Staffordshire alt-pop artist and self-proclaimed ‘over-the-top-pop star,’ Maddy Storm has released her first single of 2024 and it’s one you need to add to your ‘scream in the car’ playlist immediately.
Last Halloween was going to be a difficult act to follow with its great production and catchy lyrics which saw it named as one of The Leopheard’s best singles of 2023, but she’s come in hard and fast with I Want To Be Everything – a tempest of raw emotion and unapologetic self-awareness that blurs the line between contemporary hyperpop and something undeniably grittier.
The unapologetic alt-pop visionary has delved into an unfiltered exploration of ‘ego, people pleasing and a need for control’. Speaking on the track, she added: “‘i want to be everything’ is the manifestation of my 2am spiral and serves as proof that I need therapy (please don’t judge me).”
Storm’s distinctive vocal delivery soaring against a backdrop of distorted drums and crunchy basslines. Angsty, gritty and as fiery as her hair, it’s a testament to her songwriting prowess that she can seamlessly marry existential emotions with irresistible pop sensibilities.
The verses pulse with anxiety-fueled introspection, painting a picture of late-night spirals which contrast the heavier choruses which see Storm’s vocals take on a newfound authority and desperation. There’s a powerful tension that drives this record forward, Maddy proving herself to be a master of balancing light and shade.
One of the most intriguing aspects of I Want To Be Everything, though, is that Maddy’s self-produced beat features a riff created using the sound of an Instagram message being received on a laptop. With heavy processing and altered pitching, Storm described it as ‘a nod to the night it was written and communication with the person it refers to’.
It’s an attention to detail we’re simply not afforded from huge manufactured artists, and showcases Maddy’s boundless creativity and innovation even in the face of adversity. The fact it’s clearly based on a personal experience gives the record a real sense of authenticity, which allows for a more intimate connection with listeners.
Building on the success of her debut EP Forced Extrovert and the acclaimed single Last Halloween, I Want To Be Everything further solidifies Maddy Storm’s position as a boundary-pushing force in the alt-pop scene. With its infectious hooks, raw emotion, and unapologetic lyricism, this latest offering proves once again that vulnerability is not a weakness but an opportunity to make a glossy pop hit.
