Maddie Ashman has shot to stardom since releasing her E.P “Apparently.” The E.P saw her blend cello-centric music and pop together, creating a signature and distinctive musical offering that has been lauded by fans and tastemakers alike. The likes of BBC 6 Music offered their full support and even artists have commented on the uniqueness of Ashman’s sound, with Tom Grenan saying: “I’ve never seen a cello be used the way she used it. I loved the way she looped it and used it in all sorts of ways, and her voice complimented everything she was doing. The songwriting was there.”
Maddie Ashman is set on pushing this further – and we feel that she’ll do this with her latest single “I’d Rather Fall.” Blending classical and experimental together, her latest release showcases vulnerability and comes as a heartwarming offering. From cellos strummed like a ukulele to the use rubber bridge guitars, “I’d Rather Fall” isn’t just a pop song, but an inventive and immersive soundscape that will be sure to leave a lasting impression.
Speaking about the meaning behind the release, Maddie says “I’d Rather Fall is about inevitably falling in love when you hadn’t planned to, it’s about the simultaneous thrill and terror of letting go and running with your feelings. Although the lyrics are personal, it feels like such a universal experience, and I wanted to capture this in the song. I wrote the song on cello, initially imagining it would be simple and acoustic… but as always, Nathan Cox (producer) and I ended up with hundreds of audio tracks, incorporating rubber bridge guitar, dense vocal multi-tracking, synths and drums, which really bring the narrative to life.”
Madde Ashman certainly doesn’t shy away from bringing new concepts to a pop audience. She heavenly pioneers the microtonal guitar in her music and in 2022, she came 3rd in the international microtonal guitar competition. Landing support gigs with the likes of Alfie Templeman, Tom Rosenthal, Tom Robinson and more, she’s impressing audiences all over the country and we, for one, cannot wait to see where she’ll take this.
Photo: Lucas Troadec
