Following her electrifying performances at Ultra Music Festival, Lightning In A Bottle and Electric Forest, and ahead of her direct support slot at REZZ’s upcoming Red Rocks show, Denver-based electro-soul luminary Maddy O’Neal is charting a course for nonstop growth.
Throughout her illustrious career, O’Neal has carved her own lane in the dance music scene with her magnetic soulful bass stylings, and hypnotic, hybrid DJ/drum pad live performances – a musical identity that’s led her to perform at renowned festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and more.
In addition to playing these world-class events, O’Neal has embarked on tours and collaborative endeavors with esteemed artists such as Pretty Lights, CloZee, Big Gigantic, and The Floozies. Through her triumphant journey, she has cultivated a devoted fanbase enchanted by her seamless fusion of shimmering, melodic electro-soul with infectious funky rhythms and gripping, synth-driven basslines.
Now, following the release of her collaborative single “Come For You” alongside Defunk, O’Neal is revving toward her next full-length album, VITAL SIGNS. Centered around themes of personal evolution – and navigating the emotional waves that come with a changing interior and exterior world – VITAL SIGNS will see O’Neal explore a bevy of genres, and forge her artistic throughline within a wide swath of soundscapes.
Today, fans get their first taste of VITAL SIGNS with the LP’s lead single, “Locked In,” a collaboration with rapper and frequent GRiZ-collaborator ProbCause. Combining old school dubstep aesthetics with smooth flows from ProbCause, “Locked In” is an acute representation of O’Neal’s genre-blending mastery and an apt tone-setter for the worldbuilding of the VITAL SIGNS era.
As long time friends and collaborators, O’Neal and ProbCause meld seamlessly on “Locked In.” Kicking off with a pulsating 80s-style synth bass punctuated by dubstep drum rhythms, the song envelops the listener with layers of futuristic synth arpeggios and background vocal chops. The track builds with a buttery smooth cadence from ProbCause, who spits about his aspirations – and the mental toughness it takes to get there.
“Locked In” then drops into a section that appropriately matches its title – a high-impact drop that combines hypnotizing bass wubs, a rotation of drum sounds, and otherworldly sound design into a cacophony of electronic music bliss. In its complete sonic immersion, this central section evokes a sense of heart-pumping motivation – a perfect auditory depiction of the locked in mindset.
Finally, after a stirring verse from ProbCause that illustrates the record’s profound themes, “Locked In” finishes with a powerful drop – a swirling bass concoction that concludes the listening experience with a cathartic climax.
Fans can see O’Neal playing “Locked In” and other VITAL SIGNS tracks on her upcoming tour dates – including her direct support slot for REZZ at Red Rocks this August.
Maddy O’Neal tour dates
7/17/24 – 7/19/24: Secret Dreams Music Festival – Thornville, OH
7/26/24: Shambhala Music Festival – Salmo, British Columbia, CA
8/9/24: Summer’s End Smokeout – Republic, MI
8/16/24: Pepsi Amphitheater – Flagstaff, AZ
8/23/24: Bethel Woods Center w/ Pretty Lights (MADHAUS) – Bethel, NY
8/30/24: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
9/5/24 – 45 East (Cascade Equinox pre-party) – Portland, OR
9/26/24 – 9/29/24: Wakaan Music Festival – Ozark, Arkansas
10/24/24 – Suwannee Hulaween – Live Oak, FL
ProbCause tour dates
7/27/24 – Bowstring Brewyard w/ The Vibeline – Wilmington, NC
8/2/24 – Cervantes Ballroom w/ The Vibeline (Official Pretty Lights After Party) – Denver, CO
