Music
Maddie Carpenter Follows Her Heart Into The Future On Debut Single “Cowboy”
“Cowboy” is a poetic masterpiece about letting go of the past told through Carpenter’s golden, honeyed vocals resting atop pristine keys and energetic banjo.
Indie pop artist Maddie Carpenter makes a dazzling showcase of masterful songwriting on her debut single, “Cowboy,” released alongside a cinematic music video out November 18. Reminiscent of iconic lyricists like Sara Bareilles and Lucinda Williams, Carpenter beautifully articulates her story with passion, intelligence, and clarity on this subtly Americana-kissed pop track. “Cowboy” is an undeniably raw and heartfelt story delving into the difficult-to-let-go-of nostalgia and comfort that keeps young adults from embracing new experiences. At its core, this track represents the transition from childhood to adulthood; the attachment to a first love, specifically, represents a powerful tie to our younger self. For Carpenter, “growing up and realizing that your passions are taking you in a different direction – away from the comforts of your childhood,” is a necessary part of developing into the person we were meant to be.
Carpenter sets the scene for this music video in a wistful desert. The singer-songwriter playfully explores the open landscape beneath a magnificent sunset, representative of the journey, sheer potential, and optimism for a beyond bright future. This video is simple, raw, and emotional; viewers get an authentic insight into the feelings and stories the songstress built this song from. Carpenter effortlessly conveys every ounce of passion she has for this story in her mesmerizing delivery throughout the video. She acknowledges the importance of working through such a profoundly difficult stage of uncertainty, especially for women: She says, “[women] often feel that they need to be nurturers and are told by society that they shouldn’t hurt others emotionally, even if it means sacrificing their own dreams.” For any young adults struggling to make the transition to adulthood, “Cowboy” is the anthem to give you that extra vote of confidence to take the leap of faith.
. 
Stream “Cowboy” on all major streaming platforms and watch the video on November 18.
More about Maddie Carpenter:
Maddie Carpenter is a singer-songwriter from California’s Bay Area. She grew up listening to pop, Americana, and singer/songwriter music and realized her love of both singing and songwriting at an early age. Having written her own songs since age 10, Maddie was confident that she would find her purpose in music as she grew up. With influence from artists like Sara Bareilles, Carpenter is passionate about finding the intersection of poetry, music and storytelling in each song she writes. The artist has been waiting for the right time – to embark on her journey as an artist on her terms – where she could take control to mold her projects into the vision. Carpenter is undoubtedly ready to take this game-changing step into the next season of her life.
Artist Spotlight
MIVA unveils a soft texture with an unexpected grit on latest release “Do You”
“Do You,” an alternative R&B track, evokes a compelling sense of motion, MIVA, one that finds itself comfortably between familiar textures and surprising production choices. The Montreal-based artist, producer, songwriter, and visual artist considers music part of a larger world where sound, fashion, and cinematic storytelling converge.
The production doesn’t want to stay still, not least through the saxophone, which gradually mutates into something like an electric guitar. It’s an odd detail that gives the arrangement an evolving character without detracting from its alternative R&B foundation. Vocal fry adds an unexpected metal influence to the track, adding some grit and tension below the softer textures.
MIVA allows different influences to coexist in the same space rather than being defined by a single, obvious musical direction. The result is a very identity-driven track, with a hypnotic rhythm, expressive vocals, and production choices that keep the listener on their toes throughout. “Do You” is a showcase of MIVA as an artist who is unafraid to explore the space between softness and intensity, offering an alternative R&B experience with its own character.
Artist Spotlight
With “A New Frame of Mind” EP, We Told You So finds strength in loss, friendship, and change
Growth comes with loss, hard realizations, changing relationships, and the uncomfortable process of learning how to keep going when life refuses to slow down. That tension is central to “A New Frame of Mind” by We Told You So, an EP that draws from personal experience and turns it into a larger story of resilience, friendship, grief, independence, and the courage to start over.
Opening the EP is the track “Anchor in the Storm,” a particularly important, very personal tribute, written during a period of loss. This song is about how important the people in our lives are for keeping us anchored when our world feels shaky. Followed by “Echoes of Resilience,” which takes that sense of connection and extends it from the struggles of one individual to the struggles of others. The perspective is the frustration of seeing pain from afar but choosing to cling to hope.
Meanwhile, “Last for Long” ups the energy, celebrating friendships that endure tough seasons and stay when circumstances change. “Running Out of Time” is a reminder of the band’s DIY, small-town indie roots and the realization that you have to chase your dreams before the chance is gone. Next up is “Season of Change,” which is more introspective, exploring family, aging, and the inevitability of change as we grow older.
The EP’s French-language track, “Pas Besoin de Toé,” further links the record to We Told You So’s roots in Trois-Rivières, Québec, and also speaks to independence and the decision to cut toxic influences out of your life. From there, “Time to Rise” embodies the project’s essence, from individual struggle to collective action and self-belief.
Closing the EP is “My Last Verse,” which works through its pain to clarity. At the end, We Told You So is making a record about choosing what happens next. It’s gritty when it needs to be, introspective when it wants to be, and optimistic without being naive. The EP is based on the idea that moving on is an act of strength in itself.
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoMaija breathes new life into classic emotion with latest release “Where Is the Love”
-
Artist Spotlight6 days agoDaiyon raises the stakes with unstoppable energy on latest release “Vicous”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoCrispy C Notes brings focused ambition on latest release “Chosen”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoFinn pensively looks back on fading memories on latest release “Last Love Song”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoBrian David finds quiet strength through emotion with new release “The Echo in Your Soul”
-
Artist Spotlight2 days agoMichael Soul transforms destructive love into hypnotic dark pop on “DAYNIGHT”
-
Artist Spotlight2 days agoCaptain Iron / Windrift Band turn betrayal into a sea-shanty story on “Burned to Tears”
-
Artist Spotlight1 day agoROSANNE BAKER THORNLEY adds guitars, bass, and emotional warmth to “Falling”