The music of Madeleine Rose Witney chronicles a vanishing world and revives it in technicolour. A torch singer born and raised in Kentish Town, her songs are keyhole glimpses into an ever-changing Soho and its ragtag eccentrics hidden underground. After releasing a string of impressive singles, Witney lived up to the anticipation on From Now On, her debut EP. The four-song project is a stunning introduction to the artist’s singularity and the jazzy, heartfelt approach that separates Witney from her peers.
“Shut Up and Kiss Me,” the only non-single featured on From Now On, is the moment where Witney’s individuality shines the brightest. The artist’s poetic vocals cascade around breezy acoustics, only for that simplicity to be broken in two by theatrical swells of jazz-pop bliss. The abstract vocal melodies, with their hushed yet infectious presence, add an eerie texture to the dramatic arrangement, but that’s not the only sonic conflict that occurs on “Shut Up and Kiss Me.” For every heady melody and subtle experimental flair, Witney’s lyrics swoop in with a bluntness that nerfs the off-kilter vocal feel and unpredictable instrumentation, emphasizing all of the nuances that make Witney such an exciting, young voice. With a successful debut EP out in the world, Witney establishes what is sure to become an undeniable sound with “Shut Up and Kiss Me,” and it would appear the artist is only getting started.
