By Colin 
Madeleine McPherson releases her most vulnerable and emotionally honest single yet with ‘Black Tape’, out now. The track is rooted in a real moment from her teens, when she covered her bedroom mirrors with black tape because she could not stand to see herself. That image becomes the song’s emotional centre, revealing how self-hate and shame can shape a person’s relationship with their identity.
‘Black Tape’ explores the pressure to appear fine while quietly falling apart. Madeleine captures that feeling with a steady vocal performance that balances control and fragility. The song looks back at a version of herself who felt unworthy, frightened and invisible, while also acknowledging the strength it took to survive those years.
The production is intentionally minimal, using gentle synth lines and spacious textures to highlight the weight of her words. There is no dramatic build or sudden climax. Instead, the track holds space for its story, letting each lyric breathe. Lines like “cool under pressure / but I’m barely even here” reflect the emotional split between appearance and reality.
This is Madeleine’s most direct work so far, both in content and in tone. Rather than dressing her experience in metaphor, she allows the truth to stand on its own. ‘Black Tape’ does not try to fix anything. It simply tells the truth and, in doing so, gives that younger version of herself a voice that was once denied.
Review
‘Black Tape’ resonates because of its honesty. Madeleine McPherson does not try to make her pain poetic or easy to digest. She tells the story of a girl who could not look at herself and lets that speak for itself. The sparse arrangement and quiet vocal presence give the track a powerful sense of stillness. It never tries to impress, but it leaves a mark.
By refusing to gloss over discomfort, Madeleine creates something lasting. ‘Black Tape’ is not about healing or closure. It is about telling the truth and letting it be heard. In doing so, she gives shape to a kind of strength that often goes unseen.
You can pre-save ‘Black Tape’ and find all of Madeleine’s socials here.