Serious Songwriter: Madelyn Paquette
Madelyn Paquette
Location:
New York, NY, USA
Tell us about yourself:
I'm a 21 year old country-pop singer-songwriter, producer and recording artist from Boston, MA; now based in NYC. I attend NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music where I'm a junior focusing on songwriting, music business and production. My song "Broke Like Me" recently won an Independent Music Award in the country category, I'm a 2020 winner of the BMI Foundation's John Lennon Scholarship for my song "Ready or Not," and I've spent the last few months writing and recording some of my favorite music yet, to be released in 2021. I'm a Sagittarius but couldn't tell you what that means, enneagram type 2, and my favorite household object is a winter-y smelling candle.
Name of your most recent release:
Why are you a songwriter?
A lot of things in life don't make sense. But to listen to music is to instantly understand and be understood. To escape, feel, to have your thoughts and fears and joys acknowledged and even to learn something new about yourself. To be a songwriter is to be the creator of that journey. We get to provide others with that emotional experience and say the words that someone out there might be needing to hear. I write songs because it helps me enjoy life, heal and get stronger, and lets me be there for someone else trying to do the same.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
This is pretty general, but I think I'm most proud of my artistic growth over the past few years. Evolution is slow, but it happens all the time and I notice it in myself. I went from someone who barely considered herself a producer, to producing or co-producing all of my released music. I'm proud of my drive and work ethic as an independent artist and full-time student; I'm motivated by the grind and the business, and am proud of my dedication and creativity through the hard parts. And I'm proud of the way my narrative voice has been developing in my songwriting due to practice and stretching.
Share the most interesting writing experience you ever had:
My most interesting writing experience was probably one where the end product surprised me the most. I was prompted by a mentor to use a specific phrase in a song. I was super skeptical as to how anyone could write a functional song centered on that phrase... but I managed to do it and... it came out great? Blew my mind. Another prompt from that mentor was to write a song using all seven chords of a scale. The country songwriter in me freaked me out, but again to my astonishment, it came out sick. And I learned two valuable lessons: there are no limits and everything has banger-potential.
What makes you unique as a songwriter?
I think my perspectives are unique and make my songs stand out. My favorite thing to do is find ways to tell a common story in an unexpected way- I'm always looking out for metaphors to twist, entendres to double, words to play on, etc.
If you could write with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
Oof... I have quite a list: Emily Weisband, Ben Rector, Liz Rose, Karen Fairchild, Hunter Hayes, Josh Kerr, Lori McKenna. Also John Mayer. Each of these writers are unique and versatile, and have collectively written a lot of my favorite songs. To write with any of them would be a great honor.
How can the Serious Songwriter community help you?
It can definitely help me meet and connect with other songwriters. I'm always looking to expand my network and find new collaborators. I'd also be excited to have some more ears on the music I've been working on.
What can you help the Serious Songwriter community with?
Similar to my previous answer- I think I can be a resource, sounding board, collaborator and friend.
Fun Fact About You:
I'm related to a French king that lived a super long time ago, all the way back in 987! I wish I could say I'm part-princess, but I'm sure the royal blood is long gone by now... or maybe not:)