My New Fave Indie Girl, Maddy Caddell
Written by Aiden Nelson
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Written by Aiden Nelson ★
Photo by Lukaas Y. Haines
As a music lover, I often find myself on the music side of TikTok where musicians promote their songs and critics offer recommendations. When something catches my eye, be it a song or an album or an artist, I switch into the Spotify app and give a listen. This is how I found Maddy Caddell, a musician who randomly appeared on my TikTok “for you page” one afternoon. The TikTok I first found of hers was her saying that she was inspired by a lyric of Lorde’s. I absolutely ADORE Lorde so naturally, I immediately went into Spotify and put on the EP Caddell was promoting.
And may I just say: holy shit.
Go give “Teenage Protagonist” by Maddy Caddell a listen. The six track EP, which was released on March 11, is fifteen minutes of teen angst, hope, and nostalgia. Think Olivia Rodrigo meets Maisie Peters meets Chloe Moriondo.
Caddell, a 19-year old musician and actor, already has lyrical prowess that shines in the EP, with lines like “sweet goodbyes cloaked in lies like ‘see you later’” and “painted in lightning you said we’re alright” matching perfectly with her indie-girl sound. She writes about the bittersweet feeling of growing up and crushes and David Bowie with care and relatability. She describes Big Feelings with grace, remaining vulnerable and articulate as she describes her experiences of late youth.
“Teenage Protagonist” is both emotionally varied and yet sonically cohesive. While each song is distinct in its theme and tone, the six tracks work together to create the distinct sound that is Caddell. The songs are fun indie-pop grounded by guitar and her heartfelt lyrics.
My favorite track from the EP is hands down “Stupid Teen Love.” It has a bouncy energy that is infectious and relatable lyrics – who hasn’t felt completely smitten with a crush? It feels like a late night drive with the windows down, like dancing around your room singing into a hairbrush. I can totally see this song being used in a coming of age movie.
Caddell has less than a thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, and as much as I would love to gatekeep and pull the “I knew her music BEFORE she got popular” card, I fully believe Caddell deserves recognition. So give the EP a listen and know you’re ahead of the curve listening to this up and coming indie artist.
In short: I somehow stumbled upon Maddy Caddell’s music by the grace of my TikTok FYP (“for you page”). And now, after listening to “Teenage Protagonist,” I’m definitely a fan.
Check out Maddy Caddell:
