Maggie Lindemann.Photo: Marina Hunter
Seven years, one worldwide smash hit and a drastic sonic pivot into her career,Maggie Lindemannfinally released her debut album,SUCKERPUNCH, on Friday.
“I’m so glad that I never put out a full-length project, because it would be so different than it is now,” the 24-year-old singer-songwriter tells PEOPLE over coffee in New York City. At this point, Lindemann is a completely different artist from the internet-famous teenager her fans fell in love with through bubblegum pop songs like the platinum-certified “Pretty Girl” — and that’s exactly what she’s going for.
Born in 1998 and raised in Dallas, Texas, Lindemann grew a large social media following thanks to singing videos posted on Instagram and YouTube, which prompted a move to Los Angeles at 16 — without her parents — to pursue her music career. A few single releases and record deal with 300 Entertainment later, she found a global hit in 2016’s anthemic"Pretty Girl,“which now holds over a billion combined streams. But she wasn’t connected to the music.
Maggie Lindemann.Gabriel Perez Silva
Throughout her career, Lindemann has faced cynics who see her as more of an influencer than a musician, despite the fact that music’s been her main focus since the jump. Pivoting into the male-dominated alternative rock and pop-punk genres as a young woman could serve as more fuel for those conversations, especially considering how trendy the sound currently is. “A lot of pop artists are trying to dip their toes in rock, and a lot of it’s super disingenuous,” she says. “I didn’t want people thinking I was disingenuous, because this is music I grew up listening to.”
However, she’s also encountered seemingly sexist barriers to entry from some of pop-punk’s gatekeepers. About a year ago, she recalls coming across a widespread list of the genre’s highest streamed artists that featured only one woman — whose Spotify monthly listener count was lower than Lindemann’s. “For me, that was a really big moment because I realized I was just left out. You didn’t consider me, and statistically, I should’ve been on there,” she details. “I think men trying this genre get a lot more attention than a lot of the girls that are equally [talented], if not better.”
“It’s just really frustrating because our lives are so centered around music,” adds Lindemann. “Everyone’s going to start on social media at this point. No one’s just going to come out of nowhere and become an artist.”
A few months after releasingPARANOIA, Lindemann launched into the creation ofSUCKERPUNCH, drawing lyrical inspiration from feeling “lost” in her relationship with then-boyfriend Brandon Arreaga of the boy band PRETTYMUCH, music industry experiences and other early-20s life changes. “I was really lost for a second,” she says. “I’m so scared of aging, so turning 23 and then 24, I was just like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so stressed,’ and I put it into the music.”
Maggie Lindemann ‘SUCKERPUNCH’ Album Artwork.Courtesy Swixxzaudio
In May, Lindemann announced that she and Arreaga, 22, had officially split after three years together. But since the album was already finished, listeners won’t find any lyrical references to the breakup throughoutSUCKERPUNCH— nor any future projects, most likely, because it was amicable. “I’m very negative in my songwriting,” she admits. “I like talking about sad s—, so I don’t think I’ll write a song about how good it ended.”
Maggie Lindemann and Jordan Clarkson.Cindy Ord/Getty
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Now that her debut album is finally out, Lindemann is entering a new era of her career, as she now feels fully connected to the majority of her musical output. Considering she’s not exactly fond of her early singles, would she ever consider deleting them from streaming services for a fresh slate? “I’ve thought about it, but ‘Pretty Girl’ has a billion streams,” she quips. “Why would I remove it? I’ve got to keep the bag.”
As fans dive into the record, the musician wants them to spend time with its tracks and dig into each lyric to analyze its meaning. She considers songwriting to be the easiest way to communicate her emotions. “I don’t talk about my feelings ever, so that’s what I do in my music,” says Lindemann. “I hope people hear me.”
source: people.com
