Maddie Grace’s Showing Signs of Strong Emotion keeps her voice in focus

The catchy guitars on ‘Let Me Fall’ make an inviting introduction to Maddie Grace’s Showing Signs of Strong Emotion. It is gorgeous, easygoing pop, with an arrangement which puts her singing front and centre. Her voice is the reason I settle into this five-track debut so readily.

The EP explores attraction, insecurity, envy and betrayal through separate experiences rather than one continuous relationship story. Maddie gives those feelings different settings, from watching somebody dominate a room to imagining a romance which reality refuses to deliver.

‘Let Me Fall’ starts with the thrill of liking someone and the doubts which get in the way. I enjoy how approachable the song feels. The guitars are catchy without competing with Maddie, giving the opening enough movement while leaving me free to concentrate on her delivery.

‘Amelie’ shifts the attention towards someone whose apparent confidence leaves other people feeling excluded. In my earlier review, I appreciated the way Maddie softened her view by the bridge, allowing empathy into a song which initially seems driven by resentment.

Placed after ‘Let Me Fall’, it also broadens the EP beyond romantic uncertainty. Electric guitar, live drums and layered harmonies accompany a different kind of longing: wanting the social ease someone else appears to possess. The eventual recognition of another person’s difficulties keeps the writing from settling for a simple villain.

Fairy tales and a more playful approach

‘Didn’t Do It’ brings the focus back to a hoped-for relationship. Again, I enjoy the understated guitars beneath Maddie’s voice. The fairy-tale imagery works particularly well, giving the disappointment a setting shaped by expectation and imagination.

Rapunzel, Cinderella and The Little Mermaid belong to the romantic world the song constructs. Their stories suit a narrator whose imagined relationship has become more convincing than the one she is experiencing. I like how specific those references make the fantasy, rather than leaving it as a general wish for something better.

‘I’m Sorry’ is possibly Maddie’s most adventurous track here. She plays more with sound, and the more restrained tempo works well. After the immediate appeal of the opening songs, I welcome a track which takes its time and tries something different.

Its subject is falling for someone who was a friend first, then waiting for their feelings to catch up. The playful approach gives this uncertainty a different character from the disappointment of ‘Didn’t Do It’. Maddie leaves room for impatience and sarcasm alongside the affection.

‘Annabeth’ closes with betrayal, bringing the EP towards the consequences of trusting someone. Musically, it feels closer to the established approach than another departure. I hear it as a continuation of the collection’s focus, with ‘I’m Sorry’ remaining the clearest change in direction.

Showing Signs of Strong Emotion review

This is a brilliant, focused collection. I never feel Maddie needs to demonstrate every possible version of herself within five songs. The more playful choices on ‘I’m Sorry’ suggest room to experiment, and I would enjoy hearing her pursue those instincts further.

For now, the balance suits me. ‘Let Me Fall’ supplies the immediate pop pleasure, while ‘Amelie’ and ‘Didn’t Do It’ give me more to consider in the writing. Maddie’s vocals are the real star, and the EP gives them the attention they deserve.

Find Maddie’s music through her official website and follow her on Instagram.