I’ve been a Madi Diaz fan for a while, through all her musical style changes on each album. Her newest, Fatal Optimist, is the most stripped down. Mostly just Madi on guitar. Madi co-wrote and co-produced Fatal Optimist, making it extremely personal.
Madi’s sound is bare with vocals and lyrics that are full of angst and heart. She is continuing on her modern folk path that she’s well suited for. Madi gives sound and words to heartache. Her sound may be simple, but her lyrics have depth.
What I like about Madi’s songwriting is it’s very intimate but general enough to be relatable, no matter your situationship. Madi gives emotion to songs and lyrics, especially on songs like “Hope Less”, “Lone Wolf” and “Heavy Metal”, where her word play adds a bit of light to the pain.
To support Fatal Optimist, Madi is on tour, with a few dates still on her schedule. I was lucky enough to see her Tuesday at The Iron Horse in Northampton, Massachusetts. It’s a great venue with table seating and perfect sound. Shout out to the elderly straight couple at the table in front of me who decided “Ambivalence” was the perfect song to get frisky to, perhaps not the most romantic song but whatever floats their boat.
If you’re given the chance, I definitely recommend seeing Madi live. She wears her talent on her sleeve for all to see and hear. In my gay opinion, the best thing about a Madi Diaz show is her story telling, she can make you laugh even with her saddest of songs. She really is a Fatal Optimist.
