New country music sensations Maddie and Tae have recently launched and released their debut album, Start Here, and it’s as promising as their career. Maddie & Tae, based in Nashville, Tennessee consists of vocalists Tae Dye (19) from Ada, Oklahoma and Maddie Marlow (20)  from Sugar Land, Texas. They met through a mutual voice coach (Tom Mckinney) in 2014 and soon began composing music. They gained national attention after the release of their hits “Girl In a Country Song” and “Fly”, which have become very popular in the country genre.

Although “Girl In a Country Song” (which has now gone Platinum) has been met with criticism for poking fun at the typical country style of female oversexulization, the ridiculous situtations women are placed in ( i.e unreasonable clothing in cold weather, the expectation of submissive women, and the “superiority” of males), it’s a highly enjoyable song. The lyrics are well-planned and there’s much truth to them. Another must listen is “Sierra”, which describes what most of us have probably experienced at some point: an incessant bully whose sole purpose in life seems to be to make others’ lives miserable and destroying dreams by the dozen. The mesmerizing words and the catchy chorus, such as “ I wish I had something nice to say about that girl and her million-dollar face. But beauty only gets you so far” and “Sierra, Sierra girl, let me tell ya, that high horse you’re riding can buck you off quick” make this song as unforgettable as the other tracks, including “Girl In a Country Song,” “Smoke,” and “Wishing On a Plane.”

Overall, this is an amazing album, full of light and lively rhythms and soft and melodic Southern accented singing. Most, if not all, songs are relatable because they touch upon subjects most people face growing up, such as love, feeling insecure and the desire for freedom.With the soft and fine blend of country and subtle pop influences, the tracks deliver a fresh sound and offer a pleasant new outlook on country, disproving the perceived  notion that all country music is monotonous and unoriginal. Both Dye and Marlow sing harmoniously and smoothly, making any one of these songs great for a deep analysis or for an easy listening experience.

The fine mixing of strong vocal abilities, gentle instrumental music, catchy hooks, and traditional country with a twist (surprising but welcome pop music influences, semi-subtle swings at established sexist ideas prevalent in country music and the fact that they’re girls) makes it no surprise that  Maddie & Tae’s album is gaining popularity and becoming a fast favorite, as well as skyrocketing up the country charts. On Billboard’s Top 100, “Fly” was ranked 61 and spent 10 weeks on the chart, while “Girl In a Country Song” peaked 54 and has been on the charts for  18 weeks. While both tracks did fairly well, “Fly”  fared much better on the Billboard Country Charts and was placed #12 for 32 consecutive week. I highly recommend this album; even if your taste in music doesn’t include country, you should still give it a listen. You might appreciate the blending of country and pop influences, the soft and melodic singing, the deep lyrics which belie Dye and Marlow’s age and their determination to share their music with the world, regardless of all the people who say that they have no idea what they’re talking about since they’re so young. I know I did, but Maddie and Tae have now joined the ranks of my favorite female country artists, along with Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, and Reba McEntire. Start Here is an awesome debut album that I rate 5 out of 5 stars and hopefully, Maddie & Tae will release more quality music to match the great promise they show.