the phone with my mom is the album that Maddie’s fans have been waiting for. She is very clear in what she is conveying on the project, which is someone who is steadily coming into her own. From the insecurities and self-sabotage moments to the moments of maturity and acceptance, the album gives us a strong picture of where Maddie is on her life’s journey. It also gives us a picture of where Maddie is musically, as we hear her express her thoughts through a wide array of sound, whether it is cinematic, lush, upbeat, or driving. In the end, she can stay on the phone with her mom as long as she needs—just as long as she fills us in on all the details of the conversation afterwards.
You can listen to On the phone with my mom here.
Keep up with Maddie Regent: Instagram // X // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Website
