Each of us deals with our own feelings of inadequacy differently. Some sadly spiral downward through bad decisions or medicating, leading to detachment. Others find solace in friends and family who lift us up. Then, a select few use these emotions as a vehicle for something artistic, like music.
In the case of one-time American Idol contestant Maddie Zahm, expressing inner thoughts through song has become her signature characteristic. Navigating her way through life and feeling honesty is the best policy; Zahm initially released songs like “Beautifully Human” and “Kill Me,” solidifying that it most certainly is. Touching on her own personal experience and connecting with listeners who share similar ones, this was pronounced further with the 2020 debut album People Pleaser but reached new heights with the striking, heartbreaking standalone 2022 single “Fat Funny Friend.”
Awakening many more listeners to Zahm’s talents as a powerful, soulful singer and songwriter, her second album, Now That I’ve Been Honest, found even more success in 2023. An album that contained more songs about self-reflection expressed vividly through compelling storytelling, in 2025, Zahm is taking another step forward with a new EP called The Angry Part.
Released on March 28, 2025, through AWAL, the new collection offers four tracks in total that simply cannot be brushed over. Including the pre-released self-asserting upbeat Pop cut “Sheets” and more delicate, haunting “Heaven,” joining them are “He Calls Me Pretty” and “Cannibal.” Looking at these two newer songs more closely, “He Calls Me Pretty” features a rich, dynamic sound with layered vocals to match Zahm’s brutally real poetry. Then, “Cannibal” is more of a slow-burning piece where she builds from a soft croon to a stunning and intense, ear-tingling chorus.
Overall, Maddie Zahm is an interesting singer-songwriter with immense talent. Recently turning twenty-seven, it seems she is only scratching the surface of what could be possible. With raw talent and real, emotional vocals, she is a shining light of hope for modern Pop music. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this new EP, The Angry Part, 4 out of 5 stars.
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