Interview & Article by Brittany Ormiston

Maddy, you’re a star. Indie pop-rock artist Maddy Davis utilizes her songwriting abilities to reflect on personal experiences, keep her childlike spirit alive, and take a stand against society’s unrealistic norms. Her first EP MUD zeroed in on the themes of growing up, and figuring out who she was as a person and artist. Maddy’s newest project Would You Object for a Happier Life? follows the same trajectory, but with more mature writing and rejecting the idea of settling down in her early 20s. “This project was really inspired by me figuring out who I want to surround myself with, and how that is okay right now. It’s okay that I am still figuring it out. It’s okay that I am still learning,” explains Maddy. Although Maddy has kept a firm hand regarding her future, she used her storytelling to paint a picture of an alternate, imaginary life.

Being in this headspace when writing the EP allowed Maddy to realize getting married, becoming a mother, and having the white picket fence is not as scary as it seemed. Nonetheless, Maddy is certain that other life will stay hidden in her music for now. “I don’t want to settle down. I want to be chaotic,” laughs Maddy. Would You Object for a Happier Life? has been several years in the making, and Maddy has performed the tracks since November 2021. She has been able to revisit the project and add new touches to them, making them fresh and vibrant. Maddy has released one single at a time, and listeners are on the edge of their seats eager for more. Three singles are out in the world currently, and ‘If I Loved You, I’m Sorry’ is set to be released on October 18th. This one is significant because Maddy had the opportunity to collaborate with someone new to her circle, producer Saint Patrick. Maddy shares, “...It was the first time I made something that I really felt connected to and it was really exciting.”

Would You Object for a Happier Life? has several musical influences that stem from Maddy’s childhood in New Jersey. The EP is influenced by Bruce Springsteen, who is also from New Jersey. “The way that he speaks about his life there is really inspiring, and the way he can paint a picture of the lifestyle is really beautiful,” says Maddy. The last song on Maddy’s EP, ‘American Dream,’ is influenced by his energy and instrumentation, and will be out in December. The EP is also heavily inspired by Brandon Flowers from The Killers, specifically their album Pressure Machine. This album takes on a “dystopian vibe of a suburban community.” After years of listening to these tracks, Maddy is able to truly understand the meaning behind the body of work and therefore channel it into her own songwriting. Flowers has always been a role model for Maddy, and is one of the main reasons she became an artist.

When Maddy was 7-8 years old, she attended her first concert at an outdoor amphitheater in New Jersey with her mother and sister. The Killers were headlining the show, and those moments hit her as “this is my dream.” Maddy further explained, “I remember looking up at Brandon Flowers, and being like I wanna do that. That is exactly what I want to do.” Maddy was always surrounded by music and took piano lessons at a young age. Her first musical memory is when her Mom would play piano at the bottom of the stairs when she was falling asleep. Between growing up in a musical household and being in the crowd at The Killers, Maddy knew from a young age she wanted to pursue music. She never doubted her path despite countless individuals telling her she “would not want to be a pop star forever, and would grow out of it.” Maddy proved them all wrong, and her fiery child-like spirit and love for music burns as bright as ever.

Maddy credits her siblings as her fountain of youth. She claims, “When it’s specifically the three of us it’s so much fun, and I am immediately replenished.” She also finds comfort in knowing there are countless places to explore, which helps her with “the Sunday scaries of life.” Maddy’s several cross-country trips have helped with her sense of self, and finding herself again in those moments of feeling astray. To further add perspective and spark creativity, Maddy will hopefully be touring within the next 6 months or so. “I feel like my music is meant to be heard live so I want to be performing as much as I can,” expresses Maddy. With the rest of her EP release and gigs on the horizon, Maddy is living out her dream and proving she is not just another girl.

Maddy Davis

Sam Short