Madeleine Blends LA & London R&B Sounds on EP “Sun Daughter”

Madeleine has just released her second EP, Sun Daughter, where she explores a beautiful blend of soulful R&B, jazz, and deep moody music. This project was a bit more experimental than her first taking a turn towards darker and more synth-heavy productions. Madeleine’s music is a product of storytelling, her music is personal. We can explore a few tracks on this project in depth to understand which of her experiences inspired her and went in to this body of work.

I love the way Madeleine begins this project with an instrumental jam, showcasing her music in a less refined way. She often starts a session with an improvised jam to spark inspiration and here we get to listen firsthand to some of the raw starting points in Madeleine’s process. Following “Sun (Intro)” is “Hold Her” a synth-heavy track with a story behind it. The lyricism here is dynamic as she switches between first and third person perspectives speaking to current and past lovers. This track was inspired by a relationship dynamic the Madeleine witnessed and felt she could relate to heavily. Detailing someone who is so deeply in love yet unable to commit to the relationship.

Another track I’d like to highlight—as it’s important to Madeleine—is “In My Garden.” There’s a lovely story behind how this song came together. Madeleine collaborated with a friend on a whim and everything fell into place so naturally. The making of this song is tied to a special moment and memory. The song is shaped by the instruments everything building naturally off of different melodies and chords. Madeleine’s voice is gentle and complements the beautiful piano and sonic elements of the piece. Lastly, my favorite song, “Waited Too Long To Flower,” is the closing track to the EP. It evokes such a nostalgic feeling, it’s very authentic to classic jazz and you feel as though Madeleine is there with you playing this live. It’s almost as though you can see the song which you hear it, the imagery thats attached to this style is so strong.

This EP is a beautiful piece of work to listen through front to back. Madeleine is a truly talented vocalist and if you appreciate classic elements of soul and jazz, you’ll enjoy this modern twist. The music is an easy listen, but if you pay attention, you’ll hear the emotion and depth that went into writing these lyrics. I hope you enjoy Madeleine’s Sun Daughter and find a few favorites yourself!