Review: "How to Sing for Money" - Maggie Andrew
- Alexa Leung
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In this fun, anthemic track, Maggie Andrew’s “How to Sing for Money” tells us how to do exactly that: make money while singing. While fame may seem fantastic, Maggie’s tongue-in-cheek lyricism reveals another side of stardom though still remaining energetic. For a lot of artists, they have to sell their misfortunes in a relatable yet personable way. You croon your heart out, write your tears on a page, and then market it to the masses. The commodification of the music industry is something that has been sung about often, but Maggie does it in a way that is just so fun that it makes you also want to sing for money. And that’s all in spite of her song telling us the dangers of the 15-minutes-of-fame cycle.
“How to Sing for Money” is one of the most fun songs I’ve heard in a long time, and that is no exaggeration. There is something spectacularly cheeky and sly about its lyrics, and when you combine that with its superb soundscape, you get this clever track that sounds like an ironic how-to guide. I really liked how the soundscape was a combination of both alt and pop rock– you can hear influences of both in the instrumentals, but together they form this measured yet energetic sonic experience. It’s a tough job to be so multifaceted, but “How to Sing for Money” does it so effortlessly. And the lyrics are amazing– Maggie has a wit with her writing that is just so clean, and you can definitely hear that in this track. There’s a lot of great moments in “How to Sing for Money”, but I’ll just talk about the bridge. This is the part of the song that sounds most like that aforementioned ironic how-to guide– the vocals here are a lot more conversational though still musical, and here the listeners can learn, jokingly, how to sing for money. The funny part of this song is that it's technically being told to the narrator's ex, as in they, too, want to learn how to sing and make money. I think it’s a great touch to have the list’s last pointer to be “Congratulations, I just ruined your life!”. Everything about this song is tongue-in-cheek, and if you like a good dose of wisdom in your music, then “How to Sing for Money” is going to be for you.
Nova Scotia’s Maggie Andrew has a touch of both creativity and rebellion in whatever she does. It was her artist and Olympian snowboarder brother Trevor Andrew that encouraged her to head to L.A. to begin her music dreams, and the rest is history. She’s since collaborated with industry giants like Blackbear, Ash Riser, Doc McKinney, and Yeti Beats. With praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Alternative Press, Maggie’s talent is in the spotlight in alt-pop spaces. Her debut single “Sleep 4Ever” released in 2019, and her debut EP Day Job dropped in 2024. “How to Sing for Money” is Maggie’s second release of 2025, so drop her a follow to keep track of her next projects!
Written By Alexa Leung
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