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Midwife: A singular place for solo artist Madeline Johnston

EDITOR’S NOTE: This weekend, organizers say, brings the 25th and final Underground Music Showcase “in its current form.” To mark the occasion, Denver Gazette Senior Arts Journalist John Moore – who started The UMS in 2001 – is bringing back the poll that started it all.

In 2001, Moore surveyed local music experts about the underground bands and artists they felt were most worthy of more mainstream recognition. The results became the basis for an annual live showcase of local bands that grew into The UMS, which this weekend will feature 200 bands across 12 indoor venues and four outdoor stages along a 1-mile stretch of Broadway in the Baker neighborhood.

Moore stopped conducting the annual poll in 2010. But with the festival now coming to a probable end, here’s one final introduction to 10 local bands and artists our panel of industry insiders recommend you check out. In all, nearly 100 bands received votes. All this week we are counting down the top 10, two per day.

Madeline Johnston Killdozer

Madeline Johnston, as Midwife, performs 'Killdozer'

Courtesy Another Side PR

Madeline Johnston Killdozer

Madeline Johnston, as Midwife, performs ‘Killdozer’






8. MIDWIFE

John Moore Column sig

John Moore Column sig

According to Alisha Sweeney, local-music director at local radio station Indie 102.3, Madeline Johnston has occupied a vital if unofficial position within the local music community since 2014.

“She’s a badass, female experimental musician with 22,700 online followers,” Sweeney said of Johnston, who performs under the name Midwife. “She just exudes this kind of cool confidence, and, musically speaking, she’s just occupying her own lane right now, without anyone else in it.”

That lane, in Johnston’s own words, would be “Heaven Metal,” which she describes as “emotional music about devastation, grief and catharsis.” Her songs often strive to finding meaning in uncertainty.

Johnston is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer newly based in Trinidad after developing her sound in Denver for more than a decade.

“Her music isn’t mainstream, but she has an underground cult of fans,” Sweeney said.

After seeing Midwife perform in New Mexico in 2023, a writer named A. Stone described the experience as “an emotional cavalcade that left the entire room arrested after being pummeled by Johnston’s lush, deeply evocative and ethereal landscapes of sound and color.” Enhanced by Johnston’s powerful, emotionally charged vocal performances.

Johnston was part of a now-legendary collective of local artists and musicians who lived together at Rhinoceropolis, a warehouse-turned-DIY commune and all-ages live–music venue on Brighton Boulevard. From about 2005-16, Rhinoceropolis was seen as the cool-kid creative hub for Denver’s underground artists and creative vagabonds. Rhinoceropolis (now called Scorpio Palace) fostered community among its residents and free-spirited experimentation among those who made music there. Johnston started Midwife after she joined the Rhino party in 2014.

Midwife is known as “sparse, emotionally charged pop music that can silence a room,” which pretty much gives Johnston her own little corner of the heavy music scene.

“She’s also known for being very collaborative,” said Sweeney, especially with metal bands in Southern Colorado. “She was also on one of my favorite songs from last year called ‘Let It Go,’ from American Culture, which is just one of the best songs ever.

“She also contributed to an album of pop songs released earlier this year by Ethel Cain, who is a trans artist people just adore. And she toured as the opener for Blood Incantation, which is a metal band that is huge all over the world.”

Of all the artists who landed in the Top 10 of The Denver Gazette’s 2025 industry poll of Colorado acts deserving of more recognition, Sweeney is particularly happy to see Midwife make it.

“Midwife is representative of metal and electronic music and all the old-guard DIY weirdos who made me want to support local music in the first place,” she said.

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And her efforts are being noticed. Johnston has gotten some considerable love of late from music media giants Pitchfork and National Public Radio. To channel the midwife metaphor, it certainly feels like something is being born here.

“The people who have their eyes and ears on the pulse of music from across the country? They all recognize just how captivating she is,” Sweeney said. 

Never Die Madeline Johnston

The album cover for 'Never Die' from Madeline Johnston, as Midwife

Courtesy Another Side PR

Never Die Madeline Johnston

The album cover for ‘Never Die’ from Madeline Johnston, as Midwife






Website: midwife.supertape.site

Year started: 2016

• Members: Solo project by Madeline Johnston (guitar, vocals)

• What makes you local? “I was born and grew up in Santa Fe, where I lived until moving to Denver for college in 2009. I stayed in Colorado until 2020. During the pandemic, I moved back to New Mexico. Now, I live in Trinidad.”

Seminal single: “Song for an Unborn Sun

• Describe your music: “Heaven Metal”

• Musical influences: Grouper, Low, Okay

'Signs' is a B-side from No Depression in Heaven, the 2024 album by Midwife on The Flenser. Videocreated by Colorado-based artist Marah Herreid, shot and edited on film in and around Denver.

Marah Herreid

Watch it! Signs” on youtube.com (above)

• One favorite Colorado band: Spectral Voice

• When did you know your band was for real? “It’s always been real…’ 🙂

• Catch us live: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at the hi-dive with Jenny Haniver and Fainting Dreams

• Next music drop: “My collaborative album with Matt Jencik, “Never Die,” was just released on Relapse earlier this month” (video below).

Our live shows are like … “a soft embrace, a haunted phone call, an emotional release, a swim in cold, clear water.”

'Never Die' is a collaboration between Midwife's Madeline Johnston and Matt Jencik of Don Caballero.

Video by Mac Wold & Samuel Rupsa

John Moore is The Denver Gazette’s senior arts journalist. Email him at john.moore@gazette.com

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