Maddie Regent – On the phone with my mom

By starrymag | April 25, 2025

By: Quinn Que

 

 

Q) What is “The other shoe” about exactly? Was there a specific moment or experience that inspired the lyrics or the title? 

 

A) “The other shoe” is about a time someone got mad at me for not texting them on a special occasion, when the reason I didn’t text them was because of something they did…Typical playing the victim stuff! It was a fun one to create because the emotions were still so fresh so it felt good to get them out.

 

Q) “The other shoe” is one of a few new songs you’ve put out lately. I liked this one the best of those actually. What kind of fan response have you been receiving to the song?

 

A) I’m so happy you like it! It’s funny because you never know how a song is going to land. I definitely think this one is resonating well because, unfortunately, a lot of us have experience with this kind of stuff! 

 

Q) You’ve talked in other interviews about moving from synthesizer-based production to incorporating organic instruments. Has this shift changed how you initially conceptualize songs, and do you find yourself writing differently for piano versus synth?

 

A) It definitely pushed me to improve my songwriting a lot and be more vulnerable. There’s something about starting a song on a piano that forces you to make sure it’s solid first. I have a new song coming out called “Miss Virgo,” the last single before I release my album, and we wrote it mostly to guitar and violin before fleshing out the production. 

 

Q) How does “The other shoe” fit into the larger narrative of your upcoming projects and your artistic evolution?

 

A) My album On the phone with my mom is all about girlhood, and so I definitely think “The other shoe” brings that narrative to the present. Where a lot of the songs I’ve released have been about my past, the emotions I’m conveying in “The other shoe” are still very present. The production, when we made it, was my favorite of Cade’s [Hoppe] so far. We truly found our stride with this one! 

 

Q) The production on “The other shoe” feels different from your previous work. What influenced this sonic direction?

 

A) I think it was a result of making “Turtleneck” and “The wolf” – the two singles before “The other shoe” – back to back. The country influence in “Turtleneck” and pop energy of “The wolf” really gave us the confidence to really play around with genre. I even sang the first verse of “The other shoe” with a bit of a country twang as a joke, and we actually ended up liking it so much that we kept it! 

 

Q) Were there any unexpected challenges or breakthroughs during the recording process?

 

A) Honestly, this was one of the songs where things fell really quickly into place once we got going. I think the hardest part is always deciding how specific I want to be when I’m writing about something I’m dealing with. Being clever with lyrics is always fun, and this one was no exception.

 

Q) Which lyric from this track do you feel most connected to personally, and why?

 

A) “I can’t resist my wanting to love you” is one I feel really connected to because that’s the hardest part about being hurt by someone you love. It’s hard to hate them and cut them out completely. 

 

Q) How have fans been responding to the themes in “The other shoe” during your live performances?

 

A) I haven’t been able to perform this one live yet but I can’t wait to. I’m looking forward to singing the bridge in a live setting.

 

Q) Your background in musical theater and film seems to influence your theatrical approach to music. Have you considered developing visual or performance elements that might showcase this aspect of your artistry on stage?

 

A) Absolutely—I’m so excited by the idea of designing a show in that way. One day I will make it happen! There are so many narrative elements woven into the structure of the album that it feels like a natural next step to either create a film or develop a live show that brings those stories to life visually and theatrically. It’s definitely something I’d want to do!

 

Q) As an independent artist, what marketing approaches are you finding most effective in today’s streaming-dominated landscape? How important is it for a single like yours to get traction?

 

A) I feel like being less precious with content has been a real game changer when it comes to appealing to like-minded people who relate to my music. I’ve been posting more off-the-cuff content of me just sharing my thoughts and my music. I think there’s something powerful in letting people see the unfiltered mess. Social media can be such an incredible tool when you lean into that authenticity.

 

Q) Is there any other current or upcoming music that you’d like to shout out here?

 

A) Yes! I have a new single, “Miss Virgo,” out on now. And then my album, On the phone with my mom, will be out on May 16th. 

 

Q) If you could have any artist remix or cover “The other shoe,” who would you choose and why?

 

A) Jack Antonoff! I love his work, so that would be such a dream!

 

Q) Who are some artists that you are hoping to be able to collaborate with in the future?

 

A) Lana Del Rey… PERIOD! 

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of the music that you make?

 

A) Thank you for supporting me! I love you all so much!