PREMIERE: Madalean Gauze returns in the stylish rager “The Fire”
Philly singer songwriter Madalean Gauze has always made art on her own terms.
This goes back to the gripping storm of her debut American War — which was, all things considered, was released quietly amid hazy mystery four years ago. Her 2015 follow-up, Sing, was recorded, scrapped and rerecorded until she knew she had it right. Gauze and her band gigged in support of the record into early 2016, and then she went off the grid somewhat, popping up in late autumn to play a few gigs as a member of Candice Martello’s new band Dreamswell.
But we are happy to report today that Madalean Gauze returns this summer with her latest EP, Cool and Fun — and you can watch the music video for its heavy rocking first single, “The Fire,” below.
The Bob Sweeney-directed video features Gauze and her band — bassist Ali Dundovic, drummer Gina Piccari and keyboardist Stephanie Cottingham — dancing around PhilaMOCA in matching striped shirts and shades, intercut with intense found footage. “For the video we wanted to create the feeling like it was an old horror film but to also mix in elements of pop art and Andy Warhol,” says Gauze, who adds that the look was inspired by Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock.
Onstage, Gauze is additionally backed by vocalist Aprile Hartmann and Martello on guitar. “I’m pretty stoked that it became an all female band, it wasn’t something I was planning on or cared much about,” Gauze says, adding that “It feels really exciting and comfortable. The girls in the band kinda let me go crazy and encourage my creative ideas. I really think these new songs show how I have grown as a musician and how I am comfortable and trust my creative visions.”
The Cool and Fun EP was recorded at Miner Street by Matt Shimmelfenig, and will be celebrated with a record release gig at Johnny Brendas with American Trappist. For more information, head to the XPN Concert Calendar.