Whether or not they're religious, most people don't take the word "Armageddon" very lightly. For some it's the prophesied site of the final showdown between God and Satan; for others it's a term reserved for any number of horrific events with wide-reaching consequences.
Singer-songwriter Ashley Daniels seems to see the word as a metaphor for emotional strife and deception that's more local than global. In her song of the same name, she spins a tale of love gone wrong, an "Armageddon [that] came in the form of a blue-eyed man."
"When I wrote the song, I was 15 and had my first serious fight with my first serious boyfriend. Being a dramatic teenager, it felt like the end of the world, hence the name 'Armageddon,'" Daniels says with a laugh. "Since then, I've been getting revenge on shitty ex-boyfriends through songs."
Of course, Daniels is all grown up now, with a day job and a more even keel. In fact, vengeance is probably one of the last topics you'd expect this caretaking kind of gal to know much about: Daniels works as a nurse by day, releasing her demons through songwriting and open mike performances at night -- when she's not pulling a double shift, that is.
The musical style of "Armageddon" cuts through her sweet exterior, too. With thunderous piano and moody vocals, it sounds like an earthier version Fiona Apple's "Shadowboxer" or what might happen if Dolly Parton's "Jolene" burrowed its way into Tori Amos' ivories.
In other words, it's an angsty slice of autobiography with some hard-hitting keys. And while it's certainly a piece of her past, Daniels insists that the track is also a part of who she is in the present.
Recorded at "It's still one of those songs where what I felt when I wrote it comes pouring out," she says. "It's definitely one of my favorites." An MP3 of "Armageddon" is available in the related downloads at right. More songs by Ashley Daniels may be found on her MySpace page. MadTracks highlights and provides MP3s of songs performed by local musicians. All tracks here are provided with permission of the artist. If you are a musician based in the Madison metro area and are interested in sharing your work as a MadTrack, please send a message.
