04 Dec That Brunette Writes a New Kind of Love Song with “Platonic”

Fresh off the release of her Millennium Fig EP, queer artist That Brunette (aka Madeline Mondrala) has released her newest single “Platonic”. Premiering on Audiofemme, “Platonic” presents itself as an upbeat, lighthearted take on love and friendship, showcasing That Brunette’s commercial appeal in the pop music industry as she blends unapologetically authentic lyrics with electro-pop melodies and rhythms that are undeniably catchy. “This song is an ode to platonic love. That love that you fall into when you meet a new friend who you know is going to be a part of your life forever, where you can’t get enough of this new person’s mind and the way you two see eye to eye so effortlessly,” says Mondrala.  “That love you feel when you can’t believe there was a point in time before you knew them and you can’t imagine your world without them. Then, just as soon as your story begins, life pulls you apart again. They go elsewhere and you’re left back where you began, but with this beautiful impression they made on you, grateful that your paths crossed at all. They opened a door in you. They validated a part of you. They saw you as brand new. Gotta love that perfect platonic love.”

“Platonic” follows in the vein of her recent hit “Coolest Girl” as an ethereal pop sound shining through danceable production and showcasing her bright vocals throughout. Her lyrics are infused with her signature wittiness, while still being emotional and honest as she sings about an intimacy that can only come from a perfectly platonic love affair. Known as “Brooklyn’s queer pop goddess” (Audiofemme), That Brunette is also releasing an exclusive merch launch with the new single, with 100% of the proceeds during the month of December directly benefitting the pockets of Black Drag Artists in her community of Brooklyn. “I want to put the money made from these shirts into the hands of Black Drag Queens who’s artistry has supported me in too many ways to count. I’m honored to support them in return.”

Photo by Florencia Alvarado

That Brunette (aka Madeline Mondrala) is a Brooklyn based Experimental Pop songwriter and performer. Having written her first song at age eight, she promptly began performing her creations for her classmates on the schoolyard at recess. Originally from Los Angeles, Mondrala attended the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College in New York, alongside artists like Mitski, Verité, and Sean McVerry. Her first EP Cloud (2013) was acclaimed by top-tier taste making blogs such as The Line of Best Fit for “blending classically nuanced pop styles to hypnotic perfection”. In 2014 she was awarded the Thayer Fellowship grant for demonstrating “outstanding achievement and high professional potential in the arts.” Soon after, Madeline was sought out by BMG Publishing and signed as a writer/artist. During this time, she worked with producers such as Dem Jointz (Brandy, Rihanna), Larzz Principato (Dua Lipa, Halsey) and Ryan Marrone (Nicki Minaj) to name a few. Her sophomore EP Madelin (2017) garnered attention for its feminist anthem “Good List”, appearing in a myriad of music publications including Ladygunn and Popdust. Soon after, Madeline set off to pursue her music independently. Her subsequent music video for her single “High School Boys” premiered in Billboard and was embraced by the queer/drag artist community in Brooklyn. Madeline’s 7-track album Then Her Head Fell Off was released in 2019 completely independently. Despite discouragement towards this set of songs from her former management, it was met with praise in the indie scene.  Gabriel Akins of Substream Magazine aptly wrote “Madeline does whatever she wants to and nails all of it.”  Having spent the last two years writing and recording new music, Madeline is ready to take full ownership of her artistry and embark on a path of deliberate authenticity under her new moniker “That Brunette”.