In her most intimate challenge but, Maddisun lays her coronary heart naked throughout The Pages — a 12-track album structured like a musical journal, the place each music captures a snapshot of emotion, revelation, or hard-won readability. From the vulnerability of “Open Door” to the hard-fought resolve in “Get By means of,” she transforms uncooked moments into one thing luminous, guided by the teachings of over 500 reveals all over the world and the inspiration she present in Nashville’s songwriting heartland. Drawing from classic folks, Southern rock, and Americana influences, Maddisun displays on confidence, inventive evolution, and the deeply private tales that formed this document. On this candid interview, she opens up about turning ache into magnificence, constructing immersive reside experiences, and discovering stability between wild journey and grounded reflection.
Welcome to A&R Manufacturing unit, Maddisun! We’re excited to sit down down with you as The Pages makes its method into the world.
“The Pages” appears like a deeply intimate challenge — what made you determine to construction it like a musical journal with 12 “pages” as an alternative of a extra conventional album format?
This complete album felt very journal-esque as I used to be writing and constructing all the pieces. So, it form of simply confirmed itself to me that method. It’s attention-grabbing for me with albums – typically they only reveal themselves to me and utterly take over into an entire world of their very own. The creativity and concepts simply run wild for me, so I simply went with it.
Every monitor captures a particular second or feeling — had been there any pages that had been notably exhausting to jot down, and the way do you know after they had been able to be shared?
Sure, for certain. Every monitor was totally different to jot down, in fact.
The music “Get By means of” took me some time to jot down. I did it in two separate writing periods, the place the refrain got here earlier than something and I constructed the remainder of the music round that, which isn’t my typical type. I’m one to complete a music from begin to end in the identical day. I actually wished to get the phrases proper. Oftentimes I don’t return and edit songs as a result of the phrases that come out within the second normally match the very best phonetically.
You’ve spoken about turning exhausting moments into magnificence — are you able to inform us a couple of music on the album that basically encapsulates that philosophy?
“Open Door” was written by means of a little bit of a tough time for me. I used to be making an attempt to be with and join with individuals who simply weren’t letting me in, after which I got here to appreciate that I shouldn’t be giving my power and like to people who don’t need to obtain it. That was form of a revelation to me, although it’s fairly primary.
I didn’t count on this music to make it on the album, nevertheless it match as an ideal transition into the second “chapter/half” of the album, and it actually showcases my vulnerability and keenness.
You’ve carried out over 500 reveals throughout Canada, Eire, and Los Angeles — how have these travels formed the sound and soul of this album?
Sure, performing is my bread and butter, and I really feel tremendous at house on stage – like I used to be born to do it. These travels actually made me extra courageous in my music – the place I’m now, anyway. I really feel like I’ve extra confidence in my sound, as a result of I’ve gone all around the world to determine it out.
This album was actually impressed by my current journey to Nashville. I spent just a few weeks there writing (“The Pages”, “Large Star”, “Your Muse”, “Colors”) and it actually made an impression on the sound of this document. I really feel like I’ve discovered my true sound and it’s undoubtedly one in every of nomadic desires and adventures!
The document attracts on classic folks, Southern Rock, and Americana influences — what drew you to these sounds and the way did they assist inform your story?
I’ve at all times been so deeply impressed by classic rock and roll and nation – that is the music I grew up on! So, it’s solely pure that it made its method into my very own music.
Quite a lot of my writing inherently begins as both nation or like a rock/folks ballad. The folks world is so cool, and I took lots of inspiration from folks imagery and kinds, particularly for the album paintings and photographs, however then additionally feminine rock icons like Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, and Coronary heart.
You’ve bought endorsements from some huge names within the guitar world — how vital is gear and instrumentation to capturing the feelings you need in your music?
Gear and instrumentation are actually vital to me, as a result of they’re the instruments that assist me translate what I’m feeling into sound. Shout out to Aria Guitars and Yamaha Canada for setting me up. I really feel so fortunate to have their assist.
Having devices that encourage me makes such a distinction. The correct guitar tone or keyboard patch can utterly unlock the emotion I’m making an attempt to seize in a music. On the finish of the day, the sensation begins inside me, however having the gear that resonates with my type permits me to convey that emotion to life and share it in essentially the most genuine method potential and in addition permits me to be comfy and funky on stage.
With the album launch present in Toronto and extra dates forward, what can followers count on out of your reside performances throughout this new chapter?
My album launch present in Toronto was bought out, which was such an incredible feeling! It actually set the tone for this new chapter.
Followers can count on my reside reveals to be extra than simply concert events. I like creating whole worlds with my music. For “The Pages”, I’ve introduced in unique merch, lyric sheets that I hand out, and lots of area for connection and storytelling. I need folks to go away feeling like they had been a part of one thing really private, like we created our personal little world. And naturally, one in every of my favourite traditions is ending the night time by serving pumpkin pie!
You’ve launched three albums and greater than ten singles previously 5 years — how do you retain your creativity fuelled and your perspective contemporary with every challenge?
I preserve my creativity fuelled by actually dwelling life to the fullest. Journey and wild experiences are an enormous a part of my course of. I’m just about up for something. But it surely’s additionally about stability.
I escape into the woods and mountains in my hometown in BC, and that’s the place I course of all the pieces. Laying within the sizzling springs or mountain climbing in nature helps me reconnect with myself, clear my head, and discover new perspective. Then I take that grounding power and mix it with the journey, spontaneity, and bohemian ‘let’s go for it’ angle I convey into my travels. That blend of stillness and chaos retains my music contemporary and genuine.
Stream The Pages on Spotify now.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast