Midwife is the primary project of American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer Madeline Johnston, also known as Madeline Elizabeth Johnston. She is based in the United States, and the project first develops in Denver, Colorado, within the city’s DIY scene and the artist collective Rhinoceropolis. Johnston also records as Sister Grotto, Mariposa and Mercury Tracer.

Style and themes

Midwife’s music sits within alternative rock, ambient, ambient pop, dream pop, drone and experimental music. It is often described by Johnston as “heaven metal”. The project combines dream pop, slowcore and ambient textures with lyrics dealing with loss, grief and transcendence. Johnston also describes the work as “emotive music about devastation — catharsis”.

Releases and collaborations

The first Midwife release is Like Author, Like Daughter in 2017, followed by the Prayer Hands EP in 2018, Forever in 2020 and Luminol in 2021. Luminol includes guest contributions from members of DIIV and Have a Nice Life. In 2023, Johnston collaborates with Vyva Melinkolya on Orbweaving, recorded in the deserts of New Mexico. The album brings together Midwife’s “heaven metal” approach and Vyva Melinkolya’s sentimental shoegaze influences in an atmospheric, cathartic form.

Later work

Johnston’s fourth solo album, No Depression in Heaven, appears in 2024 on The Flenser. It is written largely while touring and explores impermanence, memory and finding solace on the road. The record features contributions from Chris Adolf, Allison Lorenzen, Ben Schurr, Michael Stein and Vyva Melinkolya.