I wrote about the lead singer of Screamer, Madaline Collins, when I started listening to her 2023 single, Overheat, during the hottest week of the year. That was a million years ago, in June. I ended the short piece like this: "I cannot wait to see what she does next." And now we have an answer.
I had been following the gradual release of this week's belter, Dead Head, on Instagram. First was a clip with Madaline strutting along a street. It's definitely America but something about her voice on that clip, and a recent visit of mine to Camden, made Amy Winehouse appear in my own (live) head.
After I saw the single cover shoot, the one with a sort of half-blue Madaline with a deer's skull on her head, that was it. I practically begged to be sent the single before its release. With the whole hi-res audio file blasting into my ears, someone other than Amy crossed my mind. I started searching for Macy Gray. On further listening, my thoughts went to The Last Dinner Party. And sometimes Björk.
I don't often write a lot about a tune. It's so easy to stream music, so why would I try to capture something in words that you can just hear for yourself? But equally I'm aware that this is a Screamer record, and there is more going on here than Madaline's voice or songwriting. She's part of a group this time.
I love the distorted guitar solos, the loud drums... this is proper rock music with a powerful bass line, almost heavy metallish in places. But then the next moment it's soft and gentle, and more acoustic. She's angry, then chatty, then screaming. There is so much sheer range on offer here.
I'm known (where I'm known at all) for writing more about the lyrics than the music. I find I don't want to do that so much here. Partly it is because Madaline's vocal is so distinctive and compelling that just reading the words on a page won't give you the right feel.
As I understand it, she's feeling numb or detached and is desperate for any sensation that will remind her she's alive. There is a suggestion of depression. That's how I hear it anyway. But this is a song you desperately need to hear for yourself.
In case you have not come across Screamer before, the post below highlights how well they get on, how cool they are, how funny they are, and more besides. The other members of the band are John Wilkerson, Lane Wade and Montana Jones. Meet them all by clicking the post below.
One of the reasons I started following Screamer is that they reference British rock bands, most notably Pink Floyd, as one of their inspirations. I haven't heard them mention Led Zeppelin but you would be in the right hands there. Another reason is that they are such a talented bunch that it's impossible to guess what they will sound like next. Every song is totally original.
Finally, I recently (very recently) came to understand that a Deadhead is a fan of the Grateful Dead as well as being someone who gets free tickets to a show, or someone who is just plain stupid. As far as I can tell none of these meanings are relevant to this song.
Screamer have an enormous future. The best place to start, apart from Spotify, is Instagram. There are lots of other links here. And (lucky you!) they are playing LIVE on 9/11 at Bar DKDC in Memphis, Tennessee. So get going! They're on from 9pm.
