RAGEFLOWER Shares The Ten Songs That Influenced Her Debut Single ‘Still Calling’

Sydney based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist RAGEFLOWER (aka Madeleine Powers) releases her debut indie pop -inspired single Still Calling. The track showcases her emotive song writing, and is marked by its diversity of themes from self-reflection, destructive human behaviour and healing. It will delight fans of the modern indie style of Jess Day, Phoebe Bridgers, Amy Shark, and mid 2000’s crossover darlings Avril Lavigne and Tonight Alive.

“Essentially, Still Calling is about the journey back to self and healing the inner child. It’s also about the consequences of suppressing trauma with destructive coping mechanisms. When I wrote the song I was in a dark place, I really felt that I had let myself down and that I had wasted my potential on temporary highs. At the time I was listening to a lot of music from my emo high school years (Bright Eyes, Tonight Alive, Sum 41) and connecting with the person I used to be, which really inspired the sound. I wanted to write a hyper dualistic song with verses that felt confessional and vulnerable but choruses that felt destructive and nihilistic.” RAGEFLOWER

RAGEFLOWER (aka Madeleine Powers) shares the ten songs that influenced her debut indie pop-inspired Still Calling…

The Distillers – The Hunger
A hugely underrated Australian punk band, Brody Dalle’s vocal range between the verses and chorus of this song definitely inspired me to play with duality and contrast in my own music.

Avril Lavigne – Losing Grip
This song has been with me for many years. It’s my favourite Avril song ever. The chorus is so huge and when we were recording the guitars for Still Calling I was adamant that they hit as hard as they do in Losing Grip.

Joni Mitchell – Sunny Sunday
The way that Joni’s vocal melodies swirl around her guitar parts in this song is such a good example of her genius. When I was writing the second verse of Still Calling I wanted to channel a bit of that.

Tonight Alive – Temple
Jenna from Tonight Alive is another Australian punk baddie who I just intensely stan. I love how she writes about her healing, which is so cathartic for the listeners and that’s exactly what I want to do.

Foo Fighters – My Poor Brain
I think Dave’s drums are as pretty much as good as it gets. I can’t not head bang along to this song.

Moreton – Circles
I can’t remember where I first heard this song, but I was instantly obsessed. It reminded me of Jeff Buckley but with the harnessed power of femininity.

Phoebe Bridgers – I Know The End
The emotional journey of this song is overwhelming. Phoebe is an undeniable influence for me musically and emotionally, I have a huge crush on her and this song.

Pale Waves – She’s My Religion
I love Pale Waves and this song is so good. It’s refreshing to hear a queer perspective in rock music and I feel like it embodies that dark feminine energy that I really resonate with.

The Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage. Amen.

Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta
So the hook of this song “I’m not sick, but I’m not well” was ringing through my life at the time I wrote Still Calling. I’d like to say my use of it is an homage, maybe it’s plagiarism, but I just couldn’t put down my feelings in any better way than that.