Madison Mueller
“Exhale”
With her fourth official single, the young Madison Mueller proves once again that she’s a singer songwriter to watch for. In the realm of intelligent acoustic pop she’s slowly but surely making her mark.
This new “Exhale” song starts with a great acoustic guitar groove and tom rolls, until Maddie’s cool voice, which has the kind of airy fragility that brings you in, enters over simple percussion, and when the first chorus hits with a really nice melody that soars high its uplifting effect is in contrast with the apparent self doubts expressed by the author.
Hard to determine what the song is about, whether it’s an expression of some form of supernatural belief or new age mantra involving breathing and the universe (see the cool artwork). Better let the listener decide, which is the mark of good song-writing, as anyone will appropriate its meaning according to its own belief system and circumstances.
I especially like the addition of the cello starting at the second verse which adds a nice layer of harmonic tension. When we reach the bridge, after a short instrumental part, the song gets lifted some more with a wall of distorted guitars and powerful drums, over which Maddie’s voice is pleading you to “exhale” before the final power chord recedes.
Verdict: 5/5 beards
Make sure you grab a copy of this song on Bandcamp: https://madisonmueller.bandcamp.com/track/exhale