meadowhip releases new single 'Getting Messy' and lists her favourite female songwriters

meadowhip is the new solo project from singer, songwriter and poet Cara Walkam who is one half of indie pop duo Territories.

Earlier this month she released her second single ‘Getting Messy’, which was produced by fellow singer-songwriter Chelsea Warner and engineered by Micheal Freeman who has worked with CXLOE and G-Eazy amongst many other artists. The track is a delicious, silky mix of R&B and electro with Walkam displaying both her remarkable ability as a lyricist and her supple vocals which are supplemented by backing vocals which form a gorgeous set of alternative melodies.

“I’m pretty consistently trying to self-analyse, or reason with myself.,” meadowhip says of the song. “Talk myself out of some rubbish behaviour or thought pattern. The internal dialogue in this track is only a snippet of what’s going on in my head basically all the time.”

To celebrate the release of ‘Getting Messy’ meadowhip has written a list of her Top 5 female singer-songwriter exclusively for Women In Pop.

5 female songwriters meadowhip loves

Mariah Carey
When I think of Mariah Carey, I am sure that I’m not alone in first thinking of her incredible voice, and then of the “I don’t know her” meme.  But her unbelievable songwriting is potentially more important than either of those, in my opinion.  Her melodies and harmonies are beautifully complex and always unique - how is she out here not writing iterations of the same song 20 times like mere mortals like myself?

My favourite aspect of her songwriting, though, are her lyrics.  She is so poetic and articulate, and she’s not afraid to use a big word.  These lyrical tendencies implanted themselves into my brain as a child.  I have intense memories of myself at 8 years old hollering lines like “I’m part of you indefinitely!” and I just never stopped.

Shungudzo
From the moment my partner played me ‘Long Live the Billionaire’ in 2017, I’ve been on the Shungudzo hype train.  Her songwriting defies genre and time. And I think that’s why it works like magic in every setting I’ve heard it in.  That’s why the dance tracks that she features on slap as hard as the pop songs she writes for other artists.  

She’s even genre hopping within her own collections.  Her EP I’m not a mother, but I have children has such wonderful variety in the writing.  It’s both inward and outward looking.  And the glorious thread that ties it all together so perfectly is her incredible poetry.  She takes simple and beautiful words and moulds them into such important things, and heartfelt things, and powerful things.  Heads up - she will absolutely present her lyrics in the form of spoken word and she’ll make you cry.

Stella Donnelly
What’s with songwriters from Perth?  Can you guys calm down for a minute or whatever?  Like, I know I’m never going to catch you up, but the illusion that I might still be in the race does sound appealing to me.

Most of the tracks that I Shazamed in 2019 were Stella Donnelly songs.  They cover some pretty heavy topics, and they’re not necessarily super upbeat or chipper, but the way she presents her thoughts really tickles me.  There’s a real Aussie piss-takey quality in her songwriting that really tickles me.  And the combination of her scathing commentary on toxic masculinity and her pretty melodies are truly it for me. 

Nai Palm
I can’t think of a Hiatus Kaiyote or Nai Palm song that I’ve heard that hasn’t made me think: “Shit, I wish I wrote this”.  I’m in awe of how her writing is so layered and whimsical and brooding, but also effortless and uplifting. 

Nai Palm’s songwriting can be so deliciously complex and intricate, with all her wonderful metaphors, stunning imagery, and clever symbolism.  And on the other hand, it often uses simplicity and directness to incredible effect, especially in her hooks.  She’s definitely not scared of melodic or lyrical repetition; and why should she be when we want to hear every line she writes over and over again?

Kate Bush
I’m still intoxicated by this mystical oddball, and I get the sense that her music is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment.  Maybe it’s because Kate Bush is musical Dark Cottagecore - she is the master of writing a song that makes you feel like you’re visiting a little (and probably haunted) ivy-covered farmhouse in the English countryside for an early evening pot of perfectly brewed tea and a tarot reading

Her songwriting is perfectly kooky, with just the right amount of force, femininity, and absurdity.  Show me someone else who can successfully open a song with “Beelzebub is aching in my belly-o”.  While I wait, let me tell you my theory - her words and her ideas and her melodies are actually straight up fairy magic.  

‘Getting Messy’ is out now. You can buy and stream here.

To keep up with all things meadowhip you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.