Magdalene wrestles with the competing addictions of love and fame on provocative new single ‘Mattress Actress’, the latest taste of her forthcoming debut album. “It’s a tongue-in-cheek dance song about trying to maintain the spotlight in a man’s life and in his bed even though we’re not together anymore,” she explains, framing desire as another kind of performance.
Layered, theatrical vocals introduce the song before a funky guitar riff and punchy drums establish its sexy, upbeat pop-rock pulse. Synths bring a glossy sheen to the verses, while Magdalene swaps some of the sneering sleaze of previous single ‘Super Lucrative Jukebox Baby’ for something softer and more sultry. There’s still plenty of bite beneath the polish, with shades of MARINA in its combination of theatrical delivery, sharp pop hooks and knowingly exaggerated femininity.
The accompanying video pushes that performance to its limits. Magdalene writhes on a bed surrounded by women before the fantasy gives way to a trailer-park setting and increasingly invasive cameras. Dragged through a crowd of paparazzi before eventually appearing lifeless, she turns public scrutiny into something grotesque and darkly camp. ‘Mattress Actress’ may revel in being watched, but beneath all that glossy provocation lies the uglier question of what the spotlight ultimately takes in return.
