She’d Die to Write Pop: How Maddie Sue’s “POP SONG” Both Defines and Defies Genre
All images courtesy of Rose Luczaj
Over the past two decades, new music has become increasingly accessible through the rise of streaming platforms and social media, making it easier than ever for aspiring musicians to get discovered. Yet with this heightened availability comes the demand to deliver songs within incredibly fast time frames, often causing artists to sacrifice their unique voices to conform to the pop sound. Although the popular music genre is currently broader than ever, the task of crafting a pop hit can seem daunting to up-and-comers who have struggled to define their own artistry. But pressure makes diamonds, and that is certainly the case with Maddie Sue, in her debut solo single “POP SONG”.
Originally from Weston, Connecticut, Maddie Sue grew up attending a local music school where she learned rock bass guitar and vocals. Although this collective led to great gig opportunities across the state, she always found the most comfort in jamming in her barn with her family. Her father also plays music and exposed her to a variety of genres and bands growing up, including hair metal, Led Zeppelin and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Upon graduating high school, she attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she solidified her passion for songwriting and continued to hone her craft.
“We’re told…a lot of the time that where the money is is pitchable, catchy pop songs,” she said of her musical education, citing Sabrina Carpenter as an example of a hitmaker. “I’ve always tried to move with the trends…and that’s never really worked or felt natural to me. I think anger is a lot more natural.”
With this realization came the idea to capture a feeling in a song rather than convey a strong lyrical message. In order to sing more passionately, Maddie Sue abandoned all focus on confining her writing to genre, and instead followed an instinct that led her to return to her rock and roll roots in a more modern way. This sentiment ultimately gave way to “POP SONG”, which was released on May 9 of this year.
After coming up with the chorus one night, Maddie Sue wrote and recorded the entire demo in the shower of her barn with her younger brother, who played the original drum track. Once she had the structure complete, she worked with local Boston producer and sound engineer Mike Midura – a fellow Berklee graduate – to record, mix and master the song, which is now available on Spotify and Apple Music.
“POP SONG” is a frustration-filled ode to the duality of genre, and how it can be both confining and freeing all at once. With a dreamy intro, catchy chorus, and killer bassline, it has all the makings of a pop hit; but the influences of live instrumentation and punk rock are ever present in the drum fills, vocal harmonies, and grunty guitar tone. All of this leads to the conclusion that popular songwriting is about making the genre work for you, and not the other way around.
“It kind of has to be two machines in you. You have to feed the practical stuff…and at the same time, leave space to feed your creative machine,” Maddie Sue said of striking a balance between a successful musical career and staying true to your artistic vision. “A lot of people come out of Berklee saying that they don’t find music pleasurable, or relaxing, or meditative to them anymore. I think that’s why it’s so important to separate those things.”