10 Questions with ... Madison Cunningham

1. A lot happened for you in 2019. Tell us about that.

The past year was a largely transitional one for me. It felt like, all at once, I was living in a new era of my life. Writing this record really forced me to take an honest look at where I came from, what my dreams and fear were, and who I was becoming as a result.

2. What does a typical day look like for you? What do you have scheduled the rest of today and this week?

Going for a run. Writing. Reading. Making a really strong cup of coffee, and playing guitar, in no particular order, is usually what a day looks like for me. Lately, I've been on tour, so I try to apply those rituals as regularly as I can. They really help to balance me out.

3. Growing up, how important was music in your life?

It was a household activity. My dad is a musician, and always had a guitar in his hand by the time he got home from work. It was and continues to be a joyful thing to me, and something that I think bound our family together in a way.

4. Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be in this industry? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?

It was difficult and terrifying. Because even if you make the choice to take part in the so called "industry," it still holds the right to reject you. So, the choice isn't ultimately yours. The will and persistence are certainly up to you, which is a decision that constantly must be made.

5. What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career?

The hardship and the responsibility that comes with it. I think I had in my head that once you reached a certain point the struggle would disappear. It's only become more familiar. And I don't mean that in an entirely negative sense. The struggle is what art is born out of.

6. What has been the best part about it all?

The lifelong relationships that have developed with musicians and other artists, and the joy and disbelief that I feel when I'm on stage getting to sing and play the songs that I've worked hard for, for a room full of people who care to listen. It's been surreal to put it plainly.

7. Let's talk about your new album, Who Are You Now. What was the inspiration for this collection?

Most of the songs are from the perspective of a young adult making a departure from their upbringing, to know real love and loss for themselves. When there's no covering over you, like parents, or friends, or certainty, you ask "Who Are You Now?". It felt like I kept being confronted with that question in my life. A subconscious phrase that found me at the highest and lowest points.

8. Did anything surprise you about the overall process of making it?

How naturally some songs came, and how much of a burden others were. And, also, how either scenario didn't determine the value or weight of the song. Good songs make themselves apparent eventually, and sometimes immediately, but you can never be sure.

9. How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music?

I feel liberated to take chances and make mistakes, and less apt to be down on myself when I do. I think fear is the greatest bondage for an artist and I felt less of that this past year.

10. At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

Something relatable and beyond my story. If people can only hear my perspective in a song, then the mission is too small.

Would you like to share anything else about yourself or your music with our readers?

I'll leave you with a fun fact. I love plane watching and am totally obsessed with flight travel.

Interview by Leah Brungardt