‘The Illawarra’ is a tight, new piece of electro-soul that packs a hefty, emotional punch, from the tasteful and talented MADELINE.
Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, ‘MADELINE.’ is a singer and songwriter whose classically inspired sound is dramatic and grand, and her latest single release, ‘The Illawarra’, it is also exceedingly lush. This gorgeous piece of music was conceived by MADELINE. as was writing it through the eyes of a stranger she came across at the Illawarra Hotel while she was living in Australia. Telling a story of a young girl who was trying to party away the pain of heartbreak and humiliation, the song comes across as poignant in its words, sincere in its delivery, and elegant in its composition. A true pleasure to experience.
With production done by the Wellington-based Jake Stokes, the song’s grandiose sound is courtesy of a number of neat production choices, chief among which is the filtered grand piano, hitting big-sounding chords, all airy and striking, and strictly at the first measure of each bar, giving each hit a weighted punch. The vocal layering is fantastic, with a litany of snaking lines swirling their way around MADELINE’s stunning main vocal line. ‘The Illawarra’ is an extremely rich piece of vocal orchestration. Fluttering vocalized counterpoints, to full-on backing harmony lines. The lyrics are also mature and poignant, if undignified. MADELINE. is describing -with bravery- a lover at one of their lowest points, doing all sorts of questionable behaviors, just to ease some pain away. The contrast between the grittiness of the lyrics and the elegance of the composition and arrangement brings a certain depth to the song that does well to elevate ‘The Illawarra’ as a bit of beautiful, self-conscious neo-pop.
This song is beautiful and for all the reasons. MADELINE’s vocals are effortless and low-maintenance, making them immersive and inviting. The music is grand, the production is detailed and rich, and the words are descriptive and mature. MADELINE. is a gifted musician, and she is only just starting.