I think Fridays the 13th should be a monthly event. All the best politician, loud, non-conformist music and art should be released on that day to utterly piss off the elites, the rich, career politicians and everyone else for good measure. Shake them, stir them, do not let them sleep at nights unless they serve the greater good, their communities, truth and democracy. 2026 is to have 3 Fridays the 13th, one just happened this month, another one is coming in March and there will be another one in November to nicely wrap up the Halloween season. We already reviewed one track released on this very particular day – JW Paris’ “Crazy”. Now, we have a full EP for your enjoyment. Lads and Dolls – please let me introduce you to your new fav alternative female artist – MilkMaiden.
Official bio: MilkMaiden was once described as “Kate Bush’s angry little sister”. She’s developed a reputation across London cabarets and venues for her beautifully dark, yet camp, lyricism and crude one-liners that make you wish you didn’t bring your parents. MilkMaiden’s notable appearances include a debut at the Barbican Center’s “Dirty Weekends”, London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025, Headlining Arts Action Festival with Sexquisite Events, as well as supporting bands/artists such as Skating Polly, Luvcat, Crawlers, Delilah Bon, and Ratboys. She has gained a following as an unconventional and multifaceted artist both in creative circles and leftist social movements. MilkMaiden’s music is for Sapphics, bimbos, and whoever’s paying. None of the above? Stand in the back.
Hidden under the moniker of MilkMaiden is a gifted American singer, songwriter and poet, Natalie Papa. If my research is correct, the New Jersey native, has been living in the UK for over a decade now, previously residing in Manchester and Liverpool and currently living in London. Before going solo as a MilkMaiden, Natalie performed in a 5 piece band called Natalie and The Monarchy alongside bassist Callum Spencer, drummer Jadon Cuin-Wilson, guitarist Conal O’Donoghue, pianist Fraser Browne and saxophone player Arthur Guisan. Natalie and The Monarchy released one EP “Pretty Little Flowers” from 2019 and several stand alone singles including “Wise Man”, “Envy The Villain” and “Daisies”. Natalie and The Monarchy received fantastic reviews for their genre blending mixture of grunge, Americana and indie pop from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing and toured a lot playing grass root venues up and down the country.
The MilkMaiden project started around 2024 and under her new name Natalie released two EP’s and at least 4 singles so far. The first EP “Maiden Voyage” came out in May 2024 and brought three songs: the debut single “Murder of Crows”, “Summer on Hilbre” and “Red Room”. Two stand alone singles followed: “114 Days” from March 2025 and “Kind for a Day” from May 2025. “King for a Day” was the sparrow heralding the arrival of the second EP titled “Death of All Men” which we will review today.
It took me a while to put this all together but it is worth knowing her background. Natalie Papa has a voice like a foghorn and stage presence of Courtney Love and hopefully, one day this lady will become a star.
MilkMaiden’s EP is called “The Death of All Men” and once this review is up on our blog, we will again receive comments from the male readers shouting “oh but she wants all men to die”. Not all men. Just some. Every woman has a list. Natanyahu and Trump and Putin top ours. Let a few misogynistic pigs kick the bucket and suddenly the world is a much better place. But jokes aside, the title has nothing to do with wishing for the men to die. This is a figure of speech, an attention grabbing title that refers to the misogynistic, patriarchal, violent, zombie capitalistic male traits to finally shuffle off this mortal coil. Just go and die in a ditch already, as Boris Johnson once promised he would do. We are living in 2026 and not in the dark ages, we should be contacting Vulcans and setting up the United Federation of Planets and instead orange toddler is bombing the Middle East. Oh well.
Let’s stick to the music then, shall we? “The Death Of All Men” has 4 tracks – 4 absolutely spellbinding songs. Smartly written, with wit and elegance, richly composed. Wild, angry, sad and captivating. 4 different styles. From indie rock (“King For A Day”), to country (“Folsom Bussy Blues”), post punk (“Three Women”) and classic American college rock (“The Death Of All Men”).
Each song tells a different story. “King for A Day” is a sarcastic take on men who treat women like lesser beings while behaving like royal dicks (pun intended) and not noticing that they could really learn a thing or two from the girls they look down upon. “King For A Day” serves as the main single off the EP and comes with a visually stunning video directed by Camille Alexander (A VOID). It is worth noting that MilkMaiden’s three dancers in the video (Maedb Joy, April Fiasco, and Miss Avery) have been recruited through socialist strip club Cybertease and sex worker cabaret Sexquisite.
Not sure if “Folsom Bussy Blues” is inspired by the Californian city of Folsom or by the excellent folk anthem “Folsom City Blues” by Johnny Cash but this country/Americana combo is my preferred part of the EP. Again, the sarcastic lyrics shine through and Natalie Papa proves to be an amazingly versatile singer. She sounds like Miley Cirus and I have a feeling Cirus would be delighted to sing that song after leaving Hannah Montana. “Self medicating with BDSM” is my new favourite expression!
“Three Women” is angry and rough. Dealing with themes of complicated relationships, it’s a post punk meeting grunge (Hole, Mannequin Pussy) cabaret Voltaire (sans the electronica) and vaudeville, with fantastic hooks and harmonized vocals.
The title song closing the EP is bittersweet, sad, almost folkish at the beginning, but again experimental in its second half. Burlesque show meet cabaret and pop cabaret, with a lot of influences from folk, Americana and blues heritage.
MilkMaiden and her “Death of All Men” is extravagant, theatrical and dramatic yet vulnerable. Her music is poignant, raw and sweet at the same time. It’s an EP you will not hear on the BBC Radio 1 but it should be in their heavy rotation. It was produced by Finn Howells and he did a hell of a fine job. He worked for The Last Dinner Party and Wet Leg recently, and this is what I find truly heartbreaking. All those industry plants, with ghostwriters, mega budgets, major labels backing, the biggest PR agencies behind and all they offer us is boring, flat like a dead racoon on a highway pseudo rock and roll. If Island Record had an ounce of common sense, they would have signed MilkMaiden instead.
But we live in zombie capitalistic times for the arts where nepo babies gets all the opportunities and real organic women have to rely on the sex work to fund their music. I’m incredibly proud of Natalie Papa, for her resilience and creating despite everything. And I am very grateful, because “Death of All Men” is a true gem.
It’s 10 out of 10 from us at Vanadian. Must hear it if you care about the music, even just a little bit.
MilkMaiden on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/milkmaiden.web
https://www.instagram.com/milkmaiden.web
https://www.threads.com/@milkmaiden.web
https://www.youtube.com/@MilkMaidenlovesyou
https://milkmaiden.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2TXgjtJWRomSsQJb85NIVV?si=aysUcVcQTTC3kFSfTjgOYQ
https://www.tiktok.com/@milkmaiden.web
https://x.com/AndMonarchy
Rita Dabrowicz
Indieterria 