Vancouver-based indie-folk artist Madisyn Gifford has released her most vulnerable and sonically evolved album to date, A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine, via 604 Records.
It’s a coming-of-age soundtrack that transforms heartbreak into healing, brimming with lush folk-pop textures and deeply personal reflections.
A Concept Album Rooted in Healing and Growth
At its heart, A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine is a concept album about choosing optimism in the aftermath of emotional pain.
It’s an honest exploration of growing up—navigating first love, letting go, and finding peace on the other side of heartbreak.
Gifford doesn’t shy away from the heavy stuff, but there’s a golden thread of gratitude that runs throughout the record.
“This record is an honest look at the healing all of my past romantic endeavours have forced me to go through,” says Gifford, “and me standing on the other side of that healing filled with gratitude for all of those experiences—even the painful ones.”
Listen To A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine
Songs That Balance Nostalgia and Now
With 12 tracks, the album feels both timeless and current.
From the dreamy title track, “A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine,” to the poignant “Seventeen” and the bittersweet “Glad You Got Away,” each song carries its own emotional weight.
The production—anchored by warm folk instrumentation and introspective lyrics—blends the sounds Gifford grew up on with the maturity of someone who’s lived through the stories she’s telling.
One standout is “What Love Is,” the album’s focus track. It’s a playful, retro-inspired take on post-breakup confusion. Originally penned in a bathtub on Christmas Eve 2021, the track evolved from a melancholy tune into a cathartic, Johnny Cash-esque bop with the help of producer Jared Manierka.
Gifford leans into the contradiction between the upbeat sound and the aching lyrics with a wink: “The lyrics are sad and vulnerable, yes, but also very tongue in cheek.”
A New Chapter for a Rising Star
Since her debut EP Learning to Exist in 2021, followed by LPs I hate ur guts and Sleeping on the Ceiling, Gifford has been steadily growing a loyal fanbase. She’s earned millions of streams, media praise from outlets like Rolling Stone, Consequence, and EARMILK, and even landed placements on Netflix’s Hot Frosty and The CW’s Nancy Drew.
With A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine, she steps into a new era—one defined by self-acceptance, emotional clarity, and creative confidence. It’s the kind of record that sounds like a late-night drive and feels like a handwritten letter to your younger self.
Watch The Music Video For “What Love Is”
Alongside the album release, Gifford dropped a nostalgic, retro-tinged music video for “What Love Is.” It captures the duality of sadness and sweetness that the song—and much of the album—lives in so comfortably.
Whether you’ve followed her from day one or are just discovering her now, A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine is a striking entry point into the world of Madisyn Gifford. It’s an album for the heartbroken, the healing, and anyone in between.
Tracklist – A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine:
- Intro
- A Quiet Contemplation of Sunshine
- Seventeen
- Die Happy
- Fast One
- Sisterhood
- Glad You Got Away
- Overpriced
- What Love Is
- Fathers Day
- Plain Sight
- The Colour Yellow
Andrew
A die-hard country music fan with an impressive collection of Spotify playlists. Happiest when I'm listening to music and constantly on the lookout for the next artist to fall in love with. A bit of a tech nerd too.
