Madi Diaz and Lucy Dacus unplug heavy metal

The road to artistic evolution often involves shedding layers, and singer-songwriter Madi Diaz is demonstrating that beautifully.

Fresh off a whirlwind weekend at the Newport Folk Festival, Diaz is continuing her journey of reimagining her material by extending the life of her work with new collaborations. This latest project dives deep into stripped-back arrangements, offering listeners a fresh, intensely intimate perspective on classic songwriting.

Most recently, she shared this renewed approach with Lucy Dacus, resulting in the release of Heavy Metal (UN-unplugged). This version is part of a deluxe collection that revisits songs from Diaz’s acclaimed 2025 album in a stripped-back form, enriched by guest appearances from Dacus and August Ponthier.

The project continues with Fatal Optimist (UN-unplugged), which marks a shift in emotional tone. Diaz explained that this new work represents a different emotional perspective than the original recordings. While earlier projects focused on capturing the “intense, insulated energy of active processing,” these unplugged versions allow her to stand on two feet, ready to express everything quite a bit louder.

The collaboration with Dacus proved to be an exhilarating experience for Diaz. When asked about the pairing, she joked that Dacus sounds like “Frank Sinatra with a velvet cape and gloves on.” Despite the playful comparison, Diaz emphasized the genuine connection: “I was so honored when she agreed to add her sparkle to this song. She is just so unbelievably hardcore.”

The expanded arrangements allowed the music to stretch out its emotional resonance, creating tracks that were both powerful and tender. Diaz reflected on the experience of crafting these versions, noting that every tone and shimmer felt deeply felt. “It goes so hard, but oh so sweetly — I almost wish it would play for forever,” she shared.

Dacus returned the compliment, hailing Diaz as a true artist: “a songwriter’s songwriter. She’s clever, restrained when she needs to be, to the point exactly when it feels right, and also just a joy to be around.”