Fatal Optimist


Fatal Optimist is the seventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Madi Diaz. The album was released on October 10, 2025, by Anti-.

Background and production

In 2021, Diaz released History of a Feeling, her fifth studio album, about her breakup with the American singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger. In 2023, Diaz toured with Harry Styles and began working on her next album, Weird Faith, which dealt with placing trust in herself, the growth of her career, and her relationships with her new manager, new label, and new romantic partner.
During her tour with Styles, Diaz separated from her partner and began to suffer from constant hip pain. She then began working on Fatal Optimist in 2023 during a songwriting retreat on Nantucket. She recorded at a studio in New Jersey and produced the album with Gabe Wax at Infinite Family Studio in Southern California.

Release and promotion

Diaz announced Fatal Optimist and released its lead single "Feel Something" on July 21, 2025. She also released "Ambivalence", "Heavy Metal", and "Why'd You Have to Bring Me Flowers" as singles. The album was released on October 10, 2025. Diaz supported the album with a tour.

Critical reception

Maura Johnston awarded the album 3.5 out of 5 stars for Rolling Stone and praised Diaz's vocals, lyrics, and the album's arrangement. Sophie Montague also rated the album 3.5 out of 5 stars in Spill Magazine, writing that the album had a "charming simplicity" and showed Diaz's "strength in sadness". For Uncut, Nigel Williamson rated the album 9 out of 10. Williamson wrote that Diaz's lyrics "reveal fresh and unexpected insights" about breakups and called the album "raw but gorgeously melodic". For No Depression, John Amen wrote that the album, "stripped to essentials – acoustic guitar and vocal – ... spotlights Diaz".

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and Bandcamp.