Five years into her career, singer-songwriter/producer Maddie Jay has come a long way from recording in her bedroom to dropping I Can Change Your Mind out via Real Canadian Cheddar. Long before the release of her full-length debut, the British Columbian artist had already earned cosigns through opening for Remi Wolf, Lorde, and Summer Walker. Since kicking off in 2020, singles such as “I Got You” quickly distinguished Jay from other artists who got their start making music out of their bedroom. However, through the process of putting together I Can Change Your Mind, she found herself expanding what could be done through collaboration.

“I wrote many of these songs over improvised tape loops that I recorded with my dear friends in hazy late night studio sessions,” she said, “Working outside of solitude was a challenge for me, however I feel the end result resonates much stronger than something I would have created alone, which is probably a lesson in itself.”

In celebration of the album, Maddie Jay will perform an album release show in Los Angeles at Scribble on March 15.

Thriving on her own and with others

As echoed previously, I Can Change Your Mind forced Jay to step out of her comfort zone in what became her project with the most contributors. However, that’s not to underestimate her own talents.

Dotted by electronic fluttering all throughout, “Name Your Price” is a showcase for her when it comes to production and songwriting. Within the first few seconds, it’s apparent that the instrumental, while instilling a sense of calmness, is designed to jitter and evolve over the runtime. Synths shapeshift as Jay’s voice moves from high to low pitches, speaking to the uncertain relationship at the core. By the time the climax comes with a booming bass, the build-up is more than worth the wait.

While many of Jay’s collaborative expansions took place behind the scenes, I Can Change Your Mind also features the first feature for a Maddie Jay song with Chase Ceglie on “Every Little Thing.” To the sound of a gentle keyboard as sentimental as the vocals, Jay expresses her fear of pushing 30. What could have easily been an arresting portrait of aging is instead a nuanced look at the passage of time, complete with a collaboration that finds Ceglie and Jay perfectly bouncing off of one another.

Production taken to the next level

It’s no secret that Jay is as good a songwriter as she is a producer, with the latter taking new heights on her debut. “Hot Suburban” begins similarly to something Jay could have made in her early years, with vocal inflections contributing as textures for the crunchy instrumental. However, the chorus transforms “Hot Suburban,” turning it into a dance track thanks to a barrage of hi-hats before settling down once again. That tug of war keeps you on your toes, unsure of what direction Jay will take until the synth-driven second half takes off into a spacey atmosphere.

On the topic of atmosphere, “Chemical” thrives in what could be described as a self-sustaining environment marked by rainforest ambiance and trademarks you would hear on an EDM track. Early in the song, Jay’s vocals fade in and out of the background, letting the sudden breakbeat rhythm and unobtrusive bass serve as the sonic descriptions she sings about in the lyrics.

Charm of bedroom pop

On top of coming into her own as an artist in more ways than one, Jay hasn’t lost sight of the palpable enthusiasm she showed when she was first getting started. I Can Change Your Mind is full of these moments, often expressed through the music itself. The ending of “Chemical” is perhaps the album’s best moment, carrying over Jay’s endearing beginnings as a bedroom pop artist while uplifting her musical foundation into something likely to earn the envy of even the most experienced producers.

“Every Little Thing” has a similarly cathartic moment where synths nearly burst out with emotion from their careful arrangement, teasing at a return in the final stretch that not only arrives but with the advent of a saxophone solo that never clashes against the predominantly electronic instruments.

Despite coming five years later, I Can Change Your Mind, and Jay’s success leading up to the release speaks to how much has changed for the singer-songwriter/producer. And while the album title is open to interpretation, it could easily be seen as directed towards herself, exemplifying how much Jay has challenged herself in a career on a steady climb.

Words: David Sosa

Visit Maddie Jay on her Instagram and Bandcamp to stay updated on new releases and tickets to potential shows, including an album release show in Los Angeles show at Scribble on March 15.