Music Spotlight: Madeleine Mayi
We’re obsessing over LA-based indie rock musician Madeleine Mayi’s latest single love me, appropriately released on February 14. The introspective track expresses a longing for unconditional love in the midst of an all-too-relatable personal battle of self-doubt. love me invades our ears with moody vocals, emotive lyrics + Madeleine’s signature smooth sound. The single is our new melancholic anthem, a beautiful plea for love + what we hope is a window into what we can expect to hear on her highly anticipated debut album. We caught up with Madeleine all about the song, friendships + what’s next.
photo by Ethan Newmyer
Asymmetric Magazine: Congrats on your recent release! Can you tell us about the story behind love me?
Madeleine Mayi: Thank you! love me is about coming out of a really rough time and finally seeing the light. It’s basically you asking yourself to take better care of you. I wrote it with my friend Matt after a hard time, so it means a lot to me.
AM: How does it compare to your previous work?
MM: I think love me is a lot simpler than some of the stuff I’ve written in the past. It takes no backroads to get to the point. I love poetry, but this song is more of a conversation, which is what it needed to be.
AM: Are there any consistent themes you typically pursue through your music?
MM: Yes—very much so. My music is all about friendship and how it helps you learn about the world around you and yourself. My songwriting is always about people and how they get along. I don’t write about romance really; I write about the internal feelings we have about our friends and ourselves that we may not want to admit.
My music is all about friendship and how it helps you learn about the world around you.
AM: For first time listeners, how do you like to describe your sound?
MM: Heartbreak; the loud parts and the soft parts. (Or just rock n’ roll, baby.)
AM: What other musicians are you currently listening to? Do you have a favorite playlist you can share?
MM: Right now I’m listening to a lot of classic rock and a lot of James Blake; also a lot of Japanese House. And this playlist is kind of intense but here you go: don't talk to me.
AM: What’s something that inspires you outside of music?
MM: I’m super inspired by visual art. Some of my favorite memories of the tours I’ve been on are all of the art museums that we get to go to. But most of all, I am inspired by my friends. I write about what’s going on with them in our friendship and in their lives (which hasn’t gotten me in trouble yet—pray for me).
AM: Does living in Los Angeles play a role in your work?
MM: LA is a big part of my music because it’s where I started, but California in general and Santa Barbara (where I grew up) plays into my attitude and art. It’s not far from LA but very different. The simplicity and relaxed aspect of my music definitely comes from there.
AM: Where is one place that you feel completely in touch with your creative self and your music?
MM: A great question. I write all my music in my bedroom. I don’t like writing in studios that much, but I always feel fully me artistically on stage. My managers poke fun at me because I don’t like going to concerts—too many people touching me, too loud, too bright. But when I’m onstage, I get my own space and I feel so free. Who knows.
AM: What can we expect to hear from you next?
MM: I’m working on a full length record, but next up will be another single in May. I’m definitely going to be playing a few shows before then! Just check on my website for the deets.
// listen to love me:
// Listen to more Madeleine Mayi on Spotify.
