Q&A: Maddy Davis Introduces Her Inner Self in Newest EP ‘MUD’

Q&AMusic

Sep 29

☆ BY Steph Dunlop ☆

SOUNDTRACKING HER OWN COMING-OF-AGE — Maddy Davis’ newest EP, MUD, is a vivid sonic time capsule, capturing the evolution of her mind and self throughout her adolescent years. Showcasing the gentle roughness of teenage years through a vibrant cocktail of cinematic tracks, MUD provides the medium through which the New Jersey–born artist discovered and developed her identities, both as an individual and as a creative.

Taking its title from Davis’ childhood nickname, the EP sits comfortably on the intersection between childhood and adolescence. Through this, Davis perfectly encapsulates the feelings and experiences that build up to and precede adulthood: fear, anger, insecurity, eagerness, passion, and confusion. Merging these emotions with sounds reminiscent of early 2010s coming-of-age films, MUD bonds listeners through its universal relatability, leaving little room for feelings of abnormality.

Lyrically, Davis gains a powerful uniqueness. With improv-style lyrics developed through a process of playing a melody and letting the words flow freely, Davis affirms her own unparalleled style of music creation. Though inspired by big names such as Bruce Springsteen and The Killers, Davis’ music is evidently anything but mainstream.

Read on below as Davis dives deeper into her newest EP, taking us on a journey through MUD’s creation and how it helps define her.

LUNA: Congrats on MUD! The album is named after your childhood nickname — how would you compare the songs on the album to your own personality?

DAVIS: Thank you so much! My sister gave me the nickname “Mud” when I was little because I used to love playing in the mud, and it's somewhat of a play off my name. This EP was truly a coming-of-age project for me. I really feel like I grew up while writing it, and when it was done it felt like such a great introduction to who I am as both an artist and a person. MUD really showcases all of my emotions. There's desperation and eagerness in “Sally! I Met A Boy,” there's insecurity in “Middle Kid,” there's anger in “If You Wrote Me A Song,” confusion in “You Still Send Me Beats Though” and “Kinda Thought,” and sadness in “Don't Be A Stranger.” [It’s] a true rainbow of emotions definitely symbolizes the complete chaos of growing up.

LUNA: Of all the songs on the album, which one means the most to you?

DAVIS: This is such a tough one because all of them mean so much to me and represent different corners of my life. If I had to choose one, I would probably say “Kinda Thought.” Though it wasn't one of the singles, I chose it as the focus track of the EP for a few reasons. It was one of the first songs on the EP that I wrote in early March of 2020. I was so excited about it when I wrote it, then hit a bit of a wall and forgot about it for nearly a year. I revisited it the following January and decided to finish it on my own. Having written and produced this song start to finish by myself — sometimes within the dark lonely hours of COVID lockdown — it really holds a strong significance in my life and reminds me of what I can do with a piano and a broken heart.

LUNA: How would you describe the overall vibe of the album?

DAVIS: Emotionally, I don't think I could pinpoint one consistent vibe. Some themes that I feel represent the overall vibe of MUD would be coming-of-age and the painfulness yet tenderness of growing up. And in terms of genre, I’d say the project exists within the alternative rock/indie-pop spaces.

LUNA: Was there a process behind the ordering of the songs on the album, or is it more randomized?

DAVIS: I really wanted the order of the songs to tell a story. Not necessarily lyrically but so you can listen through it and feel the wave of emotions that I felt while writing it. Starting with “Middle Kid,” it’s almost like, “Okay hey, I’m Maddy, here’s how I see myself” and then finishing with “Kinda Thought,” which reflects on how my expectations for myself and my relationship evolve. I just feel like the whole project is a collection of my inner thoughts and how they grow and change over time.

LUNA: How have you evolved as a musician since you started out?

DAVIS: I technically started out when I was three, when my mom started teaching me the piano, but in terms of how I've changed since I first started releasing music in 2020, pretty much my entire process has shifted. When the pandemic hit, I was super lost and burnt out and didn't know which way was up. At this point, I was writing music because I felt pressured to not because I wanted to, which resulted in me making music that I didn't like at all. When I gave myself the space to redefine why I make music, my whole process changed. Now, when I don't understand something in my brain, I'm able to once again use music as an outlet. Obviously so many nuances within my writing process have evolved, but I definitely would say that the biggest evolution that I've had is just my attitude and my “why?”

LUNA: Do you focus more on the lyrics or the melody when creating a new song?

DAVIS: A lot of times I'll start with a concept in mind, something that's been keeping me up at night or something that crossed my mind while I was walking to class. Then I’ll usually write the melody and lyrics simultaneously. My favorite part of the songwriting process is just hitting record and seeing what comes out of my mouth. Every single song on my EP was written that way, and I love listening back to the original demo that I made up on the fly and seeing how much of what I said made its way into the final song.

LUNA: Which artists inspire you the most?

DAVIS: I always talk about Bruce Springsteen and The Killers, who have inspired me since I was a child, and that will always stay consistent. Recently, my friends are the ones that have been inspiring me the most. I feel so lucky to exist within the same circle as my friends, so many of whom inspire my work ethic, my writing, and just generally my passion for music. I cannot wait for the whole world to see what I've been able to see from them all. I could honestly go on forever but Von, Kid Sistr, Madeleine Mayi, DJ_Dave, Ellie Williams, Chris Emond, and Jelani Aryeh, to name a few.

LUNA: What exciting things do you have in store for the rest of 2022?

DAVIS: I started writing MUD so long ago, so the amount of music I have in the pipeline is definitely exciting for me. My private demo soundcloud playlists keeps getting longer and longer. As for the rest of 2022, I have a bunch of LA shows coming up with a brand new set that I've spent so many hours with my band working on so I absolutely cannot wait for those.

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We couldn’t be more stoked to have Suriel Hess as our new headliner for our upcoming LA show 🤩 🫶 Not gonna lie, us & Notorious Noise kinda went OFF with this line up & you’re not gonna wanna miss it - ticket link in bio 🎫