Madison Beer shines as an intelligent and underappreciated creative mind on her recently released sophomore album, “Silence Between Songs.” The project is raw, emotional, and sonically interesting as she continues to move away from a traditional ‘girly’ pop sound and strengthens her own unique personality as an artist.
The album opens with the single “Spinnin,” a lyrically anxious song that sets the tone for an album full of personal reflection and self-examination. Many of the songs throughout the tracklist share a contemplative feel that takes the listener on a journey with Madison in navigating her emotions.
The overarching theme throughout the album is one of personal growth, as Beer explores her personal trauma from being involved in the music industry from a very young age. She addresses the relationships–familial, romantic, and even professional–that have defined this experience. The album title comes from a realization that she doesn’t grow from the chaos and instability that come with life in the limelight but rather in the moments of silence and isolation between these experiences.
Many of the songs detail Beer’s experience with romance through various lenses. “Home to Another One” is an upbeat track about a failed relationship, while “Nothing Matters But You,” thought to be about her current boyfriend, Nick Austin, is a slow and almost eerie-sounding love ballad. Other types of relationships are also noted, namely in “Ryder,” a heartbreaking and nostalgic song about Madison’s younger brother.
Beer has explored different iterations of pop music throughout her music career that already spans over a decade. However, “Silence Between Songs” feels like a cohesive statement of her artistic identity and a solidified sound that is very different from where she started as a musician.
This album does not rely on overly complex lyrics to stand out, although there are many powerful statements that she is able to make with somewhat few words. Instead, Madison takes a strong focus on providing interesting sounds and vocals, which were also strong suits of her debut album, “Life Support”. Citing inspiration from Tame Impala, who is known for his identifiable sonic creations, there are a lot of unique and exploratory instrumentals that give this album more appeal.
Due to her online presence and having been deemed by some as more of an influencer than a singer, Madison has not always gotten the recognition that she deserves as an artist and a creative. However, “Silence Between Songs” should give anyone who may doubt her artistic ability confirmation that she is more than just the girl who “was supposed to be in the video.”
