Madonna Returns as Madame X This June

The summer of 2019 is set to sizzle as pop chameleon and mother of reinvention Madonna returns to the music scene with her 14^th album. 

Simply titled Madame X, the new album contains 15 tracks, the result of stellar collaboration between the larger-than-life singer/songwriter and renowned producers such as Diplo, Mirwais Ahmadzai (American Life), Quavo, Colombian rapper Maluma and Portuguese fado singer Anitta.

So, why Madonna decided to settle with Madame X as the title of her new album? According to a manifesto released by the singer, Madame X is not just a singular person. 

Rather, she is a manifestation of different personalities – a cha cha instructor, a professor, a head of state, a housekeeper, an equestrienne, a prisoner, a student, a teacher, a nun, a cabaret singer, a saint and a prostitute.

These intriguing personas are subtly portrayed in those 15 tracks. For instance, in the lead single “Medellin”, featuring Maluma, she opens the track with dance instruction, signifying her role as a Latin dance instructor. 

In “I Rise”, Madonna recalls the time when she first came to New York as a dance student, studying under the guidance of a renowned dance instructor.

As with her previous releases, Madonna and her team of producers recorded the album within the span of 18 months in London, New York, Los Angeles and Portugal. Over the past few years, Portugal – particularly Lisbon, her current domicile – has provided her with a slew of inspiration.

“Lisbon is where my record was born,” says Madonna. “I found my tribe there and a magical world of incredible musicians that reinforced my belief that music across the world is truly all connected and is the soul of the universe.”

Therefore, it would not be surprised to hear Portuguese cultural influence in this album such as the melancholic fado music as well as the voices of Cape Verdean Batuque singers – an indigenous art form that was once banned by the colonial Portuguese government.

To mark the countdown to the official release of Madame X on 14  June, Madonna kicked off with the global release of her music video for "Medellin" via live telecast on MTV. 

The video was directed by Spanish director Diana Kunst and multi-disciplinary artiste Mau Morgó and features Madonna and Maluma as newlyweds.

Madame X is available for pre-order now at iTunes Store, Spotify, Apple Music and GooglePlay.  

*Photos courtesy of Interscope Records/Universal Music.