Australian indie rock musician Angie McMahon shares the narratives and insights behind her ‘Light Sides’ EP, which serves as a continuation of her widely celebrated sophomore album. This new project is founded on poetic expression, heartfelt emotion, and a profound respect for music’s healing powers.
I feel immense gratitude for the opportunity to release music… these moments affirm my existence and my role, and remind me that I’m more than just a bundle of emotions.
Angie McMahon’s music has consistently conveyed a sense of quiet revelation – creating a personal dialogue between herself and her audience, enveloped in raw lyrics and deep, unfiltered feelings. The Australian singer/songwriter, recognized twice as an Atwood Editor’s Pick, gained significant praise for her second album, Light, Dark, Light Again, which resonated powerfully with both fans and critics upon its late 2023 debut. Acclaimed for her beautifully candid and fearless songwriting, alongside a cathartic indie rock sound, this follow-up to her 2019 debut LP Salt marks McMahon's musical exploration through inner turmoil and eventual realization, as she navigates her darkness and emerges renewed.
A year later, the Light Sides EP expands upon the universe of Light, Dark, Light Again while carving out its own unique identity. Featuring five unreleased tracks that were crafted during the album's creation and “born in the same universe,” these songs reflect the early stages of her recording process, as well as the insights gained after the album’s completion — encapsulating themes of transformation, uncertainty, and acceptance.
“Light Sides is a blend of songs that coexist with Light, Dark, Light Again,” McMahon explains. “They didn’t make it onto the album, and I was unsure if they would ever be released, but it feels right to close this chapter by sharing these pieces… I hope they add a bit more depth to the overall narrative.” She continues, “It serves as a bookend to the album experience. Some of the writing originates from the very beginning, before I knew the message of the album, while other recordings took place after the album was completed, when I had learned to allow more spontaneity and enjoyment in studio sessions. Therefore, it captures both the beginnings and endings of certain life lessons.”
Released in September 2024 through Gracie Music / AWAL, Light Sides showcases some of Angie McMahon’s most impactful and emotionally stirring music to date. Tracks like “Beginner,” “Just Like North,” and “Untangling” delve into personal and emotional growth, examining pain as a catalyst for development, whereas “Interstate” explores the shift from independence to romantic connection, and “Take Up Space” uses empathy to better grasp outside perspectives.
Atwood Magazine recently featured “Untangling” in its year-end roundup of the Best Songs of 2024, highlighting its cinematic vulnerability: “Intimate yet all-consuming, raw and unfiltered throughout, it serves as a cathartic confession that envelops us. With the steady rhythm of drums and bass paired with a deeply expressive electric guitar melody, McMahon draws us into a world where both artist and listener grapple with life's complexities.” She delicately unravels emotional wounds, inviting her audience into an open-hearted therapy session, wherein she acknowledges her own perceived flaws and how she ultimately triumphs over adversity:
I broke free from my old form
And the moves I fabricated to fit
So I could conform
Now I lift weights and find security
No longer fearful
I possess something worthwhile
Emerging from what I am outgrowing
It was a shared misadventure
And I am untangling you from my core
I am untangling you from my core.
While the EP acts as a companion to Light, Dark, Light Again, it undeniably carries its own significance. The tenderness, warmth, and self-awareness permeating these tracks distinguish them in her body of work, yet they remain quintessentially Angie McMahon. Throughout, she immerses herself in the profound, heart-rending emotions that have characterized her artistry from the start, striking an emotional chord through compositions that resonate with honesty during times of change, growth, heartache, and self-discovery.
In our discussion, Angie McMahon invites us deeper into her realm — one rooted in poetry, raw sentiment, and a deep appreciation for music's healing capacity. Continue reading as she shares insights on the beauty of imperfection, the gentle strength of embracing change, and the stories behind these songs — from revelations at rock bottom to the magic in leaving a track unfinished yet complete.
“I feel a combined sense of purpose, gratitude, and community from this experience,” she says with a smile.
Light Sides is now available.
**A CONVERSATION WITH ANGIE MCMAHON**
Atwood Magazine: Angie, it's wonderful to reconnect! How has Light, Dark, Light Again evolved for you over the past year?
Angie McMahon: I appreciate it
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Australian indie rock musician Angie McMahon reveals the narratives and insights from her ‘Light Sides’ EP – a continuation of her widely praised second album, centered around poetry, genuine emotion, and a profound respect for music's healing power.