Maddison Breen Presents a Striking Masterstroke With “Odesa (Featuring Amela)"
- STAFF
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
By: Staff
We were absolutely blown away from the very first moments of Maddison Breen’s latest release, “Odesa (feat. Amela).”
From the opening line, Maddison commands attention with a level of presence that feels both grounded and transcendent. Her delivery, phrasing, and vocal tone wrap tightly around the striking lyric:
“Born in the fire / you know we didn’t ask for it.”
The atmosphere she creates is instantly captivating—there’s a warm, velvety clarity in her voice that lingers long after the line lands. The piano beneath her feels almost telepathic, like the sound of thoughts forming in real time, intimate and deliberate. As the bass and drums join, they build the structure beneath her words with purpose, adding emotional weight and a lush depth. Maddison’s voice flows over it all with both restraint and intensity, leading us into the next unforgettable lyric:
“It’s always been this way / we’ll never get away.”
There’s something undeniably spellbinding about the way she threads emotion into each phrase. And what also stands out is how seamlessly the production supports her—never overpowering, always enhancing. As the song evolves, it becomes almost impossible to pinpoint one definitive highlight. There are too many: the soaring moments, the tender inflections, the strength buried inside the softness. Her vocal approach combines raw grit with elegant control, navigating breathy falsettos and full-bodied belts with ease. It's emotional, yes—but also technically impeccable. The performance feels less like a traditional pop duet and more like a dramatic, operatic experience laced with soul.
Then, the moment arrives: Amela enters. The duet begins. And it’s magic. The chemistry between Maddison Breen and Amela is so instinctual, so intuitively matched, it feels like a conversation between two voices who’ve known each other forever. Their tonal blend is breathtaking—light and dark, storm and calm—interwoven in one swirling, cinematic exchange. Their harmonies on the titular phrase:
“Odesa”
hit with precision and power, a masterclass in emotional resonance. It’s pure bliss.
And when we reach the outro—where both Maddison and Amela trade lyrical fragments and riff through layered runs—it becomes a study in how two artists can elevate a song into something unforgettable. Each passage feels handcrafted, yet entirely effortless. We sat silently, eyes closed, immersed in what felt less like a song and more like an experience.
“Odesa (feat. Amela)” is a vocal and emotional triumph. We cannot recommend enough that you take the time to listen—truly listen—to this remarkable track.
"Odesa" is a breathtaking triumph—an emotionally charged, vocally masterful, and sonically rich masterpiece that cements Maddison Breen as one of the most compelling new voices in modern indie music.
Maddison Breen’s artistic journey reflects both resilience and evolution. Born in the UK and now based in Australia, she’s a proud trans woman and independent artist who’s navigated the highs and lows of the music industry with defiant grace. Early on, she was busking on the streets of Liverpool, performing in local bands, and absorbing the legacy of her British musical roots. That hunger and curiosity eventually led her to collaborations with respected figures such as John Power (The La’s/Cast), Ian Prowse (Amsterdam/Pele), and Alan McGee, the legendary former manager of Oasis. Her work with contemporary Australian talents like Amy Shark, Japanese Wallpaper, and Brad Hosking reflects her ability to cross scenes and eras with natural fluidity.
Despite several record deals that ultimately didn’t stick, Maddison never stopped writing. She’s performed at major festivals and venues—from Tamworth to The Star Casino Gold Coast—and built a loyal following. Now, under her own name, she’s making the music she was always meant to. Her debut album is a two-sided homage to both her Brit-pop foundations and her indie rock instincts. It’s steeped in influence, nodding to artists like The Beatles and Coldplay while pushing forward with her own voice and perspective. Songs like “You For Me” echo that classic Merseybeat energy, while tracks like “Ghost” expose personal battles with gender dysphoria and mental health. The deeply empathetic “Odesa” was co-written with Bosnian-born, Aussie-based vocalist Amela Duheric and stands in solidarity with war-torn Ukraine.
What’s most striking about this debut is how much of her is in it. There’s no polish for the sake of trend, no manufactured persona. Maddison Breen isn’t here to meet expectations. She’s here to reclaim the narrative. Not the boy she once was, not a label-crafted project—just Maddison. Honest, unfiltered, and finally free to create on her own terms.
After three years and parting ways with Rage More Records, Maddison Breen (formerly known as Indyanna Baby) is releasing her debut album. The first single from the project—“Odesa”—has been uploaded exclusively to Triple J Unearthed. You can hear the song now at her Unearthed profile (see link below).
Make sure to playlist, stream, and share “Odesa (Featuring Amela)" by Maddison Breen.
