NBC’s Songland Season 2 premiere winner & 2x CCMA winning vocalist Madeline Merlo releases her most personal song to date, “Makeup.” The poignant tune questions the unchangeable nature of inherent traits, actions and viewpoints emphasizing that certain characteristics are innate, but behavior and perspective are not. Via vulnerable and introspective lyrics, “Makeup” encourages listeners to embrace their unique identity recognizing that you don’t have to pass on generational flaws and trauma. Stream/download HERE.
“I started this song shortly after I left a therapy session,” said Merlo. “It took me a while to realize that I am the product of two people who should have never been married. In that session, my therapist established a valid point that stuck with me that went something like, ‘So many things will be passed down to you but that doesn’t mean you have to take them.’ I went home and started stomping this out on the treadmill and before I knew it, I had a first verse and chorus.”
Merlo bares her soul with this release, addressing the complexities of relationships and the transformative power of self-acceptance. The song serves as a testament to Merlo’s growth as an artist and as a person, inviting fans to connect with her on a deeply personal level. Fans can expect an accompanying music video for “Makeup,” adding a visual dimension to the emotional depth of the song and promising to be a cinematic journey, further enhancing the narrative woven into the lyrics.
Having “already proven her songwriting chops” (Billboard), Merlo has “long made a career by telling big emotional stories in the span of 3 minute or so songs” (American Songwriter). Similar to her critically acclaimed label-debut EP, Slide, that scored her praise from Billboard, E! News, PopCulture, Music Row and more, Merlo continues to build her niche as a songwriter and artist, as she brings to life powerful female stories, from budding romances, to growing up and to the lessons learned in-between. “…Ready to make her name and talent known in the American country music landscape” (Country Swag), the “rising country star” (People) has a new project “Makeup,” out now, available on all streaming platforms.