Contributions by Marley Kotick

Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye never intended to strike a nerve when they sat down on St. Patrick’s Day and wrote “Girl in a Country Song.” Merely expressing their honest reaction to the reductive tilt of today’s “Bro Country,” the pair along with co-writer Aaron Sherz, shamelessly skewered its Xeroxed stereotypes. “Girl in a Country Song,” as much a lark as meaningful social commentary, proved they weren’t alone in their feelings of the current state of Country music.

After the song’s release last summer, the response from critics and fans was so instant and intense that there was no denying its power. NPR’s All Things Considered praised Maddie and Tae for “turning heads in different ways with their very first single” and Rolling Stone cited them as one of “10 New Artists You Need to Know.” David Letterman couldn’t get the plucky duo to New York fast enough for their late night debut. Even the Atlantic marveled, “Cheekily appropriating much of the sound of modern country, the two young women directly quote well known Bro-Country lyrics and titles…”

Their career kicked off with “Girl in a Country Song” when it went viral with over 23 million views on VEVO. Shortly after their hit single, “Start Here” was released on August 28th, 2015. This is the 19 year old duo’s first album and reached country’s top 30 on September 8. What they set out to do was reach people through their music with themes like; bullying, clueless boys, and the power of friendship. For example “Girl in a Country Song” shows a girl’s perspective on how they feel wearing cut off shorts and always having to look nice. “Music lets people pour out their hearts and be vulnerable,” said Maddie. Both of the girls agree that you have to put yourselves out their to realize you’re not alone in situations.

Maddie and Tae are full of diversity in their music. They came out with “Girl and a Country Song” and it was just one of those songs that you catch yourself singing when there’s no other music on. It’s full of life and rings truth to every girl listening. Both girls are notorious in their songwriting and it’s amazing that in just three minutes of music they can portray years worth of feelings. When their new song “Fly” was released it couldn’t of been more different from “Girl in a Country Song.” Every word sung by the duo makes you stop and listen. “Just keep on reaching though the limb might break,” is just a part of the chorus from “Fly”. The girls really know how to speak to young girls going through hard times and that’s really important to know when you listen to their music. They make their music to speak to you, not to serenade you. We know they’ve achieved their goals of being heard, so watch out America, they’re about to steal your hearts.