Maggie Lindemann, the artist who took the world by storm with her viral hit “Pretty Girl,” is turning the page. With her new album i feel everything set to release on October 17, she’s embracing emotional honesty, creative control, and a renewed relationship with her past work. In a recent interview with Gayety, Lindemann opened up about the legacy of her breakout single and how it shaped the artist she is today.

From “Pretty Girl” to Personal Power

“Pretty Girl,” released in 2016, was Lindemann’s breakout moment. The catchy pop anthem amassed over a billion streams across all versions and landed her on the global stage. But with that success came pressure.

“I did that song so long ago, I was so young,” she said. “For a while I was really bothered by it. It felt like I was always going to be known just for that.” Lindemann admitted the track once felt like a weight she could never outgrow.

Now, nearly a decade later, she has come to see it in a different light. “I respect it and I appreciate it so much now,” she explained. “It opened the door for me for so many other things. I don’t need to top it anymore.”

A New Chapter with i feel everything

The upcoming album i feel everything is Lindemann’s most personal and dynamic body of work to date. She began writing it in March 2024, driven by a desire to create something vibrant and emotionally rich. “I started out thinking I just wanted to make something fun,” she said. “I was tired of feeling sad and depressed. I wanted to do something that made me feel alive again.”

That energy carried into songs like “spine,” “one of the ones,” and “Let Me Burn” featuring The Warning. But as the process continued, other feelings crept in. Sadness, anger, longing, and reflection became just as present in the tracklist. “There’s a good mixture,” she said. “Some are fun, some are sad, some are angry. I was really just feeling everything.”

That emotional rollercoaster inspired the album’s title. i feel everything does not aim for perfection. Instead, it gives space to contradiction, chaos, and complexity. Lindemann embraces it all — and wants her listeners to do the same.

Full Creative Control and a Clear Vision

This new era is not just about songwriting. For the first time, Lindemann is releasing an album through her own label, swixxzaudio, in partnership with Virgin Music Group. With full creative control, she had the freedom to shape the album from top to bottom — from the visuals to the sound.

Fans have already caught a glimpse of the album’s aesthetic in the music video for “one of the ones.” Featuring electric blue hair and an eerie, liminal set design, the video matches Lindemann’s blend of dreamy detachment and emotional intensity. “I’m obsessed with liminal spaces right now,” she said. “I wanted to show the contrast between my outfit and this weird backroom vibe. It’s like I’m in my own world, no matter where I am.”

Connecting with Fans Through Authenticity

Lindemann has always resonated with those who feel like outsiders. Whether it is the alt kids at her shows or LGBTQ+ fans who find truth in her lyrics, her community is deeply personal.

“I was that kid growing up,” she said. “The alt scene is such a close group. The outcasts, the people who maybe didn’t feel like they belonged — I see myself in them.”

She added that her fans are not only supportive but honest. “They give me real feedback,” she said. “That’s so helpful. It lets me learn from each project and grow into the next.”

Letting Go of the Pressure to Prove Herself

For a long time, Lindemann felt trapped by the legacy of her early fame. Now, she feels free. “I don’t long for being more than ‘Pretty Girl’ anymore,” she said. “It was an incredible opportunity. I’m just grateful now.”

That sense of gratitude runs throughout i feel everything. While the music dives into heartbreak, confusion, and frustration, it also celebrates the strength it takes to feel everything and keep going anyway.

The album releases October 17, and pre-orders for vinyl and CD editions are already live. Lindemann is expected to announce a supporting tour in the coming weeks, giving fans the chance to experience the new material live.

As she moves forward, Lindemann is more grounded than ever. She has created a record that honors her growth, her fans, and her full spectrum of emotion. With i feel everything, she is no longer chasing a moment. She is living in one.