Bymaddz And The Birth Of Cosmic Soul
How the singer from New Jersey is crafting a genre entirely her own.
Courtesy: Instagram/@bymaddz
Bymaddz pops up on my screen with a bright smile for our video call, wearing headphones, a green headscarf, and a glowing septum ring. “I love your hair,” she says in a soft voice, mirroring the soulful melodies in her music. It’s nighttime, and she’s lounging in bed—it's giving relaxation. She’s also incredibly kind, exuding the same laid-back energy that defines her sound: R&B mixed with neo-soul, rich with emotion yet very much chill.
We jump right into it, eager to talk about how her passion for music started, and her family is to credit. Her grandfather was a trombone player, her mother and aunts were dancers, and her cousin was a DJ. “I think music was always embedded in me,” she says. “I used to look at the sheet music my grandfather kept in his piano chair and thought it was so cool. I thought it was so interesting that he would write and spend time at his piano.”
It's clear growing up in New Jersey with a musical family is intrinsic to Bymaddz as a singer, but I was curious to learn about her creative process. “When I make music I like to pick beats off of YouTube—it’s easier for me. I have my own setup…so I put the beat in GarageBand and just hum and sing to it. All these mumbles eventually get made into more coherent thoughts and lyrics,” Bymaddz says. Also, writing things down isn’t her thing! The words come straight from her soul, just like when she freestyled over Silk Sonic’s “Blast Off” instrumental.
As we continue our conversation, we shift gears to talk about her self-defined genre, “cosmic soul.” “Cosmic soul is my way of expressing my creative vision in music. It’s essentially alternative R&B, but in a way that gives off this out-of-this-world vibe,” she says. She then reminisces on a small performance she did in a friend’s living room. “She was like ‘Girl, you’re cosmic.’ And I was like ‘I like that.’ It just stuck.”
Bymaddz’s sound isn’t just cosmic—it’s constantly evolving. Her earlier music, like “I’m actually an alien” and “If You Try To Flap Your Wings,” leaned more trippy and psychedelic, with her sultry vocals sliding over ‘70s lo-fi disco and funk beats. But over time, she’s expanded her range. For “neck Hair” with Fingy, she experimented with house music, a nod to her Jersey roots. While shaping her identity as an artist, she fully embraces change as a key part of her journey.
“As an indie artist, it’s important because sound is ever-changing. As you grow and develop, you need to allow yourself to be open to the possibilities of what your sound could be,” she says. She then cites Tyler, The Creator, Erykah Badu, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Ross, Minnie Riperton, and SZA as key influences. “I think all these artists really understand music in ways that honor the foundation of soul and create beautiful pieces of work.”
There's something else on Bymaddz’s mind: succeeding as a Black queer artist. Despite her evolving sound, she expresses feeling gatekept, not getting the opportunities she wants, while also knowing she’s capable of more. “Queer POC women are pushing the industry forward, easily, especially in the independent realm. When it comes to curating, performing, dancing, advertising, promoting, and marketing, we are out here doing everything.”
And she wasn’t lying. When she’s not making music, Bymaddz creates designs to help promote her music on social media. “I just started, but lately, I’ve been experimenting with colors and fonts. I really enjoy incorporating graphic design into what I do—especially when other indie artists hit me up like, ‘Hey, you do graphic design? Can you make this for me?’ And I’m like, ‘Hell yeah, absolutely!’”
Graphic design work by Bymaddz
I wanted to lighten things up with some fun questions to get a better sense of her interests—starting with her dream collab. Without hesitation, she names Tyler, The Creator and Doechii, the latter being a huge inspiration to her. “She had this thing for Alligator Bites Never Heal where she gave herself a time limit. And it taught me a lot about reevaluating what perfectionism looks like in music and creating.”
Bymaddz then admits to being a procrastinator but says she’s learning to push past it, realizing that as an independent artist, she has to start somewhere. “Her [Doechii's] visuals are dope. I love her aesthetic. If Doechii existed when I was younger, I think I would’ve felt better about myself as a dark-skinned Black woman. And she’s queer too—like, come on! I will collaborate with Doechii.” When she says this, I can’t help but hype her up for manifesting it—because the culture needs these two on a record!
As our interview comes to a close, Bymaddz shares some exciting news—she’s dropping a project called The Marvelous Tales of the One-Eyed Imposter in May. She chose the name after learning Cyclopes, one-eyed monsters, were allegedly known before Greek mythology, thriving in nature yet often misunderstood. She deeply relates to their story, explaining that she feels her most spiritually and creatively elevated when she’s near water.
That sense of identity and belonging is something she’s wrestled with for a long time. “I felt like I was an imposter in the Black community. I always felt weird, like I couldn’t pick up on things culturally. I’m still learning slang!” she admits. But with this new project on the way, she’s excited to finally get out of her own head, letting go of perfectionism and embracing the journey.
Bymaddz then opens up about her new single, “Willemjin’s Dreamscape”—a deeply personal track about her coming out story and first childhood love. “Willemjin was the first girl I fell in love with. It felt like the first time I was fully accepted. I was so used to rejection, so when I found community with someone who was the complete opposite of me, I was like,‘Wow.’ This girl is from Belgium, she’s got a unique name. I wanted her, and she made me feel seen.”
The song also reflects on her move to Long Valley, New Jersey, where she faced racism and often felt out of place.
“Other kids thought I was weird because I loved anime, niche White films, barely listened to the radio, and was obsessed with J-pop,” she shares.
Since I wasn’t ready for the conversation to end just yet, I had to ask what songs would be the perfect introduction for anyone who hasn’t listened to her before? She named “Just Be Friends,” “COSMOGALACTIC LOVE!” and “Sorry If I Get Awkward” with BradBrooks. You can also stream Bymaddz's newest single “Willemjin’s Dreamscape” on all streaming platforms now!
Comments were lightly edited for clarity.
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