Maddison Kate releases debut EP

Meanjin-based indie folk artist Maddison Kate has a voice that feels timeless, carrying the weight and wisdom of old souls. Known for her emotive delivery and a knack for pairing reflective, poetic lyrics with delicate folk melodies and earthy tones, she’s fast becoming one of Australia’s most compelling new voices in the genre.

Growing up in the creative and supportive community of Eumundi, she was performing at open mic nights by the age of nine, already showing a natural command of the stage and over the years, she’s taken that early spark to bigger audiences, playing the stages of the Gympie Music Muster and Queensland Music Festival, claiming the crown at Tamworth Country Music Festival’s 2TM Discovered Competition last year. She’s even been likened to folk legend Joni Mitchell by INXS’s Andrew Farriss, a comparison that speaks volumes about her potential.

After introducing her sound with her debut single “I’ll Be Free” in 2021 and following it up with a series of impressive releases, Maddison now presents her most personal work yet, her brand new debut EP titled What I’d Say To You. Across its four tracks, the release acts like a stained-glass window into her inner world, each song presenting a different shade of her experience. It’s a release about the words left unsaid, from passionate farewells and sleepless nights to the slow, quiet process of self-acceptance.

The EP opens with “A Truth,” a dazzling, emotionally charged piece driven by the build of pulsing drums and layered with mandolin, piano and airy violin capped by Maddison’s alluring vocal performance. The arrangement carries the listener through the post-breakup minefield of emotion, reaching peaks and valleys as Maddison’s vocals spill the words she wishes she had spoken to the one who left.

“More to Me” takes a more intricate turn with the laid back bounce of acoustic guitar work and melodic violin, driven by the mellow rustle of percussion. Her angelic vocals lead the way through a song about recognising you’re better off without someone, while still holding on to the fragile hope that they might change enough to bring about a reunion. The mood deepens with “Alive,” the most stripped back and vulnerable track on the EP. With little more than her voice and guitar, gradually swelling to a crashing crescendo, Maddison captures the unmoored feeling of heartbreak without a clear cause, the way unspoken grief can snowball in moments of solitude.

Closing the EP is “Flowered Heart,” a piece that glows with subtle optimism, featuring violin, 12-string guitar and piano, it offers a reminder that healing is rarely straightforward. Her vocals glide through the arrangement with warmth, capturing the bittersweet beauty of growth, offering a stunning finale of her enduring, poignant and charming folk sound. To celebrate the release, Maddison will launch What I’d Say To You at Brisbane’s Junk Bar on Sunday, August 17th, joined by special guests Josie Eather and Neish, giving fans a chance to experience the release in a live setting.

Listen to What I’d Say To You below