Artist Profile: Bymaddz
Bymaddz, the self-labeled “cosmic R&B” singer from New Jersey, has spent years carving out a dreamy, progressive, and rhythm-driven sound, and, with her new project The Marvelous Tales of the One-Eyed Imposter, has fully arrived as a transcendent and creatively dynamic artist, etching out her artistic vision through her inherent need to create.
As a child, Bymaddz was first exposed to music through the Motown and soul tastes of her parents as well as the alternative, punk and hip-hop driven tastes of her older sister. Yet, it was the 1997 version of Cinderella, featuring Brandy and Whitney Houston, that captivated her imagination, leaving her perpetually intrigued with the idea of singing and vocal expression.
This, later, resulted in an enduring interest in theater and the stage, a platform that allowed her to develop a comfort with both performance and utilizing her own voice.
“Everything that I do, even in my waking life, I'm just very dramatic. I'm a very dramatic person… [Through music], you tell a story and you convey it in your own way. It just so happens to be dramatic and extra and silly, but fun. I love it, and, even in my live performances, I'm just doing the most. I take a lot of things I've learned from theater in my movement, in the way that I end my performance, and stuff like that.”
These experiences, combined with her growing fascination in music as a high schooler, left Bymaddz with one clear desire: she wanted to be an artist, no matter the cost.
Yet, as college approached, Bymaddz felt the enduring pressure of practicality, and, at age 19, gave up almost completely on her musical dream. However, as she gradually became unhappier in the path she had chosen, she felt a stronger and stronger desire to return to her life-blood, creative expression, and she made the leap to change her major to music.
This decision introduced her to various other creatives, and, ultimately, to the Brooklyn music scene: a nurturing community through which she has developed her sound and personal style.
Her latest project, The Marvelous Tales of the One-Eyed Imposter, represents the years of learning and artistic progression between this pivotal decision and now: a wide-spanning collection of songs that culminates in a distinct portrayal of the unique lane that Bymaddz has carved out for herself.
At the very beginning of her musical journey, Bymaddz committed to uploading a new song on Soundcloud every week, a practice she dubbed “Throwaway Thursdays”, and, through this process, she gained an increasing comfort with her ability to express herself through various sounds and genre-explorations.
Yet, it wasn’t until her 23rd birthday, as she locked herself away in a room reserved for touring artists in NJ, that she discovered her sound for the first time. She compares the moment to the birth of a baby giraffe. As she made music that sounded like nothing she had ever done before, she stumbled and yet still remained upright: a product of the years of practice and formative creation she had undergone.
From this experience emerged the off-kilter, theatrical, and truly unique vision that is expressed in The Marvelous Tales and will continue to be fleshed out as Bymaddz continues on the path she has laid for herself.
“I'm going to keep stumbling because, when I find new sounds and styles, I'm going to grow and I'm going to get better at it…It's one thing to be an artist, but then it's another to listen to yourself. It's another to actually trust yourself with your work and trust that you will know how to handle your emotions and everything that comes with putting it out in the world, even if it means nobody's listening… And that's the thing about being an artist; that's why we should get paid what we get paid, because we change lives. We change futures. We change the way of the world.”
