We were lucky to catch up with Madison Hughes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Madison, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

The moment I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was right after I auditioned for The Voice. It was a huge leap for me—I had never done anything like that before, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I just knew I had to try.

That audition felt like my green light moment. Even though I didn’t make it onto the show, the experience was incredibly validating. It showed me that I could actually do this—that maybe my voice had a place in the world. It gave me the confidence to start writing original music for the first time, which had always felt intimidating before. Something about taking that risk made everything else feel a little more possible.

Now, three years later, it feels like things are finally starting to move somewhere. I’ve released my debut project, I’m building something real, and I’m watching this dream I had start to take shape in a tangible way. That Voice audition was the spark—and I’m so glad I listened to it.

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’m a singer-songwriter who makes music rooted in vulnerability, emotion, and storytelling. My sound has been evolving constantly—back in college, it leaned heavily into R&B. Now it’s mainly Alternative-Country and Indie, but my roots have always been in Classic Rock, Folk, and Americana. The first songs I ever sang live in front of an audience were “Wild Thing” by The Troggs and “Look at Miss Ohio” by Gillian Welch—those moments shaped the kind of artist I wanted to become.

Right after high school, I hired a mobile engineer to come over and teach me the basics of Logic Pro X in one day. I knew I wanted to start recording myself and had no time to waste. That one crash course opened a door I never closed—I started writing original songs, tracking my vocals, and building the confidence to share work that felt truly mine.

I started putting myself out there through cover videos on social media—just self-shot clips in my room using my Panasonic GH5. I majored in Digital Media at Florida State University, so I used my background in shooting and editing to create all my own visuals. That skill set became a major part of my artistic identity and allowed me to present my work exactly how I envisioned it.

While I was at FSU, I also used to remix popular songs for football highlight reels—pairing moody visuals with tracks from artists I loved. I posted them to SoundCloud and YouTube, and during that time, I was especially inspired by artists like Drake and Bryson Tiller. That blend of swagger and bluesy emotional weight has stayed with me and still influences the energy I bring to my music today.

What I’m most proud of is how self-built this journey has been. I’ve learned how to be a one-woman creative team. Releasing my debut project was a huge milestone—not just because it’s out in the world, but because it represents years of quiet work, self-trust, and late nights spent figuring things out with no team and no roadmap.

If you’re just getting familiar with me, I want you to know that everything I create comes from a real place. My music is for anyone who’s ever felt too much, gone through something silently, or needed a song that felt like a friend. My brand is about presence over perfection, and I’m committed to making honest work that connects in a meaningful way. This is just the beginning—and I’m excited for what’s next.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think one of the hardest things to explain to people outside of the creative world is just how much of this journey is internal. From the outside, it might look like you’re just making music or posting content—but so much of the work happens in your mind and heart. You’re constantly battling self-doubt, pushing through creative blocks, and trying to stay connected to your “why,” even when there’s no external validation or roadmap.

There’s also a kind of emotional stamina that’s required to keep going—especially when you’re doing most of it yourself. It’s not just about putting out art; it’s about staying soft and open in a world that often rewards hardness and polish. That can be exhausting, and it’s easy to feel misunderstood if people are only seeing the final product and not everything it took to get there.

I’ve had to learn that the path isn’t linear. Growth happens in quiet seasons too. Sometimes the most important progress looks like learning to trust your gut, protect your energy, or keep creating even when it feels like no one’s watching. That kind of invisible work is real—and it matters just as much as the visible wins.

So if you’re supporting a creative in your life, my advice would be: celebrate their small steps, be patient with their process, and understand that this path takes an unbelievable amount of faith. Just being seen and understood goes a long way.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is the ability to turn something deeply personal—my feelings, my stories, my struggles—into something that connects with other people. There’s a unique magic in knowing that a song or a moment I create can resonate with someone else’s experience, even if we’ve never met. That feeling of shared emotion, of being understood, is what keeps me going.

Being creative also gives me a space to explore and grow in ways I never imagined. It pushes me to be vulnerable, to face my own fears, and to keep evolving both personally and artistically. Every new song or project is a way to tell a new chapter of my story, and that ongoing journey is incredibly fulfilling.

Ultimately, it’s about creating connection—between myself and the listener, between emotions and expression, between moments of pain and healing. That’s what makes all the hard work and uncertainty worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MadisonHughes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmadisonhughes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsmadisonhughes
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/madisonhughesmusic
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsmadisonhughes