Madi Diaz Releases “Ambivalence” From New Album, Fatal Optimist
Madi Diaz releases “Ambivalence,” the second single from her new album, Fatal Optimist, out October 10th via ANTI-. On “Ambivalence,” Diaz makes a meal out of a shitty feeling and turns that four-syllable word into a quietly anthemic chorus about not being sure if crumbs are enough. On the song’s chorus she sings: “I can always count on you for one thing // You to dance my night away // You to dance my night away // You to dance my night away, ambivalence // Ambivalence.” It follows “Feel Something,” “the urgent, anxiety-ridden acoustic number…about those moments when the deep desire to connect with someone overrides logic” (Stereogum).
Watch “Ambivalence” Visualizer, Directed by Allister Ann
Following 2021’s breakthrough History of a Feeling and 2024’s two-time Grammy nominated Weird Faith, Diaz is now asking audiences to lean in close. Fatal Optimist is her album most likely to haunt you with its starkness. In Diaz’s words, “Fatal Optimism is the innate hope for something magical. It’s the weird faith that kicks in while knowing that there is just plain risk that comes with wanting someone or something. It’s when you have no control over the outcome, but still choose to experience every moment that happens, and put your whole heart in it.”
After ending a relationship with someone she once envisioned marrying, Diaz turned away from everyone and everything she knew and took herself to an island. Her time alone emerged as a powerful, insightful period of introspection. Rage, embarrassment and romantic grief shifted into inner wholeness and the pieces of Fatal Optimist started falling into place.
Recorded with co-producer Gabe Wax (Soccer Mommy, Zach Bryan) at his Infinite Family Studio, the album needed to mirror that isolation. “This was the first time in my career that I stayed in this heavy place with the songs after leaving the studio rather than trying to escape it,” she says. While you’ll find subtle accompaniment from an occasional baritone guitar or bass, Fatal Optimist comes down to Diaz alone in a room with her acoustic guitar. Simplicity can be much more difficult to nail than camouflaging a song with layers of production. It is exactly what these songs needed.
Diaz supports Caamp at Radio City Music Hall in September before embarking on an extensive North American tour. A full list of dates is below, and tickets are now available here.