Description
Madison Cunningham – Who Are You Now – Vinyl Record
Madison Cunningham – Who Are You Now (2019) is a remarkably mature and intricately crafted debut album that introduced the world to an artist already fluent in musical nuance, emotional complexity, and lyrical introspection. Blending elements of folk, rock, jazz, and alternative pop, Cunningham delivers a sound that feels both fresh and steeped in the tradition of literate singer-songwriters—drawing comparisons to Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, and Jeff Buckley, yet establishing a voice that is unmistakably her own. With intricate guitar work, unusual melodic phrasing, and poetic, sometimes cryptic lyrics, Who Are You Now is not only a calling card but a deeply personal artistic statement.
The album opens with “Pin It Down,” a striking mission statement that showcases Cunningham’s signature style: rhythmic, harmonically rich guitar playing and vocals that move effortlessly between conversational intimacy and soaring vulnerability. The song wrestles with identity and self-definition—an apt theme for a debut album—and that question of internal conflict pulses throughout the record. From the angular groove of “Trouble Found Me” to the gentle ache of “Something to Believe In,” Cunningham explores the emotional terrain between independence and longing, confidence and self-doubt.
Cunningham rarely takes the direct route. Her songs are filled with oblique imagery and lyrical left turns, inviting repeated listens. “Dry As Sand” and “Plain Letters” both illustrate her ability to marry emotionally raw content with poetic sophistication. Rather than leaning into the expected structures of folk-pop, she uses unusual chord voicings and phrasing that reflect her background in jazz and classical guitar, as well as her admiration for complex songwriting. The result is music that asks you to lean in, to listen actively—not unlike the work of Mitchell or Nick Drake.
The production, helmed by Tyler Chester, is understated but highly detailed. There’s a warmth and analog sensibility to the record that enhances its introspective mood. The arrangements never crowd Cunningham’s vocals or guitar; instead, subtle textures—synths, strings, reverb-soaked pianos—create space and atmosphere, giving the songs room to breathe. It’s a record that values intimacy over impact, craftsmanship over commercial gloss.
Cunningham impresses with her expressive restraint. Her tone is clear, agile, and emotionally direct, yet never overwrought. She avoids the vocal theatrics common in much of today’s pop, instead favoring a quiet intensity that perfectly suits the lyrical content. This is especially powerful on tracks like “Song In My Head” and “L.A. (Looking Alive),” which meditate on emotional distance and the disorienting experience of modern life in a city full of illusion.
Critically acclaimed, Who Are You Now was nominated for Best Americana Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards, signaling early on that Madison Cunningham was a force to be reckoned with. But beyond accolades, what sets the album apart is its combination of technical brilliance and emotional honesty. It’s the kind of record that reveals more with each listen—offering layered reflections on identity, artistry, and human connection, all delivered with a subtle confidence that belies her age at the time of its release.
In essence, Who Are You Now is not just a debut—it’s a declaration of artistic identity, one that trades in sophistication without pretension. It invites introspection, not as a stylistic affectation, but as a genuine inquiry into how we come to know ourselves through experience, art, and change. For fans of thoughtful, musically adventurous songwriting, this is an album to live with—not just listen to.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Pin It Down
Song In My Head
Something To Believe In
Trouble Found Me
Plain Letters
L.A. (Looking Alive)
Dry As Sand
Like You Do
Common Language
Bound
