“Pushing Daisies” is a new single from Nashville-based indie folk musician Melanie MacLaren. Leading up to her debut EP in January 2022, the initial singles have brought a chilly atmosphere, reminiscent of a sunny day in late autumn. Unlike the previous tracks, however, “Pushing Daisies” breaks the traditional folk boundaries she has established for her music, and it signals a hidden darkness on the horizon for the new EP.
The new single highlights MacLaren’s talent for poetic lyricism and cathartic approach, placing her in a similar league to Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Beginning as meditative portrait of a singer-songwriter, “Pushing Daisies” morphs into a modern ballad— emotional upheaval against bombastic drums, 70’s inspired folk harmonies, and a fretless bassline a la Hejira era Joni Mitchell. Juxtaposed against ambient synthesizers and blunt lyricism, the track is a fantastic exercise in cool lusciousness.
Lyrically, there are multiple punchlines which jolt the listener out of ambience and into harsh reality. MacLaren’s voice, not only as a singer but as a writer, shines through on gut-wrenching choruses. The sentimental cynicism of her lyrics ooze with Gen-Z relatability. Despite the grandeur of the piece, the subject is relatively mundane. All of this combines to create a sensational experience, making her an artist worth watching over the coming years.
Melanie MacLaren’s EP, Kill My Time, is set to be released in January 2022.
