Maddy Jane isn’t afraid to show her messy side on her new EP, Clear as Mud Pt 1.
The six songs explore the space between confusion and clarity, written on her own terms and shaped by her Tasmanian roots. As a fifth-generation Bruny Islander, Maddy carries stories of her stunning island home into her music.
Clear as Mud Pt 1 follows her 2023 EP Island Time and debut album Not All Bad Or Good, which was named triple j’s Feature Album and led to support slots for Harry Styles and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
“This EP is part of me, but not for me,” Jane says. “Songs are spells—they hold meaning, intention, and energy. I’m not stuck in a machine anymore.”
To mark the release, Jane talked to Rolling Stone AU/NZ about starting over, trusting imperfection, and making music that feels like her.
Maddy Jane’s Clear as Mud Pt 1 is out now.
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Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Was there any particular reason or inspiration for this body of work to be an EP instead of an album?
Maddy Jane: The original intention was to create an album, but during the recording process, it became clear that each song had its world, its moment. In a time where full albums aren’t always consumed the way they used to be, we felt it made sense to release the first half as an EP to let these six songs breathe and have their time.
I’ve always been an album lover—both as an artist and a listener—so that format still means a lot to me. Releasing Part 1 as an EP gave me the best of both worlds: I could start telling the story, get the music out there sooner, and still bring it all together next year with the whole album experience.
This is a two part project – can you explain the reason behind that and what part 1 is about compared to the eventual second?
Jane: It became clear early on that releasing Part 1 as an EP would give these songs more space to stand on their own, as singles, and as the beginning of the story. These six tracks will eventually form part of the whole album Clear As Mud, alongside the second half that’s still to come.
Part 1 is both an introduction to the broader project and a self-contained body of work. Each song carries its mood and moment of self-reflection, embracing different parts of identity, emotion, and the idea that you don’t need to have everything figured out. It’s about accepting the chaos while still moving forward—and that energy will continue to evolve in Part 2.
You’ve called this a “new chapter”. Could you expand on that and how it differs in sound and direction from your 2022 ISLAND TIME EP and 2020 NOT ALL BAD OR GOOD debut album?
Jane: Calling this a “new chapter” feels true for where I’m at—both personally and musically. My first album, Not All Bad or Good and the Island Time EP were both steps towards figuring out who I was, as a person and as an artist. That debut album was raw, genuine, and uncertain in a way that made sense for the time—I was still finding my feet. Island Time felt like a return to roots, to home, and a bit of a sonic search party. It explored everything from folk to indie to slight punk energy—almost like I was crossing a bridge and trying to work out where I fit.
I’ve always had a storytelling, Australiana thread in my music, but for a long time, I felt like I was chasing sounds or trying to please someone. By taking a step back and facing some real-life adversity, I ended up learning a great deal about myself. I found out I have ADHD, embraced my queerness, and stopped running from the more complex parts of myself. I realised I’ve achieved a lot, even when operating in survival mode, and that there’s power in just owning that.
This EP—and the album to come—is the most unapologetic and empowered I’ve felt. It’s me standing on my own, stripping everything back and building from the ground up. Sonically and lyrically, it’s more confident, more intentional. I’m not afraid to say what I mean. I’m not trying to fit into an industry box or make something I think people will like just because it’s expected. I’ve leaned into my influences—country, Australiana rock, witchy, and anthemic sounds—and let them naturally shape the songs.
The music I’ve made before is still valid—it’s part of the journey. However, this new chapter is about reclaiming my voice and perspective. And honestly, I’ve got a lot to say.
Could you expand on this album being “the most self-assured place I’ve ever made music from”?
Jane: I had to lose a lot to find my strength again. For a while, I got caught up in everything except the music—the fear, the pressure, the noise of the industry. Eventually, I hit a point where I had to rebuild from the ground up, on my own. That meant doing a lot of inner work: understanding how my brain works, facing trauma, embracing my queerness, and realising how all of that was tied to me reclaiming my voice—not just as an artist, but as a woman. That process—painful as it was—led me to the most self-assured place I’ve ever made music from. I’m still learning, always will be, but I feel clearer and more in control than ever before. I’m no longer making music from a place of anxiety or survival. I’m making it from truth, from ownership, from strength.
Having Alex Burnett as a producer and collaborator helped solidify that. He believed in this world we were creating and poured so much into making it what it is. He understood the vision and felt like it was something important, not just for me, but for Australian music as a whole.
At the end of the day, music is the one constant that’s carried me through. And this project is me finally choosing myself, and backing myself completely.
What do you mean when you say “I’m not stuck in a machine anymore”?
Jane: When I say “I’m not stuck in a machine anymore,” I mean I’ve stepped away from the pressure and pace that used to define everything I did. I began my career in the industry at a very young age. I received a significant push early on, which came with a lot of expectations and opinions, often before I’d even fully figured out who I was. I was signed to a label, constantly touring, recording in between, and always feeling the pressure to deliver, to keep up, and to do things the “right” way according to the industry.
It was intense, and while I stayed strong for a long time, I did lose myself in trying to make everyone happy and fit into all the constructs that were never really made for me. I burned out. The music and the joy behind it started to suffer, and so did my mental health. Releasing my debut album at the beginning of the pandemic forced me to stop. Suddenly, there was no momentum to ride, nowhere to go, and I had to sit with all the things I’d been running from.
Coming out the other side, I had no team, no clear direction—but that also gave me the space to strip everything back and rebuild from scratch. I wouldn’t change any of it. It taught me how to reconnect with myself and the reason I make music in the first place. Now, I’m working on my terms. I’m no longer trying to fit into something that doesn’t suit me. I’ve taken my power back—and this EP is the sound of that.
How quickly do you want to get to the second part of this EP?
Jane: I’m hoping to share another song from Part 2 before the end of the year—just to give people a taste of where the story is heading next. The plan is to release the full-length album in 2026, which will include the songs from Part 1 as well as a whole new set of tracks that continue the journey.
This is a cohesive body of work, shared in stages to give each song the space it deserves. I’ve put so much of myself into it, and I’m excited to keep building on what Clear As Mud Pt 1 has started.
Once the album is released, I want to be back on the road—playing these songs live, connecting with people, and hopefully touring around Australia and overseas as well. Performing is such a massive part of why I do this, and I can’t wait to bring this new chapter to the stage.
