Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Madeline James. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Madeline, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I think for me, highlighting my parents is important, as they are a pivotal element in why I create. My mom is a children’s book author and illustrator, and my dad was in a rock band for most of his younger life. I had always grown up with art of all forms in the household. Having a guitar to hold, a piano to bang, or a crayon to brake in half, exposed me at a young age to what all these instruments/tools can do. After expressing interest in music, even though I was young & unaware of how to actually play anything, my dad could see the spark in my eyes. My parents enrolled me in piano lessons in elementary school, vocal and guitar lessons in middle school, and by age 12, I had released my first EP. I had jam sessions with my dad playing the newest Hannah Montana song, or a song from his formative years that he would try to make me see the value in (hard to convince a pre-teen to think ABBA is cool, but he did it). Whenever I had a hard day during the ever-so-pleasant years of puberty, my dad would let me song-write in my room for hours, uninterrupted. This allowed me to figure my feelings out for myself, and cope in creative and healthy ways. Their constant support in my interests fueled my fire more, and they’re lack of pressuring me to do it for them (a hard thing to find in the entertainment industry) made me want it more. It was my dream to have, but they were there as cheerleaders and resources every step of the way. Pursing music as a career started for me in high school. My mom and dad would drive me to Nashville most weekends to write or preform, as I couldn’t drive yet myself. My dad would drive me around to different bars in my hometown, shocking the owners as a 14 year old girl would walk up to them with a business card. All this being said, my dad passed suddenly when I was 15. This was and is the hardest thing I have faced. I still think about him and his incredible impact every day. After that, I was even more grateful for the words of advice and encouragement he gave me growing up, as I can carry those with me continuing forward. My mom has never stopped supporting me in every way she can. She runs the merch booth at every show I have, posts every song I release on social media, and shows all of her book club friends her “daughters newest song, that is sure to be a hit!” It is because of them that I have the drive and passion that I do to this day. But most importantly, my outlook on life and just how special it is to be here as well.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I call my self a singer, songwriter, and optimist. While my career is always music, my goal is to provide a voice for people like me. People who lead with their heart on their sleeve, who have been through struggles and still choose to smile, & who love the people close to them with all they’ve got. This doesn’t mean the sass-ridden breakup songs don’t make it on the album, but it does mean that the one’s about my brother or mom do too.

I first got started in this industry at a very young age, as I have always known that music was what I wanted to do. Music has always made me feel like my head is in a third-dimension. Like my soul leaves the earth when I write. I believe creativity and the ability to create is a gift that we are given in moments, and should latch onto when we are given them. It is truly an out-of-body experience when I write music, and the come down allows me personally to process my emotions. I still look back fondly on being the youngest in the writer’s rooms in Nashville, and am grateful I found my calling at such a young age.

I am proud of everything I release to the world; even if the music from when I was 12 was about the boy I had a crush on smiling at me in the hallway after gym class. To see the growth in each album I release as a writer and vocalist is why I choose to keep my music from my past up & streaming.

My newest E.P., set to release this summer, is something I have been working on for years. I am eager, antsy, and excited for the world to hear it, as I’ve been working on it for so long. With everything I release, I want the newest to be better than the last. So fine-tuning every detail, and saying exactly what I want to say, have been more important to me than ever on this project.

There is so much music out there. We are living in a day and age where AI and algorithms curate our music choices, and are overwhelmed with music to listen to. The market is certainly over-saturated, but I don’t view that as an all-negative thing. Pros and cons, sure. But we are now able to reach a huge audience with one 60 second clip, and even if you aren’t Top 40, sell out shows and have a devoted cult following.

My only goal with this new release, is that it finds the ears out there who love it as much as I do. I put a big focus on my family with this new album, and it’s the first time I have blended jazz stylings with pop. Always a pop artist, I love the possibilities in pop so much, but have started experimenting with new funky chords and instruments that I think have created a unique and fresh sound. Whether you are crying along with it, or having a full blown dance session in your living room, I just hope this E.P. makes you feel something.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That you have to be “the next Taylor Swift” to make it in music. The music industry has changed so much with the rise of social media and technology. It is now possible to make a good living doing music, without being all over the TV & radio.

Being a tall (5’13 if anyone asks) and blonde female in pop, I was always compared to Taylor Swift for my look and style. When young took this as a big compliment, I realize now the value in uniqueness. The people want someone they can relate to, look up to, and listen to. Whether it be quirky content on TikTok, or simple cover videos of their favorite songs in the moment, the day and age of an untouchable pop star is fading out. I have found more success as an artist being myself and making music for me, than trying to copycat someone else’s career.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Definitely the most rewarding thing about being a creative for me is the community. With so many fish in the sea, it’s incredible to be a part of something with a shared interest of so many amazing humans. We all have the same goal as an artist or writer, we all have the same passion, and it really helps to unite people of all walks of life. Political preference, race, age, gender, sexuality, you name it, there are musicians that check all different types of boxes across the world. I think it’s really special that everyone can unite for the sake of music.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madelinejamesmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_madelinejames
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5CpwBBIbr966jx8xpyE4oN

Image Credits

Alyssa Barker