New Zealand’s emerging indie-folk talent Maddy Low captures the fragile beauty of first love with “To Be Near”. Release on June 5 via Timeless Records, the track unfolds like a handwritten confession, gentle acoustic guitar work and layered harmonies wrapping around Low’s warm vocals as she sings “Now I get what they all meant” with the wonder of someone discovering emotions too big for words.
At just 18, the Wellington/Auckland-based artist demonstrates remarkable emotional intelligence in her songwriting. The track’s minimalist arrangement, enhanced by subtle string swells, mirrors the vulnerability of surrendering to new feelings, while her clean fingerpicked guitar lines (a nod to her classic rock influences) provide an anchor of technical precision. There’s a busker’s immediacy to the performance that recalls her beginnings at age 13, yet the production carries the polish of an artist coming into her own after composing for films like Chasing Stars.
What makes “To Be Near” special is its universality. Maddy doesn’t just describe first love’s fluttery panic; she recreates its sensory details: the dizzying risk, the delicious doubt, the moment you realize clichés exist because they’re true. As she prepares for her debut headline show at Auckland’s Big Fan, this single proves some truths are best delivered softly, with a guitar and a voice that knows when to tremble.
On ‘To Be Near’, Maddy Low captures the magic of first love with stunning simplicity
About Maddy Low
Maddy Low is an indie-folk pop artist emerging from New Zealand’s music scene with a voice that shifts effortlessly between honest vulnerability and free-spirited celebration. Based between Wellington and Auckland, her songwriting captures the real emotions of early adulthood through a blend of indie, folk, and pop, with classic rock influences evident in her guitar work.
As she describes it: “Half my music feels like laying down looking at the ceiling, just contemplating life, and the other half makes you want to dance around in the sunshine.”
Since beginning her journey as a street performer at 13, Maddy has developed a natural ability to connect with audiences in any setting. This authenticity shines through on her rapidly growing YouTube channel, where her distinctive interpretations of artists like Amy Winehouse, The Cranberries, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sublime have not only garnered thousands of views but also cultivated a dedicated and expanding international following.
