Taking on ‘The Modern Mind’: Wellington-based singer Madie tackles mental health awareness on stunning, emotive debut EP
Up-and-coming Wellington-based musician Madie is excited to announce the release of her debut EP. The down to earth 20-year-old singer-songwriter is releasing her four-track EP titled The Modern Mind this November. It all kicks off on the 13th of November with the release of her single Whisper Lies, followed by the remaining three tracks on the 27th of November. The EP has a major focus on mental health, and Madie hopes to raise awareness and money for the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation with the release – 50% of all streaming royalties will go to the foundation’s important work.
Madie is a passionate indie-soul musician raised in Ohakune. Her love for music and performing began at a young age through local theatre and the tight-knit creative community she was brought up in. The turning point was in her early teens when her grandfather passed his guitar down to her. From there the self-taught musician has performed in a variety of competitions, shows, community and charity events. Along the way gaining special mention from former Split Enz member Mike Chunn for her songwriting abilities. Her down-to-earth personality is balanced out by her relatable lyrics and paired with a dusky, compelling voice that is far beyond her years, she is capable of evoking emotion in audiences of all ages, sending out Adele and Amy Winehouse vibes.
The Modern Mind is a personal recount of her own mental health battles, with each song encapsulating a different theme. The single Whisper Lies addresses anxiety, Please Stay is about a suicidal friend, Sanity looks within, and Not Alone is an emotive reminder that there are people out there who can help you. “There is this huge stigma around mental health, especially in New Zealand where we think things are better left unsaid and it’s when those things are left unsaid or not dealt with properly that they lead to the most unfortunate endings. I myself have known far too many people who have been victims of this. I want my EP and me writing about my own mental health experiences to help break the stigma and encourage people to speak out about it, because it is a healthy thing to do.”
The intimate EP is rich with powerful lead vocals and harmonies, as well as fingerstyle guitar that soothes the soul. This EP features the talent of other Wellington artists such as Keith Aaron, Moana Leota, Hunter Davison and Rupert McRae.
The EP will be available to listen to on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Madie hopes to be playing live shows over the summer showcasing her EP and other new works. Down below you will find the links to her social platforms and website.
