Q&A With Maddie Regent

Maddie Regent is making waves in the indie pop scene with her heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies, and voice that lingers long after the song ends. Through her raw storytelling and genre-blending sound, Maddie has built a loyal following. With her latest release, she continues to evolve as an artist, exploring themes of love, self-discovery, and resilience. We had the chance to sit down with Maddie. We discussed her musical journey and creative process. Fans can expect to hear what’s next from her.

Answers To Your Burning Questions

Maddie Regent is an artist on the rise, and with each release, she continues to captivate listeners with her ethereal voice and evocative storytelling. Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or have been following her journey from the start, there’s no doubt that Maddie Regent is a name to watch in the indie music scene.

Below is a Q&A with Maddie Regent and Switching Styles.

If you could describe your debut album in three words, what would they be?

Honest, green, and girlhood 

Can you walk us through the creative process behind your upcoming album, On the Phone with My Mom?

The process began in my home studio, which I share with my boyfriend and producer, Cade Hoppe. We often wrote from quotes that we collected after I vented to him for a while about certain things as he worked on a production idea.

You mentioned working with Cade Hoppe in your home studio on “On the Phone with My Mom.” Could you elaborate on the role of collaboration in your music-making process and your dynamic with him?

I feel really lucky to work with someone I admire as a writer and musician. Cade has some of the best lyrical ideas, and the fact that we are so comfortable with each other means there are no limits to what we can do together. Often it starts with a production idea that Cade has, and then it’s a lot of conversation. Sometimes I’ll have a concept and melody but no way to fit words into the puzzle, and Cade can take a step back and work on it while I move onto something else. It was seamless and once we got into a groove it’s hard to imagine that I ever made music differently. 

That’s a wonderful approach to crafting a raw and emotional song. Are there any quotes or lyrics that particularly resonate with you?

From “The Wolf,” my favourite lyric is, “You may as well bite me to kill if you can’t love me. Maybe no one will.” I think this is how my anxiety used to work when it came to relationships. That no matter how horrible someone was to me I still needed their validation. It makes me sad and angry for the girl this song is from the perspective of. How dare these people take advantage of my kindness? How dare I be forced to become colder to protect myself from them? 

What’s the story or inspiration behind the album?

On the phone with my mom is meant to be a look underneath the glossy mask I put on for so long. I’ve worked so hard to appear like I have it together, but I’m just an anxious kid afraid of rejection. As a woman, so much of my life was about pleasing others, and I wanted to make an album for myself and others who can relate to that pressure. 

What advice would you offer to fellow people pleasers who relate to your album?

Learn to live with being uncomfortable.

Were there any unexpected challenges or surprises during its creation?

As with many things that come with being an independent artist, it can be tough to continue to create an album when you have no set deadlines. So making sure we kept to a schedule was key. I owe all that to Cade who, after we finished the “fun part” which was the writing and producing of a song, made sure we actually finished every song in mixing and mastering. 

You talked about following a schedule to make sure the album’s completion. How do you sustain your creative energy and focus under deadline pressure, and what strategies keep the process enjoyable?

I think taking breaks is really important to keep up the energy. Knowing when to call it a day is the key for me. And with that I think it’s also important to be flexible, and adjust schedules because things happen that are out of our control. To keep the process enjoyable I think it’s important to sometimes not take it so seriously. Often, the most fun songs to make were ones we started kind of as a joke/just as an exercise. When you stop putting pressure on making every song perfect or “album worthy” and just have fun, I think that’s where the really good stuff comes from. 

How do you hope this album resonates with your fans?

Growing up I felt very alone, and it wasn’t until I saw art that reflected my own feelings that I realized there are people out there that I could relate to and/or learn from. So, I hope whoever listens to this project can take something from it and feel validated. 

Your latest single, The Wolf, just dropped! How does it set the tone for the rest of the album?

I love this song because along with the first two singles I released—“Sleeptalking” and “You Could Break My Heart”—all three create a picture of what the album sounds like. This one is an upbeat, cathartic pop song that wants you to scream the chorus to your friends. This theme of catharsis is really prevalent in the rest of the project. 

How does On the Phone with My Mom differ from your previous releases, like Girl of Your Dreams?

Girl of Your Dreams is a collection of songs Cade and I worked on in his studio apartment. I’m so proud of that EP because of how experimental the process of making it was. We really just made what we thought sounded cool with the limited equipment we had. On the phone with my mom was something we knew would be an album from the first song we made.

We wanted it to focus more on storytelling, and it’s definitely more vulnerable for me as I touch on moments in my past that are hard to talk about. We also had more access to equipment and organic instruments. We use real drums on some tracks and have many violin-based songs. It’s all a testament to Cade and I’s growth as musicians and writers. 

What drew you to indie-pop as your primary genre? How would you describe your music to someone discovering it for the first time?

Well, indie-pop seemed a more accessible genre for a small indie artist. I love listening to and discovering small artists in this world. I think there’s a note of freedom that all the songs have in common. For example, these songs could all be made by your best friend in high school, someone you could run into at a grocery store. 

How would you characterize the creative freedom and accessibility you’ve found in the indie-pop scene versus other genres? How has that freedom shaped your writing and production process?

The freedom to be unpolished and unapologetic. This concept has really allowed me to make the music I’ve always wanted to make because I’m no longer concerned with being perfect with it. 

What can fans look forward to after the release? Are there any tours, collaborations, or exciting projects on the horizon?

I’m excited to expand the visual world of the album and hopefully do some live performances. So stay tuned:)

It sounds thrilling to expand the album’s visual world! What visuals or concepts will you explore in your upcoming performances or music videos?

The theme of nature is important, so that will be a big focus going forward. Also, experimenting with mixed media and animation is something I’m working on. It takes time as an independent artist, but I see it as a way to keep the album going long after it’s released. 

 If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice about music—or life in general—what would it be?

No one cares, so just post the video or release the song. Stop being precious about it.  You’ll only cringe until you make it…, so embrace the cringe, LOL. That was key for me. 

Concluding Thoughts

As our conversation with Maddie comes to a close, it’s clear that her passion for music runs deep. Whether she’s drawing inspiration from personal experiences or experimenting with new sounds, her authenticity shines through in every track. With exciting projects, fans have plenty to look forward to. Be sure to check out her latest release and watch what’s next for this rising star!