From Dreamy Synths to Royal Courts: A Chat with Maddie Regent on 'Sleeptalking' and Finding Her Sound

Photo By Anna Koblish

Okay, first things first—"Sleeptalking" is such a vibe! What was going through your head when you first started writing it, and did the song turn out exactly like you imagined?

Thanks so much!! I’m really excited about the song, it’s the first single off my new project and I really feel it helps bridge my last EP and the new sound I’m developing. It started out in my boyfriend Cade and I’s home studio in Brooklyn. He started with the piano part and we took it from there. At the time I was thinking a lot about my people pleasing tendencies and how I used to fall victim to them in past relationships. Talking it out with my partner was actually a really vulnerable but therapeutic thing, and it really helped fuel the song.

I’m obsessed with the dreamy sound of the song. How did you manage to mix that earthy, organic vibe with the sparkly synth-pop? Was it hard to find that balance?

Honestly it all came together in such a natural way, with this being one of the first songs we made in our new studio- with more instruments and equipment at our disposal than ever before- it just kind of happened that we wanted to experiment with the acoustics and synths we had to create this new vibe. It was really fun and a lot of experimenting to find the right combo. 

You mentioned "Sleeptalking" is about self-sabotage (been there!). How did you tap into that feeling, and do you find writing about tricky emotions like that is a form of therapy for you?

I actually struggle sometimes with writing songs that are about these negative emotions as I’m feeling them. It’s only when I’m kind of out of them that I’m able to go back and process it with a better perspective and  I feel I can write something coherent about it. Having a collaborator who is super close to me like Cade has also been so helpful, especially as I set out for this project to be more vulnerable and confessional than my others. Talking it out and bouncing lines back on each other really has helped translate what’s in my mind into music form, and I don’t think I could have made this with anyone else or in any other way. I’m super lucky to have the support system I do. 

You’ve been creating music since you were just 12 years old! If you could meet your younger self what would she think of your current self?

I think my younger self would be super proud and excited. I have grown so much and while I’m sure my 12 year old self thought I’d be on Disney channel (Hannah Montana really had a choke hold on me back then) I’m sure she’d love what I’m doing. 

You’re originally from Toronto but are now based in NYC—two very different cities! How has that move shaped your music or even your creative process?

I moved to NYC when I was 19, and so I really feel like I came into my own as an adult here. It is a really fast paced city, not unlike Toronto, but being able to explore it on my own has really shaped me into the person I am. It’s an unforgiving city that doesn’t owe you anything, and I think I really take that to heart. It’s allowed me to be kinder to myself as I experience rejection while also unapologetically celebrating my successes. I feel really lucky that I’ve been able to start my music career here, it’s where I met Cade and where I started being unafraid with my choices. I think NYC requires a kind of bravery that I don’t think I could have developed anywhere else. And my sound is what it is because of that. 

Your music is the perfect balance between escapism and being super relatable. How do you manage to create songs that feel like a daydream but still hit us right in the feels?

I love that so much as that has always been what I search for as a music listener. With this project I really wanted to create more cinematic soundscapes if that makes sense, but even narrative stories have to be grounded in a common emotion or experience to be meaningful. So I think with my lyrics I try to tell my story, but the music is where I can create the world I want people to experience it in. If that makes sense. 

Finally, here at Pop Palace, we all have our own little 'Royal Court' of artists who inspire us and keep us going. So, if you could build your own musical palace, who would be sitting on your throne, and who would be in your royal court of all-time favorite artists?

I love this so much even though it’s so difficult to answer! Lana Del Rey would be on the throne, which is truly no surprise. Her lyricism and musicality is unmatched and I truly believe pop would be in such a different place without her. Sitting next to her would be Marina (of Marina and The Diamonds) and Taylor Swift, of course. Lastly, I’ll throw out a smaller but still impactful artist, Oklou. She’s French and I love her sound design in her songs. 

Photo By Anna Koblish