Maggie Andrew Puts The “Doom” In Bedroom Pop In Her Latest Single “How To Sing For Money”
Words by Zara Dosanjh
Graphics by Mia Cruz
Maggie Andrew is unrelentingly herself in her latest single “How to Sing for Money.” Pour your heart on the page and fuel the ever-hungry music industry with emotional capital, and you’ll have earned yourself 15 minutes of blissful fame. The hypothesis of the track focuses on musical success, communicated through a hypnotic blend of upbeat pop melodies paired with a darker undercurrent of heartbreak, vulnerability and frustration.
Lore is everything. It gives the public something to latch onto, a buzz of drama, a streak of relatability deemed necessary for a fan to connect to an artist. Although I love and admire the presence of raw vulnerability in the work of my favourite artists, I disagree that it should be readily expected from artists to bear all for a taste of success. “How to Sing for Money” uses daring meta-lyricism to critique this industry standard — childhood trauma and sexy melodrama are totally in (apparently) and a must for that ever-desired fame. Fans consistently demand more and more from artists, expecting the ins and outs of artists’ personal lives via a musical medium. But it certainly gets to a point — since when did a famous ex become more interesting than the art being created? Beneath this layer of Andrew’s brutal honesty, nostalgia bleeds through the track, from the 80s-guitar to the funky, colourful visuals in the music video. Everybody loves a fool, whether it’s Maggie Andrew or fellow pop princesses from decades past, guilty for bearing all and getting little in return.
The playful dancing behind the lyrics of “How to Sing for Money” is brought to life in the eccentric music video. Donning a vintage-style night-gown and campy hair rollers, Andrew teases the camera with her punchy lyrics. Singing directly into the camera via a fish-eye lens emboldens the quip, critical nature of the song, making it clear that she is far from shying away. The half-buried pain beneath the lyrics seeps out in the greyish colour scheme and dulled lighting, accentuated by her lackluster bedroom decor. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom. Andrew transforms into her pop star persona, kitted out in spiral platform boots and a fringed bodysuit. Her bedroom receives a similar makeover throughout the music video, becoming the ultimate rockstar girlfriend’s abode. Jumping out of her bedroom window, her 15 minutes of fame might be up, but beyond the music video, her influence is not lost on me. Her unique, bold aesthetic only adds to her authenticity. It truly feels like we are watching her come into her own. The song is dripping with fun, the aesthetics are glamorous and cool, and I love that it makes you want to get up and dance. I hope to see Andrew transform into a pop icon beyond those four bedroom walls.