Maddie Zahm’s new track “STEP ON ME” is a reflection on the emotional aftermath of her first queer breakup, a relationship that was equal parts tender and creatively entwined. It was a messy ending, not only because of the romantic connection but because the two of them were writing songs about their experiences. At some point, the artist realized it was time to stop trying to continue the story of the relationship through music and to start reworking the story on her own terms.
This realisation became the basis of a song travelling through closure, memory, and emotional contradiction. The artist is reflective and uncertain about the end of the relationship, calling it an important relationship, but also an unexpected emotional complexity. A lot of the complexity was because it was her first big relationship with a woman, and was compounded by the intensity and dramatic emotional expression they both shared.
This song captures the strange duality of walking away from something where love was there, but also knowing that walking away can be more obvious than staying. The track is about the idea that sometimes it’s more honest to end things than to stay in that space. It borders on a breakup song, but she says it’s the closest she’s come to writing a classic song, but even that feels messy for her. It’s hard to completely divorce empathy when you’re writing about someone you still admire and respect.
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