Given the cesspool of misery and danger we’ve all found ourselves mired in these days, it’s a bit of a wonder why there aren’t more torch songs to soundtrack our collective fears and loneliness. Not feeling back the love we try to put out to the world is a common refrain in 2025, all while living life on the defensive, and a sentimental song of unrequited love, in all its forms, could be applied to whatever we need it to.
Madeleine Rose Witney is here to fill the void, and the London singer applies an age-old style to a modern problem with the emblematic “Shine,” an exquisite new single drawn from the deep lounge of your soul that hit the streams this past Friday (September 4) via 5dB Records.
The celestial composition has an undertow allure as it draws us into Witney’s world, offering a cinematic lullaby that doubles as a haunting ode to female resilience. The “Shine” of moonlight is a protective measure against the shadowy forces that seek to harm, and a reminder that what we invest into the world around us is usually not reciprocated.
“‘Shine’ by design is an anthem for particularly women but anyone who may be vulnerable in that situation, day or night, to have a kind of angelic figure guiding them home but tragically the fact is it’s not safe to walk alone with headphones in because you have to have your wits about you,” Witney says. “It’s set to a ‘jolly’ tune with intentional juxtaposition.”
She adds: “I’m the kind of person who listens to lyrics deeply but I know not everyone is, so I like the idea of the intention maybe passing some people by but when hearing ‘can this fist full of keys save you on this balmy eve’ if you know, you know. Maybe this will provoke some introspective thoughts for those of them who need it and hopefully I’ll be able to sing about rainbows soon.”
A new EP from Witney is fast on the way, and “Shine” offers an intriguing illumination to a timely singer with a rather timeless sound — and very current eye for what ails us.