Gretel

Behind the name Gretel, formerly Gretel Hänlyn, is Maddy Haenlein, a singer-songwriter from west London. She emerged in 2021 with the single "Slugeye" and has developed a repertoire that sits between indie rock, alternative rock and singer-songwriter writing, with a direct approach, frequently rough-edged guitars and a tension that can recall grunge or post-punk without being limited to them. Her first EP, "Slugeye", was released in 2022, followed by "Head of the Love Club" in 2023 — two releases that helped establish Gretel on the British alternative scene and demonstrated songwriting able to alternate tense tracks, more stripped-down formats and more open melodies. The project moves between a DIY aesthetic, dark pop and frontal rock, and the British press has also noted work with Mura Masa. In 2026 Gretel announced her debut album, "Squish", due in April of the same year under her shortened name Gretel, extending a path marked by brief, nervous and highly embodied songs.