Emerging Christian artist Maddie Harding has gained recognition with her impressive debut album, The Things Jesus Put to Bed. Through fourteen deeply personal tracks, she explores themes of heartbreak, healing, faith, and mental health with rare vulnerability and bold honesty. Featuring genre-defying production and lyrics rooted in hope, Maddie’s debut introduces a fresh and necessary voice in Christian music.
We spoke with Maddie about her journey, the album title, her creative process, and the passion behind this impactful first release.
For those meeting you for the first time, who is Maddie Harding?
Music has surrounded me my whole life, and I lead worship at my church; however, I’ve had a lot of fear about pursuing this seriously. Creating this album pushed me to step out in faith and realize that this is truly the path I want to take. Music and Jesus—that’s my life.
Your album title is so unique. How did you choose The Things Jesus Put to Bed?
Initially, I was going to choose The Things I Put to Bed as the title because it came to me quickly. But after listening to the songs, I realized—I didn’t put these things to bed. Jesus did. So, the change felt very natural. It was all Him.
The album blends a diverse range of styles, including folk, acoustic, pop, and rock. What inspired that diversity?
It was a lengthy process—three years working with my producer, Caleb. Our main goal was always to tell each song’s story through the production and make you feel as deeply as the lyrics. I don’t like being put in a box. I didn’t set out to be just "a pop artist” or “a folk artist.” We focused solely on the emotion and the story each song demanded.
You tackle deep and sometimes “taboo” topics like boundaries in relationships, father wounds, and surrender. What led you there?
My own experiences. Many of these songs started as questions I had for God. “You Can Leave,” for example, came from wrestling with the question, “Why can’t I find someone who respects my boundaries—even in church?”
But in every song, the goal was surrender and hope. I told myself, I’m not just releasing sad songs. The world already has enough of those. I wanted to be honest about pain—father wounds, waiting on God, bitterness, forgiveness—but I also wanted to show Jesus in it. There is always hope. He shows up.
If someone listens and thinks, ‘This is what I needed,’ that means everything to me.
What's your songwriting process like?
One phrase we kept saying was, ‘We’re cutting no corners.’ Some songs came quickly—"You Can Leave” was mainly written in a day, and the bridge came later. Songs like “Like A Father Should” took more time. It was so personal that I questioned whether to release it at all. I really had to go through healing with Jesus before I could finish it.
Overall, I refused to rush or settle. I wanted this album to be exactly what it needed to be.
Do you have a favorite song from the album?
That’s tough—I go through phases. But right now, “The Scary Feeling” is my favorite.
One of the first songs you released was “Bad Real Side,” and you just released the music video. Tell us about it.
Production came together quickly on that one. I wanted it to be first because many of my struggles came from mental health. I’ve fought depression and was on medication.
A big realization was that my depression was never a “bad side” of me. Jesus didn’t see it as a flaw. Recognizing that helped me examine other parts of my life and ask, If God calls me loved, why am I holding onto this pain? It felt right for that song to mark the beginning of the journey.
What do you hope people take away from this album?
Hope. We encounter a great deal of negativity every day. Following Jesus brings peace and joy—not because life is easy, but because the victory has already been won.
Even if you're in the middle of your struggle, it’s not the end of your story. You're in the middle, and there’s so much hope ahead. I hope these songs help people cling to Jesus in whatever they’re going through.
How can we be praying for you?
It’s a busy season—releasing the album, being engaged, and figuring out the future. Pray that I don’t chase only what I want, but that I stay on Jesus’ path and fully trust His plan.
Bradden Ford is a Christian music enthusiast responsible for managing NewReleaseToday's new release database of artists and albums. He resides just outside Nashville, Tennessee.
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