Madi Diaz just completed a run of shows throughout the North East, including a performance at the venerated Newport Folk Festival. In addition to her own set, she made guest appearances with several others, including Hayley Williams, Lizzy McAlpine, Kathleen Edwards and Lucy Dacus. Today, Diaz and Dacus continue the collaboration and present ‘Heavy Metal (UN-unplugged),’ the second single from Fatal Optimist (UN-unplugged), a deluxe release out September 4th via ANTI-.
Following ‘This is How a Woman Leaves (UN-unplugged),’ which Stereogum called “a breakup song with a titanic chorus,” this Un-unplugged version of ‘Heavy Metal’ finds Diaz re-working the Fatal Optimist “stunner” Rolling Stone. Of the track and Dacus, Diaz comments: “Doesn’t Lucy Dacus just sound like Frank Sinatra with a velvet cape and gloves on? I could listen to her verse in my ears on repeat. I was so honored when she agreed to add her sparkle to this song. She is just so unbelievably hardcore. And on top of that, the band really shines on this track in every single way. I know we somehow made a longish track even longer but every tone, every note, every little break and shimmer is just so felt and tender. It goes so hard, but oh so sweetly – I almost wish it would play for forever.”
“Madi is a songwriter’s songwriter, she’s clever, restrained when she needs to be, to the point exactly when it feels right, and also just a joy to be around,” says Dacus.
Listen to ‘Heavy Metal (feat. Lucy Dacus) (UN-unplugged)’
Fatal Optimist (UN-plugged) is a stripped-back collection and further highlights Diaz’s ability to cut to the emotional core of her own experiences with startling precision. The album includes four additional “UN-unplugged” tracks with features from Dacus and August Ponthier.
Reflecting on Fatal Optimist (UN-plugged), Diaz says, “These songs have two sides now. One being the insular raw, knee jerk world of Fatal Optimist. In UN-unplugged land, I sat with some of my favorite players to date, and we fumbled through these songs together. Not so solitary, more like lonely together – letting a world build, and doing it in full color. Oftentimes when I write a song, I’m still processing whatever it is I’m going through. With Fatal Optimist, my intent was to stay in those early stages of writing and capture that intense, insulated energy of active processing. With the “UN-unplugged” versions, I feel a bit braver, now standing on two feet, ready to say it all quite a bit louder.”
Watch the Visualizer for ‘This is How a Woman Leaves (UN-unplugged)’
Watch Madi Diaz’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert
Madi Diaz
Optimist (UN-unplugged)
Pre-Order Fatal Optimist (UN-unplugged)
Fatal Optimist (UN-unplugged) cover artwork
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