"I am a fool / I got dressed up for you / for nothing / silly girl don't you know the rules / by now / you can't have everything / you wanted..."
Within the 3 minutes and 38 seconds of Child Seat's dreamy pop noir "unrequited" you feel transported back in time. From the very start there are cracks in the sound like scratches on old audio tape or old film reals. This patina makes the tactile piano notes feel dire, gothic, as if from a 70's Italian horror movie creating unease and less than ten seconds in a big echoing beat like muted gun shots and layers of orchestrations build a story in your head.
Child Seat, the powerhouse duo formed in 2021 by Madeleine Mathews (MAWD) and Josiah Mazzaschi (Light FM, Bizou) know how to set an artful stage and cast big shadows off the footlights. Madeleine's vocal countenance, powerful with the ability to paint broadly artful melodic strokes, in one light. reminds me of a Kate Bush, Tori Amos and in another light an Annie Lennox, Florence Welch. Against Josiah's plaintive instrumentations, a ballet on piano keys, bold hollow body surf guitars oftentimes cradled in synth / new wave dusted crystalline textures, the sense is a collision of 80's baroque pop, 70's rock psychedelia filtered through modern iterations of both (and more). To say that Child Seat crafts dark cinematic dream states, hypnosis in repose is not an exaggeration. Just close your eyes and you will see what I mean.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2glGedITk1hxwHS228RVnw
https://www.youtube.com/@childseatmusic
https://www.instagram.com/childseatmusic/
Child Seat, the powerhouse duo formed in 2021 by Madeleine Mathews (MAWD) and Josiah Mazzaschi (Light FM, Bizou), turns pandemic setbacks into indie rock gold. With the entirety of their debut album written remotely during the pandemic, Mathews’ powerful rock vocals, reminiscent of artists like Brittany Howard/Karen O., creates a unique juxtaposition over Mazzaschi's 80's synth-heavy instrumentals and blended with MGMT/Beach House/Arctic Monkeys vibes.
Child Seat encompasses both Mathews and Mazzaschi’s strengths. Mazzaschi has over 20+ years of success recording and producing artists like The Jesus and the Mary Chain, Jeff Schroeder of the Smashing Pumpkins, Deap Vally, Built to Spill, Rilo Kiley and more, as well as writing/performing for his own projects; Light FM, Motorhome, and Bizou. Mathews, who has fronted and written for numerous bands as well has won songwriting competitions, is defined by her unique vocal styling and powerful lyricism.
Child Seat released their debut album in the Fall of 2022 with features from Jeff Schroeder of the Smashing Pumpkins and saxophonist Ron Dziubla.
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