Maddie Regent Shares Reflective New Single “Schoolbags”, Mourning Childhood Innocence

08/15/2026 Brandon Stuhr

Rising indie-pop artist Maddie Regent is starting 2025 on a high note with the announcement of her debut album, On the Phone with My Mom, slated for release on May 16th. The album promises to be a deeply personal and sonically vibrant project, offering a window into Maddie’s world through her signature blend of catchy melodies and raw, introspective storytelling. A Toronto native now based in New York City, Maddie began writing songs at just 12 years old, using music as a way to process her anxieties and give voice to her most vulnerable thoughts. Over time, she has developed a distinctive sound that balances polished indie-pop energy with the emotional resonance of a confessional diary entry.

With her two highly praised EPs, MISS REGENT and Girl of Your Dreams, Maddie has captivated fans and industry tastemakers alike, earning a reputation as one of the indie-pop scene’s most promising talents. Her ability to craft songs that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable has solidified her place as an artist to watch. Now, with the upcoming release of her debut album, Maddie is ready to elevate her artistry to new heights. On the Phone with My Mom marks her most ambitious work to date, and as she enters this new chapter, Maddie Regent is undoubtedly poised to make 2025 her breakout year.

“I didn’t want to write an angry song, so I wrote it from a place of grief, I grieve my whimsical childhood knowing I might never be able to give that to my own kids.”

“Schoolbags,” the new single from indie-pop singer-songwriter Maddie Regent, is a somber meditation on the loss of childhood innocence and the fear that has become woven into everyday experiences for younger generations. Centered around the striking image of children boarding a school bus with clear backpacks, the song turns a familiar symbol of childhood into something unsettling. Regent deliberately avoids writing from a place of anger, instead allowing the song to sit in grief as she reflects on the carefree childhood she remembers and the possibility that she may not be able to offer that same sense of safety and freedom to her own future children.

Carried by Regent’s ethereal vocals and atmospheric production, “Schoolbags” finds its power in restraint, letting its central imagery speak for itself. The track captures the sadness of realizing how much the experience of growing up has changed, transforming backpacks, school buses, and ordinary mornings into reminders of a childhood innocence that increasingly feels difficult to protect.

Make sure you check out “Schoolbags” on Spotify below and on your favorite streaming platform!

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Maddie Regent

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Brandon Stuhr

Who am I? Just some guy who decided to start writing on the Internet years ago and now operates his own brand and site. Owner/Operator of Modern Neon Media, I make all kinds of niche content to suit my interests at the time. DIY Enthusiast, Brewmaster extraordinaire, and avid freak for geek culture. Follow on my socials for a more “on” version of me.