Review: "Dragons" - Maddy Low
- Chantal Charles
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Trying to live up to the expectations you create for yourself always leaves you feeling hurt and isolated. It's a struggle to keep up with the continuous standards of perfectionism no one can compete with. It's a place most of us always find ourselves in, trying to become a version of ourselves we think is necessary. "Dragons" by Maddy Low follows the exploration of these high expectations everyone creates that makes everyone go crazy with the longing for a different life. It's a beautifully tragic tale of being lost in your own mind. "Dragons" is gorgeous in sound, the gentle guitar dances with the piano and this only compliments the power of Maddy Low's vocal performance. "Dragons" is one of those songs that instantly sticks with you because it's hard not to relate to these same emotions. It's hard not to see ourselves as imperfect beings that constantly need to be picked and pruned until we live up to some imaginary ideal version of ourselves. With "Dragons" Maddy Low has created a safe space for listeners who often find themselves stuck in this same hole, it's a performance that forms comfort from shared experiences.
The song begins with an acoustic guitar, as we are introduced to the beginning of this tale. The lyrical content gives a clear image of emotional exhaustion. All the pressure has pushed the speaker into a corner and it's left them tired and drowning. The lyrics portray the constant need to create this perfect image that one thinks others want to see, but really these are all "dragons" the speaker put into their own head, "dragons" being made-believe expectations others can't see. There's a distinct fear of outsiders seeing the real person, fear of the inability to change or "improve" what already exists. However, there's a sense of maybe not wanting change and instead wanting the bravery to not care about outsiders. There's something so mesmerizing about Maddy Low's voice, it haunts you with its emotional yet soothing tone. The production on this track really creates a vivid ambiance that reminds you of every song you've ever loved. It's a familiar style that holds you still. As the song escalates towards the end, you find yourself surrounded by all these ideas and complex emotions and it's oddly comforting to find yourself in that position, to understand that you're not really alone.
Maddy Low is a young artist coming to us from New Zealand who has been performing since she was 13. Her style consists of elements of alternative pop, indie, and folk. You can hear the inspiration of other artists like Phoebe Bridgers, The Cranberries, Olivia Rodrigo, and more. It's a musical style that uniquely paints the experience of being a young adult and handling a labyrinth of emotions one feels during this time. For someone so young, Maddy Low is incredibly talented when it comes to tackling difficult topics that everyone can connect to but doesn't understand how to express the way she does. Her work really speaks for itself, it's good and has the level of quality of an artist you know will make it big in the future. If you find yourself looking for something fresh yet familiar, "Dragons"by Maddy Low deserves your attention.
Written By Chantal Charles
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