Maddie Ashman shares her self-produced debut single “Toffee,” merging avant-pop with raw emotion.
Avant-pop newcomer and acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Maddie Ashman delivers her debut single “Toffee”, now available via AWAL. Renowned for her boundary-pushing microtonal performances and immersive audiovisual installations, Ashman brings a compelling sense of artistry to this self-produced release.
“Toffee” fuses a dreamlike falsetto with crashing percussion, mellotron layers, and glitched cello solos. The result is a sonic world that defies convention—both ethereal and chaotic. The track draws listeners into Ashman’s emotional terrain through its shifting chord progressions and textured instrumentation.
Reflecting on the creative inspiration behind the single, Maddie shared:
“I wanted to capture what it’s like to feel again and embrace emotions after a long time of suppressing them. The chord sequence was deliberately constructed to create a feeling of being constantly pulled in both directions – almost relentlessly ungrounded, yet also as if nothing is wrong. It’s totally exciting, confusing, empowering and overwhelming.” 
Her distinctive sound has earned attention from major names in the industry, including Caroline Polachek, Jacob Collier, and Anthony Fantano, all applauding her viral microtonal performances. In just three months, Maddie has amassed over 100,000 new Instagram followers, expanding her influence in the digital music space.
After selling out a headline show at London’s Paper Dress Vintage and appearing at The Great Escape, Maddie Ashman is set to support Sungazer on their upcoming UK tour. Festival stops include How The Light Gets In, Klaeng, and Left of The Dial, among others—signaling a bright and adventurous path ahead for this rising artist.
