The track is from the Vancouver artist’s brand new album Sleeping on The Ceiling.
While artists will often write tonnes of songs that never see the light of day, it is less often that they write songs that were never intended to be released or recorded, as is the case for Madisyn Gifford‘s thoughtful and deeply personal new single ‘For Shaughnessy’, the focus single of her brand new sophomore album Sleeping on The Ceiling.
The track is an ode to the artist’s titular best friend, an intimate message of solidarity for everything that they were going through and an earnest reminder of their friendship. The fact that the track was never intended to be heard outside of the pair of them gives it a real sense of unfiltered rawness and emotion, like a glimpse into their personal friendship from beyond the glass, which makes for a stirring and genuinely touching listening experience. Despite the track’s specific subject matter, it is a track that will be easy for listeners to hear and find that they resonate with, drawing parallels between their own friendships and situations, and even just through the emotion that is etched through the vocal delivery and the stripped-back soundscape. ‘For Shaughnessy’ is a truly gorgeous work of art, and a release that showcases a very human and real side to an artist who continues to develop and grow her craft.
On the song, Madisyn shares: “For Shaughnessy is a song that I wrote for my best friend when she was going through one of the hardest seasons of her life. I wrote it in a moment of surrender because there was really nothing I could do to fix what she was facing and whenever I’m put in a position like that the only thing I ever know how to do is write. Originally I was only going to give it to her on a flash drive for her birthday and not release it because it felt a bit too personal but she loved it so much that we decided to put it out. It makes me more emotional than any song I’ve ever written and I also think it’s one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written just because of how much it means to me. I’m so honoured to have such incredible friends and I’m so honoured to have the opportunity to share this song about one of my favourite people”
