“Toffee” marks Maddie Ashman’s debut—a layered, genre-defying release rooted in emotion.
Maddie Ashman, the avant-pop artist making waves with her microtonal mastery, shares her first official single, “Toffee”, via AWAL. Known for blending sound and visual art, Ashman’s introduction to the streaming world delivers complexity, emotion, and a rich tapestry of sounds.
In “Toffee,” Ashman constructs a cinematic sonic environment, interweaving mellotrons, distorted cello, and dynamic percussion, all anchored by her expressive falsetto. It’s an unfiltered depiction of emotional reawakening, rendered with a raw experimentalism that defines her style.
Maddie explains her intention behind the track:
“I wanted to capture what it’s like to feel again and embrace emotions after a long time of suppressing them. The chord sequence was deliberately constructed to create a feeling of being constantly pulled in both directions – almost relentlessly ungrounded, yet also as if nothing is wrong. It’s totally exciting, confusing, empowering and overwhelming.” 
Building a significant fanbase through social media, her online presence has grown rapidly, with over 100K new Instagram followers. Her audience includes established musicians such as Sampha, Ólafur Arnalds, and The Needle Drop’s Anthony Fantano.
Ashman recently headlined a sold-out show in London and performed at The Great Escape. She’ll soon hit the road again, supporting Sungazer on their UK tour and performing at a range of festivals including How The Light Gets In, Klaeng, and Left of The Dial.
