Auckland born Madeline Bradley a.k.a the electronic angel deryk has released her debut EP. We’ve had a couple of glimpses of deryk’s talents through singles ‘Call You Out’ and ‘One Star’, but deryk’s debut record WOMb shows the world who she is - someone special.
deryk is completely hands on the production of her music and all it entails, conceptualising, shooting and editing music videos and press shots by herself. WOMb is truly the vision of deryk. Working with close friend Justyn Pilbrow, deryk was able to create an album that authentically represents her lived experience.
"Writing WOMb was me trying to make sense of what was happening in my life and in my own head. I was starting to feel very detached, my inner dialogue was too loud and I couldn’t comprehend why switching off was so difficult for me. Finally I was in a place so frustrating that all I could do to cope was to play and allow my ideas to stream in to my work. My close friend and co-writer Justyn showed me how I could do that without restriction or angst and in that still space WOMB was sewn together. Fuelled by a desire to enjoy silence again," says deryk.
The EP’s opening track ‘Call You Out’ draws us into the enchantment that is 'WOMb'. Using her dynamic vocal range, dissonant harmony, and lo-fi beats deryk has created a sylphlike lullaby that is mystic and ghostly. Imagine stepping out of your bedroom at midnight into moonlit forest – its eerie and beautiful.
‘One Star’ washes over you like a soft, electric wave. Deryk displays her impressive vocal range while delivering the heartbreaking line you should only get one star .
Deryk highlights her vocal versatility and her ability to build atmosphere with perfectly balanced acoustic and electronic elements on track ‘Men’. Its a song that oozes cool with its spacey beats and subtle jangle, whilst sending a message of self care.
Deryk, somehow in tandem with her electronica, gets soulful on ‘Heard it All’, a more sanguine track that pulls us back to reality, yet maintaining an air of introspection and defiance evident throughout WOMb. The album ends with the seductive sombreness of ‘goodtimes’ – tight beats paired with delectable vocals, this finale perfectly highlights everything this album has – ghostly beautiful vocals, hypnotic yet weighty lyrics and moody electronic beats.
“’goodtimes’ is about not being able to reminisce or enjoy looking back on a time period in your life because it turned out to be a complete waste of time. It’s like Good Times, except the tainted, bitter version. I don’t believe in regret because “everything is a learning experience blah blah blah” but reminiscing and only seeing your oblivious, vulnerable self. Wearing rose tinted glasses can be self-destructive. Accepting defeat and letting “the goodtimes go” is a healthy next step. At least you know better now," deryk
Despite this age of digital impulse, WOMb has us transfixed as deryk draws energy from formidable female artists like Lorde, Fiona Apple, Esperanza Spalding, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell and Bjork, whilst weaving her own contemporary experiences through this striking yet pensive offering.
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