Image credit: Katie Winkenhower
Sincere, brutally honest, and poetic with a tint of sweetness is what you can expect from lyricist and indie-pop singer Madeline Rosene. Just last week the singer unveiled her music video ‘Talking To Myself’ which comes across like a big middle finger to her haters. This songstress is a force that is hard to miss from the first few seconds of consuming her sound, it will be hard not to sing along and feel inspired by her bold ways and ideals that are crafted into her heartfelt lyrics.
We asked Madeline some questions just after the release of the video.
Which albums changed your perspective on the music you make?
Jagged Little Pill, Whitechocolatespaceegg, Exile in Guyville, Liz Phair, The Spirit Room, James Taylor Greatest Hits, C’mon C’mon, Under Rug Swept, Californication, Surfer Girl, Pet Sounds, From a Basement on a Hill, XO, By The Way, everything from Nirvana, and jazz from the 1920s and 30s.
What is your go-to method for when you need to boost your creativity?
I think I just sit alone with my guitar, sometimes in the middle of the day. Certain people inspire me, but there’s no way to plan for that. Sometimes I like to get high on essential oils.
Describe what makes your day a successful one.
A successful day is when I don’t have an emotional, existential breakdown. Just kidding (not really). I like to try to create every day. Usually, that’s just writing something. If I laugh a lot and spend time with people I like, that’s a pretty successful day.
Describe your studio space in three words
Don’t. Have. One.
What do you think is the recipe for a great song?
Lyrics that make people think about things differently or at least make people think and listen. Harmonies for days. I’m a harmony junkie.
Did you always see yourself pursuing music as a career, or did you have other plans for the future?
I think that I have always wanted a career as a singer/songwriter but, regretfully, I have given up a number of times and started over. I don’t recommend this. For a while, I wanted to be a doctor. I was pre-med for 2.5 years in college. But music is a sick addiction and here I am back for more…
What advice can you give to artists that are struggling to make their name known?
Just don’t stop. There really isn’t any other option if you want to do this. Keep pushing every day. Pay more attention to believers than haters. Be grateful to the people who listen.
What are the biggest challenges you have discovered thus far as a musician/producer?
The music industry can be rather soul-sucking, complicated, and predatory. I’ve definitely faced challenges navigating the music industry and finding people to work with who have serious work ethics and are trustworthy. But, I love the people I work with now. It just took a minute to find them. Also, I have a hard time keeping things “professional,” mostly because I hate that word and everything it stands for. “Professionalism” stifles creativity and the cold hands of “professionalism” asphyxiate the voices of our inner children. I don’t like protocols or processes. I don’t like uniform and neat. The world is meant to be played in. I think what a lot of people miss is that you can do things correctly without “putting on your business hat” or creating some tough persona. Just be yourself. Call me Michael Scott, but I just want to be friends with everyone… and that can be hard.
What can we expect from you in the months to come?
I’m starting a cult. And I’ll be putting out a new album called Everyday Existential Crisis and a music video for my upcoming single, ‘Good Behavior’ co-written with Dante Juhkel (one of my favorite humans).
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