Interview with Maddie Regent
- Sabrina Shahryar
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
I sat down with indie-pop singer-songwriter Maddie Regent to talk about her debut album, On the Phone with My Mom, which is out now. The album consists of a fourteen-song tracklist, including her singles “the wolf” and “You could break my heart.”
How did you come up with the title for the album?
Maddie: ‘On the phone with my mom’ was a lyric in my song “You could break my heart,” and when I sang it for the first time, I felt like it really captured the theme of the album. It reflects both the emotional growth I’ve gone through and the support I’ve been fortunate to have while growing up.
What was the writing process like?
Maddie: I wrote the album with my boyfriend, Cade Hoppe, who’s also a producer and artist. We usually started with a piano line and a theme, and built from there. It was a really cool process because I was able to go much deeper than I normally would with another co-writer, simply because he knows me so well.
The title track, "On the phone with my mom," starts the album off strong with a short instrumental piece. Can you talk about the process behind the song and the choice to introduce the album with it?
Maddie: That track was originally written as an intro to the second track on the album, “Any day now,” but I felt like it would be cool to separate them and have them fade into each other. A lot of my favorite albums have instrumental intro tracks, and I always think it makes it more of a connected story. It feels very theatrical to me.
Did you face any unexpected challenges while making the album?
Maddie: I think the most unexpected challenge was figuring out whether a song was too long, too short, or just right. And as you can see from the track lengths, we didn’t end up cutting anything short — and I love that. It’s my first album, and I have a lot to say. I didn’t want to overthink things just to make the songs more “commercial.”
Are there any songs you’re most excited for fans to hear?
Maddie: My answer to this changes a lot, but right now I’m excited for my fans to hear “Cutie.” It’s a happy, lovey song, and it’s also pretty funny!
Describe the album in three words?
Maddie: Charming, hopeful, and cathartic.
What was the process like for creating the album cover?
Maddie: We shot it outside at the home of the photographer, Anna Koblish. I wanted it to feel like a dream, or like something out of my imagination. To me, it represents girlhood.
When did you know the album was done?
Maddie: I think we knew it was done after we made the song “Cutie.” At that point, I knew that I’d said everything I needed to say. We started making a track list and ordering the songs, and it just became so clear that the album was complete.
How does it feel knowing your debut album is almost out? Do you have any memorable moments from the entire process?
Maddie: Honestly, I’m just really proud of myself for finishing it. Cade and I were the only ones setting and enforcing deadlines, which wasn’t always easy—especially since making an album takes both time and money. As a small independent artist, there were moments when I questioned whether it was even the right time to make an album. But now that it’s finished, I know this project was meant to be put out into the world. I really hope it finds the people who need it.
If you could set fans up with the perfect environment to listen to the album, what would it be?
Maddie: On their bed, no overhead lights, and only lamps turned on. Or even better, basking in the blue glow of a TV screen with all the lights off. Headphones on. Staring at the ceiling.
Check out more from Maddie Regent:
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