DJ M-Dash writesMadame Reaper: “Utopia” and the State of the World

by Andy Frye

You could describe Kira Leadholm, aka Madame Reaper, as part Alice Cooper, part Bette Midler, a smidge of Elvira, and a little Cher all wrapped in one.

When we spoke in December, the performer and songwriter warmed up a bit to the roster of legendary performers. “You know, I’ve never heard anyone link me to Alice Cooper,” she said, “but I’ll take it.”

Leadholm’s debut album titled Madame Reaper's Gentlemen's Club was released in mid-2023, with great standout songs like “Bang Bang,” “Oh Penny,” and “Moth into Flame,” a cover of a Metallica song. Since then, her work has garnered regular play on CHIRP Radio, plus a guest episode of CHIRP’s podcast. The Madame Reaper episode aired in Fall of 2023 and was re-aired as an encore appropriate for Halloween 2024.

The Chicago-based singer, who hails from the Twin Cities, is the lead attraction of the band Madame Reaper & the Gentleman’s Club, which is known for its colorful live performances.

Just before the 2024 Presidential Election, she released a new single called “Utopia,”—a melodic, radio-friendly tune chock full of sarcastic lyrics that poke fun at America’s overabundance. Though Leadholm has not yet done up a full, official music video for “Utopia,” the demos and shorts she has released on her YouTube channel are still great fun.

The video’s origin story is a little different than one might think after hearing the song. “I was downtown during the DNC (Democratic National Convention), and the plan,” Leadholm said, “was to interview random people and ask if they were voting Madame Reaper for President. The thing is that that day, oddly, no one was around.”

While most out-of-town visitors and politicos were likely couped up in McCormick Place, Leadholm and her creative partners decided to spend the sunny, beautiful days downtown having fun with it. “I said, ‘What if we do a fake presidential campaign video for Madame Reaper?’ Many of our music videos are that kind of thing. We come up with an idea and just do it.”

WATCH: Madame Reaper takes Michigan Avenue (YouTube Short)

The backstory on Madame Reaper—that is, the character Leadholm plays on stage—is that she is the owner of a strip club in a sleepy midwestern town.  Ms. Reaper's secret is that when out-of-towner visitors misbehave at the club, the club's employees are allowed to kill and, if they please, eat the misbehavers.

Leadholm, who has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago in creative writing, plus a journalism Master’s degree from Northwestern, said her love of literature and drama has helped develop the concept of Madame Reaper and the music.

Are we living in Utopia?

Leadholm points out, though, that it wasn’t the election that led her to write her latest tune.

“Utopia” is really about the tension between how a lot of Americans experience reality versus what we hear from people in power. Which I think is mostly propaganda,” she says. But the song’s first ideas date back to the summer of 2023. 

“It was that summer, back when we had terrible air quality,” Leadholm said, pointing to North American wildfires that led to hazy, polluted air and New York City’s  famous “orange smog.” Leadholm, who says her day job in communications is adjacent to government, described that time as frustrating and demoralizing.

“I know there are a lot of good people in government who want to do good but can’t because of red tape,” she says. “Politicians are constantly talking about how America is the best country to live in. Yet, we have all these problems, and it seems like no one is doing anything.”

Leadholm adds that “the notion of American exceptionalism is baked into being American—and it's difficult to unlearn.” With that, she added some generational perspective. “Society is super fraught today, and it’s the only world I know. I am 28, and there’s never been an election in which Trump was not on the ballot."

When we discussed her dramatic stage style and playfully dark lyrics, Leadholm said Madame Reaper & the Gentleman’s Club’s look and sound result from her musical influences: David Bowie, New Order, Kate Bush, Marina and the Diamonds, and the B-52s.

VIDEO: “Alright Tonight”

But old New York punk is also a major influence. “You don’t really hear (punk rock) come out in my music. I love the Velvet Underground and the New York Dolls. And the Ramones—they’re OK,” she jokes.

But where does the band’s fun synth-pop strain come from, if not from punk rock or Bowie?

“I don’t listen to much contemporary music, it’s mostly from the ‘80s influences. Prince, too, is a huge influence, and he deserves so much credit for his influence on synth and pop.” Leadholm concludes, “I just write what I like, and it usually works out.” 

 Madam Reaper's newest single "Dauphine" comes out January 17th!