Madeline Johnston

Madeline Johnston
Johnston performing as Midwife in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Madeline Elizabeth Johnston
Origin	Denver, Colorado
Genres	Slowcore shoegaze dream pop ambient drone
Labels	The Flenser
Website	heavenmetal.bandcamp.com

Madeline Elizabeth Johnston[1] is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and audio engineer. She is best known for her work under the moniker Midwife, and has also released music as Mariposa and Sister Grotto. Johnston describes her music as "heaven metal".[2]

Career

Johnston's debut album, as Mariposa, was titled Holy Ghost and released in 2013.[3] As Sister Grotto, Johnston released You Don't Have to Be a House to Be Haunted,[4] Blindside,[5] and Song For An Unborn Sun (alongside Devin Shaffer as Yarrow) in 2016.[6]

In 2017, Johnston released her first album as Midwife, Like Author, Like Daughter accompanied by Tucker Theodore on instrumentation.[4][7][8] Her next two albums as Midwife were Forever (2020)[9][10] and Luminol (2021).[11][2] As Midwife, she would later release Orbweaving (2023) a collaborative LP with Vyva Melinkolya (Angel Diaz). She also featured on the second single from Vyva Melinkolya’s album Unbecoming (2023), titled "Doomer GF Song".[12] Johnston's fourth album as Midwife, No Depression in Heaven, was released in 2024.[13] Paste named it the 66th-best album of 2024.[14] "Killdozer" was Consequence's 17th-best and Stereogum's 37th-best song of 2024.[15][16]

Midwife was named as an Artist in Residence for the 2025 Roadburn Festival.[17]

Discography

Mariposa

• Holy Ghost (2013)

Sister Grotto

• You Don't Have To Be A House To Be Haunted (2016)
• Songs for an Unborn Sun (2016)
• Blindside (2016)

Midwife

• Like Author, Like Daughter (2017)
• Forever (2020)
• Luminol (2021)
• Orbweaving (2023) (collaboration with Vyva Melinkolya)
• No Depression in Heaven (2024)

References

1. "ANGEL". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
2. Madden, Emma (19 July 2021). "Midwife: Luminol Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
3. "Mariposa - Holy Ghost". Daytrotter. Paste Magazine. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
4. Lockie, Audrey (1 June 2017). "Review: Midwife – Like Author, Like Daughter". SLUG Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
5. "BLINDSIDE by Sister Grotto". Bandcamp. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
6. "Song for an Unborn Sun by Sister Grotto". Bandcamp. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
7. Davenport, Joe (8 August 2017). "Midwife - Like Author, Like Daughter review". Tiny Mixtapes. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
8. "Like Author, Like Daughter (album review)". Sputnikmusic. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
9. Nelson, Josiah (9 April 2020). "Midwife Forever". Exclaim!. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
10. Corcoran, Nina (9 May 2020). "Midwife: Forever Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
11. "Review: Midwife - Luminol". Sputnikmusic. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
12. "Artist To Watch: Vyva Melinkolya". Stereogum. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
13. Caine, Zee (2024-06-13). "News: Midwife, No Depression in Heaven". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
14. "The 100 Best Albums of 2024". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
15. "200 Best Songs of 2024 | Consequence". 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
16. "The 50 Best Songs Of 2024". Stereogum. 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
17. "Artist In Residence: Midwife performing No Depression In Heaven – Roadburn Festival". Retrieved 2024-11-25.