Interview: Maddie Magdalene

Your new song, “Here”, is your latest single. What is the story behind the song and how did you create/write it? Also, what inspired the song title?
Back in 2019 I was noticing a shift in the atmosphere, suddenly the political situation was all anyone could talk about in the UK and it was dividing everyone. Families, friends all divided because of what they voted. The political tension was growing and when I walked into the studio to write with my producer Joey Walker and artist JJ Draper it seemed to be at the forefront of all our minds. As we started to write, the confusion, rage, and desperation started to come out of us at the bigger picture. Asking the world at large “how did we end up here?” This line inspired the song title “Here” drawing attention to the here and now and state of the earth. Once these emotions were tapped into I found my own trauma rearing it’s ugly head. I didn’t tell my co-writers what I was going through at the time, I just started to sing how I felt. Raging at the world and at God really “You told me there was hope here”. When I wrote “none of us are healing” it was a visceral pain that I felt over my own journey with PTSD.

If you had to describe your sound, how would you do so? Furthermore, what artists (or other sources) do you cite as influences?
My sound has evolved into a more pop-rock sphere of music and is underpinned by what I would describe as raw emotion. Whether it’s the lyrics and melody or production I think this essence carries through in all that I do. My music means something and I want that meaning to be conveyed to you as the listener in all ways.

I was heavily influenced by musical theatre from a young age and I think it embedded in me this magical way of telling a story and articulating all emotions. As I grew up I listened to a wide-range of artists and to this day you’ll find me listening to ten genres in the space of an hour, but I’ve really returned to my angsty teenage years which is driving this new chapter for my music. I listened to a lot of Avril Lavigne, Paramore, Flyleaf, Evanescence, as well as Lower Than Atlantis and Alterbridge. Anything with power, grit and unfiltered emotion.


What have been band highlights so far? And what is on your bucket list that you’d want to achieve?
The biggest highlight of my career so far would have to be my headline gig at The Waiting Room in October last year. Nothing compares to the feeling of taking up space and knowing people have come to see you for you and hear your songs. The thrill of finally playing my music with a full band for the first time in years meant that evening is unparalleled by anything else I have achieved.
I have blue sky dreams of music being my main career, recording an album, touring and all that comes with that. On a smaller scale I would love to be the support act for an artist I admire at a large venue. Just one night in front of a massive crowd, I’m sure I’d find some people in the audience who relate to my music and that’s all I want really. Community. 


What plans do you have for the year ahead? How has the year been shaping up so far?
Currently, I am in the process of applying for funding. Unfortunately due to the pandemic along with my mental illness and disability I have no funds of my own to keep recording and make things happen. My aim is to gain funding so that I can acquire software, instruments and equipment that I can utilise to perform live solo with a pop/rock sound. In tandem with this I would love to record an EP in this style. There’s the possibility of another headline gig on the horizon, until then I’m keeping an eye out for the opportunity to support in London and Brighton. So let me know if you’re looking for a support anyone!

Maddie Magdalene

If you could be the main support for any living artist, who would that be for and why? Alternatively, what would be your dream live booking?
Main support for Paramore/Hayley Williams or Demi Lovato would be the ultimate dream, they’ve had a massive impact on me from a young age. I relate to Demi’s story so closely and rumour has it they’re going back to their rock origins too so… hit me up Demi!

Dream live booking would be Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. I don’t even have to hesitate. I said to myself as a teenager that one day I would play Jool’s Holland live and the Hootenanny on NYE is the ultimate right?


What artists have you been listening to? Additionally, who should others be listening to?
I listen to so many artists old and new. I think a body of work is a rarity amongst newer artists, and the Tik Tok takeover has definitely reshaped how we listen to music. So there have been singles here and there from some awesome people I’ve discovered on Tik Tok recently like SkyDxddy, King Kitty, Morgan St Jean and Lospirit. I want to collab with Lospirit so badly, I think he’s incredible. In the last couple years I have especially enjoyed the masterpiece albums of Little Simz, Dodie, Ashe, and Billie Eilish. Plus in my down time I love to relax to the sounds of composer Ludovico Einaudi. Go soak up an album and get fully emerged in an artist’s world I say!

Maddie Magdalene: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s