Ones2Watch Home

Photo: Sam Klegerman

New Jersey-born, LA-based artist Maddy Davis has announced the release of her upcoming EP Smile At The Good, out July 18. In celebration of the forthcoming record, she has dropped the first track written for the record, "What If?" This angst-driven and guitar-heavy first single was a unique collaborative effort, involving Davis, Jimi Somewhere, and Milo Orchis during a trip to Vermont. This collaboration, a testament to Maddy's growing influence in the indie rock scene, is a significant part of the EP's creation.

The single opens on a chill note, leading with gentle guitar strums and understated production. Davis's peaceful vocal tone is filled with raw emotion as she delivers heartwrenching lines like, "What if/ I took your word for it?/ Would I regret it?/ What if/ I didn't stay wondering?/ I kept all my composure/ Act like I saw it coming?" As the track persists, she ponders all the "what-if" situations plaguing her heart and mind. She reflects on the state of her relationship with someone who has consistently let her down and, in the end, how she reacted to their actions.

The accompanying music video, directed by Davis, shows the artist performing in her bedroom with band members and collaborators. What sets this video apart is that it was shot entirely in VHS on her mom's 1998 camcorder—the same one used to capture her home videos. This unique filming technique adds a layer of nostalgia and authenticity to the video.

"It just felt like the most honest way to match the tone of the song—a nostalgic kind of warmth that's a bit unpolished, a little chaotic, but still oddly familiar. I wanted it to play like a half-remembered dream: flashes of night vision, seemingly too many people packed into a tiny room, and that strange mix of intimacy and blur that comes with looking back."

Subsequent singles on Smile At The Good will be released over the next few months, each adding a new dimension to the project. This journey will culminate in the whole project being released on July 18.

Be sure to check out Maddy Davis's latest single, "What If?" today!