The London-based pop singer, Lydia Maddix is back with a flaming new anthem that won’t be playing nice, and thank God for that. Her latest single, “Trolls”, is a takedown of online hate, delivered with all the bite you’d hope for from one of the franker voices in modern pop. As with most of Maddix’s work, “Trolls” doesn’t tiptoe when it comes to its message. It stomps in, sharp-edged lyrics and a sense of playful wit in tow, prepared to yank keyboard bullies into the light.
Supported by bright, punchy production that practically struts with confidence, Maddix turns venom into vibrancy, flipping negativity on its head and making it danceable. Her delivery treads that fine line between sass and strength, perfectly driving home her point without sacrificing the fun. It’s that rare kind of protest pop catchy enough to sing along to, but bold enough to make a point that sticks. There is an undeniable joy in the way “Trolls” manages such a sour subject. It’s empowerment in action for anybody who has ever been on the wrong end of a faceless insult.
Maddix doesn’t so much shine a light on the trolls under the digital bridge as torch them with glitter and groove. In “Trolls,” Lydia Maddix shows how calling out hate doesn’t always gotta be in a heavy-handed way. Laughter, truth, and a killer hook are sometimes your sharpest weapons. This song is a call for claiming your space, and your voice, and your goddamn happiness. If you’ve ever hit “block” with a smile, or channeled hate into fuel for your own fire, this one’s for you.