We are thrilled to have a conversation with the incredibly talented musician Madeleine, who has just released her latest musical project “Wildflower.” Known for her soulful voice and captivating melodies, Madeleine has quickly become a name to watch in the music industry. We’re excited to learn more about the inspiration behind her new release and get a glimpse into her creative process. Let’s dive in!
Madeleine, congratulations on your new release! Can you tell us about the inspiration and themes behind this project?
Thank you for the congratulations! I have never had as much fun as a project as I did with this album. I started writing this album when I was in a bad mental health space. I yearned to find my way back to myself. I made the difficult decision to stop running from my emotions and to start healing myself from what I’ve been through. I am a very optimistic person, and I knew I could heal and be happier than I’ve ever been. I began to look back on my life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. I realized that I had always gotten through hard times and that I would end up better than I was before. I started to honor all phases of my life instead of cringing, and I tapped into my past selves. It ended up being the best decision I could make for myself in my mid-twenties. I dove deep into my emotions from my life stories and started writing about them from an older perspective. Every person I lost was replaced by someone that actually understood me. People that saw me a beautiful flower instead of a pesky weed. Every song fits the theme of the term wildflower, and that term allowed me to redefine myself. Wildflowers grow through everything; the cold, the heat, and natural disasters. They are beautiful yet unable to be tamed. They grow through what they go through.
How has your musical journey evolved from your previous work to this latest release?
I really loved my previous album, Resilient, and I still think it’s a great album. I believe the musical quality of work has grown as well as my songwriting abilities. Resilient was me trying to be who I wanted to be at the time while Wildflower is me fully leaning into who I am and who I’ve always been. Resilient was a more midwestern rock centered album while Wildflower is country pop with folk elements. In some ways, I see them as sister albums. Resilient is the version of me that was tired and yearning to heal while Wildflower was the healing album.
What was the most memorable experience you had while creating this work?
I think the most memorable experience was how much my life changed during the two years I was writing this work. I went from a brunette working at a popular retailer during the pandemic to a married, vivid red-haired woman that works in the social media and tech industry. This album changed my life musically, too. The first single for this album shifted my fan growth and this album has gotten more attention than I ever pictured it would. Spotify featured two of my songs on editorial playlists, and I had a chance to play a song at the famous Bluebird Cafe during the making of this album. It’s made some of my lofty dreams actually materialize.
Can you share a bit about your songwriting process? How do you transform your ideas into finished songs?
I am one of the rare lucky songwriters. Once I get a good idea, I typically sit down and write the entire song within 15-30 minutes. I always typically start with lyrics first and have a loose melody in mind while I write them. Then, I will play around on my guitar until I find a chord progression that I like. I will then write the chords with the lyrics in my notes app and record a voice memo of the song. Once I get to perform the song or record it, I will play with the melody and lyrics to make a better fit. I usually can hear some musical ideas while I’m writing it. I record all my songs alone in my apartment. I have so much fun doing it and learn something new every time I record.
What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your new music?
I hope listeners are inspired to follow their dreams and passions. I hope they can relate and know that better times are coming if they are currently struggling. If one person is inspired to live as their authentic self, it will be worth all of the hard work of creating the album!
Thank you so much, Madeleine, for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. It’s been wonderful learning about the journey and inspiration behind your latest release. To all our listeners, make sure to check out Madeleine’s new music—it’s truly something special. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for you, Madeleine. Until next time, keep listening and supporting great music!
Social Media Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5T2nyzURQERKXMoXZVp0QO?si=RFdidDknRH2fLIzW3DWitQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicalmadkate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicalmadkate/
website: https://www.musicalmadkate.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MusicalMadKate
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@musicalmadkate
End of Interview