Jussy
Ever the thought provocateur, Magdalene confronts the high-stakes standards that Hollywood and society as a whole place on women with “P*rn in the USA.” The song and its accompanying music video satirically lean into such standards to show just how ridiculous they are and the painful effect they can have on women. “I’m begging to be saved, smile for the camera,” she sings, while the music video protagonist gets her face hammered in by a questionable doctor, trying to win a never-satisfied gangster’s affection with a new look that he’s disgusted by.
“The idea for the video stemmed from the concept of society holding women to these insane standards and then crucifying them for trying to uphold them,” Magdalene tells TREMG. “Women are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. I think it’s something all women can relate to, even outside of the entertainment industry.”
The robotic repetition of “p*rn, p*rn” and the unlikely pairing of an innocent farmgirl with such lewd imagery throughout the video are unnerving in a way that makes it impossible to look away, creating an audiovisual cacophany that highlights the irony present in today’s expectations for women. You want the farmgirl to find her own confidence and see her worth, but her view of herself has already been poisoned by the world around her. The contrast is even more poignant given the current sociopolitical climate in America, as the discussion around the Epstein files expands to examine how even seemingly unproblematic things like mall brands Bath & Body Works and Limited Too can be shaping our subconscious views of what women should do, look like, and be. Generations of women and girls are unpacking a whole infrastructure of distorted ideals and pressures, and “P*rn in the USA” arrives at the perfect time to become an unexpected avenue of catharsis.
“I really want to be the type of artist who pushes culture and starts conversations,” she explains. “I want people to be pissed off or really fiercely agree with what I’m saying. And I want people to talk about it amongst themselves in my comment sections. And seeing that is actually really fun to me. The second I start tripping out about numbers and likes and whatever is when social media gets to me.”
You can find “P*rn in the USA” on your favorite streaming services now, and get to know Magdalene on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Keep reading for more from our conversation with this rising pop superstar.
Hi Magdalene, congrats on the release of “P*rn In The USA!” How does it feel to let the song out into the world and see how your fans are reacting?
Thank you! It’s satisfying having it out in the world. I love reading the discourse about it. The song and video are definitely polarizing…
“P*rn in the USA” has so many thought-provoking lyrics, with one of our favorites being “I heart filth, take my pills, fix my attitude,” which reminds us of the pressure on women in the entertainment industry to stand down and stay quiet about the issues within it. Is there a certain line you’re especially proud of?
That’s one of my favorites, too. I think “rub the lamp in your pants if you grant my wish” is a funny line. I think I’m overall proud of the intention behind the song and the visual that accompanies it. I’m really interested in American commentary about womanhood and fame and the way they intersect and affect the average woman in America today.
“P*rn In The USA” dropped with an Alfred Hitchcock-esque video that explores the dynamic between a farm girl (representing young women who want success) and her gangster boyfriend (representing Hollywood and the entertainment industry). What inspired the video’s storyline and visuals?
We took a lot of inspiration from The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music for the first half of the video. I wanted the character to represent purity and longing. Then we wanted the video to devolve into a horror scene that felt super grotesque and unhinged, like the world just broke this woman. The idea for the video stemmed from the concept of society holding women to these insane standards and then crucifying them for trying to uphold them. Women are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. I think it’s something all women can relate to, even outside of the entertainment industry. But yes, the video is meant to symbolize the pure woman being destroyed by Hollywood. And I’m not sure if anyone has noticed this yet, but the gangster in the music video is wearing a black and white striped shirt to match the zebra in the single art. That photo is meant to capture the pure woman in white looking into the eyes of Hollywood before it destroys her.
What was it like to plan the music video and create the characters, like Magdalene Reborn?
The video was fun to plan, I’m doing everything super DIY and low budget because I’m independent, so it’s always a very hands-on experience haha. Getting to play a bunch of different characters was so fulfilling, and randomly, the most fun was Angel Catalano, the gangster.
You’ve said that “P*rn in the USA” comments on “America’s addiction to cruelty,” which has become so much more prevalent with the rise of social media. How do you go about self-care and taking time for yourself to make sure you don’t fall into the negativity spiral?
Honestly, with the state of the world, it’s hard to drown out the noise. Rather than trying to shut it out, I think making art about it has been the most healing. Obviously, having good people around me helps when it comes to how gnarly the industry and social media stuff is, but the problem is much larger than just that.
Furthermore, how do you find balance between being present online to promote your work and staying offline enough to protect your mental health?
To be honest, I could probably do better at it. At the end of the day, for me, it’s less about the amount of time I spend online and more about how much I care about numbers and stuff. I really don’t center my success around numbers at this point; I center it around the type of conversations that are being had about my art. I really want to be the type of artist who pushes culture and starts conversations. I want people to be pissed off or really fiercely agree with what I’m saying. And I want people to talk about it amongst themselves in my comment sections. And seeing that is actually really fun to me. The second I start tripping out about numbers and likes and whatever is when social media gets to me. I’m sure that will change at some point, but as of now, I’m pretty chill with social media.
Your previous single, “DJesus,” reminds us so much of early Lady Gaga, who you’ve named as one of your biggest influences alongside artists like Madonna and Gwen Stefani. How do you go about drawing from pop icons while still making sure to sprinkle a little Magdalene flair in?
Being influenced by those artists lives within me, so I inherently draw from that, but when I’m making music, I am Magdalene, so I don’t have to put effort into adding my flair. It’s already there, and the influences are in the essence of it. I’m never trying to emulate anyone other than myself.
Before releasing music as Magdalene, you toured as part of Current Joys and Surf Curse. What did you learn during this time of your career that you’ve carried with you into this new chapter?
I truly learned so much during that time in my life. I baseline learned what it meant to actually pursue a career in music and what it takes to do it. I learned how to tour and how to play shows. I learned so much. Those were some of the greatest times of my life touring with my best friends.
On top of your music, we love your sense of style and aesthetic! What inspires you when you’re putting an outfit together or planning the aesthetic for a new single?
I wish I had a more exciting answer, but honestly, it kind of just comes to me. It feels like God drops the answers out of the sky, kind of how it feels when writing a song. Like the way it’s all supposed to look exists already and just gets shown to me when it’s time lol. I know that sounds so heady, but the world around every song just exists already, and I walk into it.
How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist since releasing “Delusional” in 2024?
I’ve grown an unbelievable amount, and I would contribute a lot of that growth to expanding my process of collaboration. I used to be very self-produced cuz I never found the right creative partner, but when I met Slushpuppy, it opened up a whole new world for me. I also think I reconnected with my childhood love for theater, and also tapped back into my love for rock music, which I think I ran away from for a while after leaving the bands.
One of our favorite fan comments we’ve seen on your Instagram is “I can do all things through Magdalene who strengthens me.” What is your bond with your listeners like? Is there a certain moment or interaction that’s really stuck with you?
I feel so connected to the people who listen to my music. It’s such a profound experience to see and be seen. I have felt very misunderstood my entire life and it’s magical to feel understood by strangers and make them feel understood in return. I love going through and randomly clicking on people’s profiles who follow me and seeing little blue-haired alternative kids from the middle of nowhere that are just like I was at their age feeling seen by my music. It’s the most fulfilling thing in the world. It still feels very online at the moment, though I’m excited to play shows and get to meet people.
What can your fans look forward to in the rest of 2026?
There’s so much to come in 2026, so buckle up. Probably many more unhinged music videos. I can’t say too much, but… much more to come 🙂
By Madison Murray
Featured Image: Jussy
