MADANES, singer song-writer, announces the release of his new single “Your Dog” on 16 June 2025. Known for his unique fusion of genres and biting wit, MADANES delivers a genre-bending track that’s equal parts pop, indie & rock, —served with an undeletable hook. Accompanying the song is a puppetry music video, directed by Lior Molcho (Sia-Cheap Thrills, David Guetta – Flames). MADANES’ previous satirical animated-puppetry video, US released, “In Love with Laura Ingraham [What’s Wrong With Me],” has amassed over 254,000 views on YouTube, cementing his reputation as a singular voice in alternative music. Speaking about the new single, MADANES explains: “I was in love with her. She was not in love with me, but in the meanwhile, a strong relationship developed with her dog. If she could only love me as her dog does.”
“Your Dog” is a hilarious yet bittersweet take on unrequited love—what inspired you to frame it through the lens of a relationship with a pet?
It’s a true story. I’ve known this woman for years. At one point, I wrote the music for a documentary film on her unique story, and we became closer. We gave the “romantic phase” a shot, but she wasn’t into it, and we ended up even better as close friends, although I still want her… Throughout it all, her genius dog, Oscar, was always around. He and I developed our own little relationship, running parallel to the unrequited love story. Honestly, I think he really wants us to be together.
The song blends pop, indie, and rock with your signature wit. How do you approach genre when you’re writing—do you think in categories or just follow instinct?
I’ve been listening to tons of music since I was twelve. So many influences, all mixed in. When I first recorded this song with my band, it came out as a beautiful, sad ballad. But I felt it needed more of a “Bennie and the Jets” vibe—so I took it to Ran Shem-Tov from Izabo to give it that extra pop twist. He really brought in his signature sound.
The line “If she could only love me as her dog does” is both funny and kind of heartbreaking. How do you strike that balance between humor and vulnerability in your songwriting?
An old, very wise German psychology professor once came to one of my shows and told me: “Turning bad energy into good energy is how we’ll be judged over the years.” That really stuck with me. In this case, with all the emotional ups and downs, and many lonely moments softened by pure love from her dog—it was a question that demanded to be asked. She used to tell me, “My dog is in love with you,” and it took me some time to come up with this musical answer.
The music video uses puppetry, like your previous viral hit “In Love with Laura Ingraham.” What draws you to this visual medium, and how does it elevate your storytelling?
That’s all thanks to Lior Molcho—a brilliant filmmaker and an old friend. The puppetry was his idea. He built it/”me”, shot it with his partner Danit Sigler, and made it come alive. You really should check out their work with Sia and others—it’s incredible.
You’ve been described as “the fringe of the mainstream.” How do you interpret that label, and do you embrace it?
I’d like to believe that the mainstream is a lot wider than what the media sometimes think. Being called “fringe” might sound cool, but if you fully embrace that label, it can become a comfort zone. I try to be a very melodic fringe—close enough to reach people, but still strange enough to surprise them.
There’s a real theatrical flair in both your visuals and your lyrics. Which artists—musical or otherwise—have influenced your approach to performance and narrative?
More than anyone—Ian Dury and Frank Zappa. Zappa’s “Bobby Brown Goes Down” was my best school in song writing. I always try to tell a story in a clever or funny way and wrap it in a good melody. That “school of melodies” includes a lot of Israeli composers, The Beatles, Elton John, and many more. Brilliant melodies are my oxygen—I’m always searching for more.
What was it like working with director Lior Molcho again? What made him the right fit for this song’s visual translation?
His abilities. Story telling and making it physically. When only the director understands the story… the music video is not good enough.
Dogs are famously loyal—was this song also a metaphor for loyalty, longing, or the way we project emotions onto relationships?
Maybe! These are the kinds of layers I probably haven’t figured out yet. I’ll ask my therapist. What I do know is I’m definitely better with animals than with humans. It all started as a response to her saying, “My dog’s in love with you.” I just added the painful part—that she isn’t.
You’re known for not shying away from satire. How do you decide which stories get that treatment, and which ones stay more serious?
If there’s a cynical or funny way to tell the story—I’ll usually take it. But as you’ll hear in some upcoming songs, not everything is satirical. Some are just sad. I go with what the story needs.
If someone’s just discovering MADANES through “Your Dog,” what do you hope their takeaway is—and what should they listen to next?
My catalog can be confusing—I’m a few different “things,” genre-wise. I think a song reflects the exact moment it was written, and I’ve had many different “moments.” I see my albums as collections of singles—“best-of” compilations more than coherent stories. I also love collaborating with different musicians to get the best result for each individual song—not necessarily to fit an album concept.
At the end of the day, it usually starts with a sad soul sitting at a piano. Then the songs get dressed up in whatever musical clothes they need to go out and meet some ears.
