By Jim Barber
Mountains are spectacular. Mountains are inspirational. Thrust up by violent tectonic forces extra highly effective than something we are able to think about a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands in the past, mountains are monumental examples of the timelessness of the Earth. From a distance, there may be an epic, awe-inspiring magnificence to them. Up shut, their jagged edges, steep slopes, sheer cliffs, deep chasms, and a way of menace, for the uninitiated.
Mountains are usually not for the faint hearted. The mountains of The Kootenay area of British Columbia are lush, verdant, teeming with life. Nature in all its kinds is on full show, wild and untamed. There may be magnificence, however there may be additionally ruggedness, there may be hazard as predators stalk their prey, the chance of fireplace from a careless camper or an on-rushing thunderstorm can inflame not solely the forests however nervousness in those that are hardy sufficient to stay, work and play there.
For individuals who referred to as this a part of Canada residence for generations, ‘mountain life’ is just the conventional lifestyle. Of us have tailored and developed ability units, methods of pondering, philosophies of life, and a wholesome respect for his or her environment that are handed down from dad or mum to little one. A particular form of human is cast by dwelling on this wild and generally untamed setting amongst the tall bushes, the traditional rocks and stones. One learns to understand the closeness of household, the reliance upon one’s neighbours. These folks don’t ‘tame’ the mountain setting, they co-exist with it.
It could appear a very dramatic, and maybe even melodramatic introduction to an article a few musical artist, however with a view to perceive somebody, anybody, on a deeper and extra profound stage, it helps to know one thing about their environment and the values it imparted to them. Creativity and innovation are half and parcel of life on the market, having a stable sense of 1’s self, of understanding that life is nice, however that you must work for that good life. In case you’re a child, you’re yard is a spot of surprise, exploration and journey.
For that is the place 28-year-old Maddison Keiver, identified by her artist title as Maddisun was born – in Cranbrook. B.C., to be exact. Her music is an extension of her persona, which is one full of ardour – for all times, for journey, for actual, genuine experiences, for making her personal means, in her personal means. She even calls her explicit type of music, ‘Mountain Music’ a type of folks, singer songwriter, rock and pure Canadiana that’s as emotionally expansive as it’s compellingly melodic. It’s infused all through each track on her compelling new album, The Pages, which was launched independently on July 18 in each bodily copies and by way of obtain from Bandcamp.
However there’s one thing deeper at work in Maddisun, which comes out in dialog in addition to by means of her music, and even by following her lively and wondrously effervescent social media channels. There may be an old style longing to be immersed on the earth, with all her senses alive and taking in each second, each distinctive encounter.
Going in opposition to the grain is a well-worn expression for somebody who chooses to take the harder, however in the end extra rewarding path. Others would favor the extra fashionable phrase of taking possession of 1’s personal future. Maddisun has completed this her complete life, however not in an conceited, entitled or petulant means. Relatively it comes from a spot of freedom and contentment, of confidence in her personal beliefs, decisions, intelligence, expertise and hard-earned knowledge.
“I’ve been pursuing music for greater than 10 years – most likely nearer to fifteen now. Fifteen years in the past I used to be writing songs and excited about and desirous to do music however not as a enterprise. I’ve all the time been sort of pursuing it so I’ve all the time simply completed what I had with what instruments that I had with what I knew from my upbringing. My upbringing could be very grassroots. It’s all about traditional rock music, tenting, campfire singing. My dad sings and performs guitar and taught me how one can play. My aunts are singers, my grandpa was a musician as properly – none of them skilled, however wonderful and all the time taking part in music. And all they actually knew was arduous work, they only knew how one can present for his or her household and do what wanted to be completed,” she mentioned.
“All of them positively might have completed one thing with it, nevertheless it’s not that straightforward. Being the place I’m at, after all, I’m grateful that I’ve the web and the power to attach with folks. However the message that I’m placing out there may be not essentially a contemporary message. I’m on the market on social media speaking about information and speaking about my previous automotive and my journey and my Bohemian life. I’m utilizing my fashionable age instruments to get throughout a extra traditional message. Know-how is only a solution to get my voice on the market as a result of that’s what I’ve to work with now. However I grew up listening to vinyl and CDs. I’m sufficiently old that if I needed to take heed to music you needed to work or do chores and save your cash and go purchase the CD. And after I purchased it I cherished it, I learn all of the lyrics and I put the posters up on my wall. And that’s what I need to encourage. There are little ladies that may come to my exhibits and younger ladies and that’s the expertise I need for them. I need it to be this thrilling factor, not simply taking a look at their display screen.
“My household is within the forestry business. Nobody knew something concerning the music business or arts. After I determined I used to be going to do that as a full-time profession, my dad sort of acquired it as a result of he’s a musician. He is aware of that I’ve what it takes, however my mother didn’t totally get it. She’s nonetheless pondering I’m doing this on the aspect. She desires to verify I’m okay. However I simply have this unwavering perception that I do know it’ll work out. I’ll all the time get by, even when it’s by the pores and skin of my enamel, I’m all the time ready to pay my hire and get by. With this new report, I hope to construct on that slightly extra. I need to monetize. And that’s additionally an enormous a part of why I’m doing the bodily factor, as a result of individuals are going to purchase the vinyl, however the information that I put all this time and vitality into.”
Maddisun understands that as her profession continues to develop it should grow to be extra advanced, busier and there will likely be extra calls for on her time. However she additionally is aware of her companion and producer/collaborator Julian Bueckert (Bonecrusher Collective) has her again, and is somebody she will be able to bounce each artistic and enterprise concepts off of. It’s a life and inventive relationship that, very similar to every thing else in her life, advanced organically and with splendidly pleased and prolific outcomes.
“I’ve all the time been writing and I put out a string of singles in 2023 and 2024 together with ‘Crawl,’ and “Feelin’ It Once more’ in addition to “Evergreen’ and ‘All or Nothing.’ Then I utilized for some Issue Funding and it didn’t come by means of, fortunately as a result of truthfully the undertaking wasn’t proper. I’m glad that it didn’t come by means of as a result of it then led me to the place I’m now. I used to be in Nashville on the time and I had all these songs that have been cohesive and felt ‘collectively.’ I knew then I might do an album. And all of it sort of fell into place as I began sort of forming a relationship with somebody that I went to highschool with, who’s a musician from my city. He and I began hanging out once more and writing collectively and making music. His dad was truly my music instructor and my choir director in highschool. It was all fairly random: we met at a gig and began hanging out after which began courting after which began making actually cool music collectively,” Maddison mentioned of Bueckert.
“He simply mentioned, ‘why don’t I simply produce your new album? Why don’t we simply do it collectively?’ And all of it fell into place, like I mentioned. I believe The Pages is the perfect music that I’ve ever completed. It’s clearly my finest songwriting as a result of I’m extra mature now as a author and an artist. However it’s additionally the perfect producer I’ve ever labored with so far as sound high quality and a focus to element. Julian produces a variety of bands and artists within the Kootenays, the realm the place we’re from. I all the time knew he was a tremendous producer; he’s been producing his personal music since highschool. There’s only a few of us working musicians on the town as a result of Cranbrook’s fairly small. So I all the time knew he was good. We simply by no means frolicked till the final couple of years when all of it occurred. It’s grow to be a tremendous partnership and now we’re doing stuff for different artists and making stuff for movie and tv, which is sort of a aspect factor. It’s going properly and I really feel like I’m actually coming into my very own as an artist and songwriter.”
As talked about above, Maddisun embraces an analog, retro vibe, and once more, these phrases might not sum them up. There’s a very mid-Nineteen Seventies aesthetic to every thing from her coiffure to her garments, the earthy tones and vibrant hues, to her plan to launch the brand new album not solely in CD and vinyl type, but in addition cassette. However this isn’t an affectation or a gimmick – there may be nothing false or insincere about it. She might very properly be a time traveler!
“I’m releasing The Pages on bodily copy. I’m going to have bodily copies out there for buy completely as a result of I need to veer away from streaming. You’ll be capable to purchase it on Bandcamp to have it in your cellphone and obtain it as a part of the package deal if you purchase the bodily. I believe this concept of free music streaming, making it so accessible, I don’t prefer it anymore. I’m over it. It’s not supporting artists, and I believe it’s our time now to reclaim issues. So, I’m reclaiming the artist’s objective by completely releasing the album bodily. A few of it should go on streaming, however if you wish to take heed to the complete album, you must purchase the bodily,” she mentioned, totally understanding her non-conformity with present business practices.
“Most of my followers will like this concept. I do know my followers, I do know the individuals who take heed to my music, so I do know what they need, and they’re like me, they’re artistic thinkers, and creators themselves, so we would like tangible music. And for individuals who say they don’t have something to take heed to them on, firms are nonetheless making CD gamers and report gamers and even cassette gamers. Simply because you possibly can’t purchase a brand new automotive with a CD participant any extra doesn’t imply you possibly can’t take heed to the report. If folks need that MP3 or Wav information, they will nonetheless get the obtain on Bandcamp and pay the $15 for the digital information. We will go on and on concerning the issues with streaming and that it’s principally the consumerist means of listening to music. It’s the Wal Mart means of listening to music. And I’m not about that. My music isn’t about that. It simply makes full sense for me to go on this path.”
As befits somebody who embraces every thing tangible, bodily and analog,The Pages refers back to the pages of a e-book, or journal, with every track being a special entry and Aspect A and B being chapters.
“For this report I bear in mind at one level sort of freaking out as a result of I didn’t have it altogether. All of the songs match collectively sonically, however what’s the message? After which I confirmed Julian the track ‘The Pages.’ And he thought immediately that that is most likely a single, and that it was actually, actually good. However I didn’t hear it. All of us suppose completely different songs are going to be hits and everybody has their very own opinions. So that truly helped me as a result of that track had such a powerful message with the storyteller, songwriter, journal sort of vibe. And that began every thing else coming into place for the opposite songs. Like ‘Huge Star’ the place there’s actually a lyric that claims, ‘wrote it in my journal, I’m going to be an enormous star in the future.’ There’s all these little items that got here collectively and pictures and concepts about storytelling and pages, paper, and I spotted it is a e-book and it is a story I’m going to be inform. There’s 12 songs, and I break up them into the 2 chapters, one on all sides. And it additionally influenced the art work on the album. I’ve acquired all this previous textual content and previous paper and previous writing like from the Renaissance or from folklore. Which is what storytelling and writing songs is, it’s folklore. However it’s additionally my journal, my ideas however as a substitute of writing them down I’m placing them out into the world.
‘Pumpkin Pie’ was the primary single launched from The Pages, and comes from a previous courting expertise that didn’t pan out as Maddisun hoped.
“That one actually got here out of an expertise I had courting somebody who didn’t like me as a lot as I favored them, which has tended to be a recurring theme as a result of I’m an anxious, hooked up individual in relationships, though not a lot anymore. I suppose I used to be tending to go for those that weren’t actually proper. And I’d be trying to find their consideration and never getting it. In order that’s sort of what the track is about,” she mentioned.
“Additionally, the man was like 5 years youthful than me. And if you’re in your 20s that’s extra like 10 or 15 years. So when the man is in his late teenagers or early 20s, he may as properly be 12. He was truly 21 and I used to be 26. So ‘Pumpkin Pie’ is like this very cheeky track. I bear in mind I sat down at my desk in the future and I used to be simply writing and I’m sitting there on their own, and it when that occurs my thoughts begins to wander to humorous issues. Lots of my songs sort of began as jokes. It’s like a jumble the place I’m processing these bizarre experiences and one thing hit me and the track simply began popping out of me. It was completed in about quarter-hour from begin to end.”
One other track primarily based on a less-than-ideal relationship expertise is ‘Open Door.’
“That track was one other one which I wrote by means of a semi-relationship I used to be going by means of, and it will get again to that recurring factor of not getting let in by the individual totally, or not feeling seen. I bear in mind I used to be courting somebody and I used to be feeling like they have been scared possibly that I used to be an excessive amount of. And I used to be saying, ‘should you simply let me in, I promise it gained’t be an excessive amount of.’ After which on the finish of the track, the refrain form of modifications and it’s me speaking as a result of then I spotted that I used to be truly letting too many individuals in who have been the unsuitable folks,” she mentioned.
A pleasant little diversion is the 44-second quantity referred to as ‘Little Colors’ which on the album leads instantly into the following track, referred to as ‘Amber.’ It caught the eye of the writer of this piece for the way in such a brief span of time, it actually captures the essence of who Maddisun is as an artist and as a human being.
“These are just like the little jingles that I do after I begin writing, I generally name them my ditties. It was only a fast little factor I did. I’m not saying it was a throwaway track, nevertheless it was only a fast little factor I did. And it was virtually like a theme track for a TV present or one thing, that’s what I imply by jingles. And I wrote that riff nevertheless it got here from simply an train that I’d do on guitar to sort of heat up or mess around with. After which I began to put in writing lyrics and the lyrics have been me explaining that I’m multidimensional. I’m the entire colors you possibly can see. I’m yellow, pleased and brilliant. However I’m additionally these deep blues. So it was this metaphor of me being many alternative colors. Many various variations of myself.”
‘Your Muse’ is a riposte to a person from one other sort or relationship – one other musician, trying to ply their commerce in the identical western Canadian scene as Maddisun. And it’s not going in addition to he hoped, and so indignant at his personal failures, like all emotionally stunted man-child, he took to criticizing the younger feminine singer songwriter who had the temerity to not solely be actually good, profitable, properly revered, however she additionally did so with out accepting his ‘mansplaining’ concerning the music business.
“This man used to play bass for me right here in my hometown. And he’s sort of a scorching shot right here in Cranbrook I suppose, or he thinks he’s. However he has what I’d name a really fascinating persona. We had form of a falling out after I began working with different musicians and he acquired actually, actually upset with me and phoned me in the future and simply freaked out at me on the cellphone, yelling and saying ‘this isn’t the way it works in the true world. You don’t know what you’re doing! You don’t know how one can deal with a band,’ and all these items. I used to be like, whoa, sorry that I’m hiring another person to play in MY band. Like we didn’t have a contract or something. You’re not formally in my band endlessly. I bear in mind being fairly upset about it, after which I wrote the one verse, that claims, ‘took a name from a person who mentioned to me you don’t know what you’re doing,’” she defined, speaking about how she is twisting the which means of the phrase muse to imply amusement, as within the object of somebody’s amusement or fascination.
“And that form of factor occurred a number of extra occasions the place I’d simply have folks try to inform me what to do, all males. The title ‘Your Muse’ wasn’t even actually particularly associated to that as a result of I wasn’t their muse, I wasn’t inspiring their artwork, nevertheless it was virtually like they will’t look away from what doing, like I’m their experiment on a petri dish or one thing, the place they’re like, ‘what’s Maddisun doing? What’s occurring in there? What’s she doing along with her enterprise?’ So it’s virtually like they’re analyzing me, so I’m, in a way, a muse for what they need they might be doing. And naturally there are people who find themselves simply haters. I’m a pleasant individual and I don’t have many enemies, however I do have haters and people who decide me loads. So it’s a special which means of the phrase ‘muse.’ There’s a deeper which means to it that not everybody would actually perceive. However, you already know, the fitting ones will. And this has been sort of a typical theme within the 12 months main as much as this album as a result of I began to get extra widespread and I began to see success and most of this backlash has come from principally middle-aged males, but in addition from some youthful musicians round right here too, guys principally.
“There was one other man who was a sound tech or sound man. He messaged me simply to inform me that I’ve shitty sound and folks aren’t coming to see my exhibits as a result of I’ve shitty sound. And that every one that mattered was the technical aspect of it. He referred to as me technically challenged and I used to be like, ‘are you critical?’ Does he suppose that’s what folks come to exhibits to see? Additionally, my sound is just not unhealthy. I’m not an fool. I’ve been doing this my entire life. I used to be in a music faculty; I’ve my Royal Conservatory coaching. I’m not an untrained musician. He simply needed to discover one factor to choose aside. And this perspective is just not ending. It’s not going away. And it’s the worst inside the music business. It’s not the skin folks, the folks coming to the exhibits or listening to the music, it’s folks inside the business which are saying this stuff. The individuals who come to my exhibits, they find it irresistible. They might not know something concerning the music business, however they’re all the time telling me that my music makes them really feel good. These are my folks.”
Independence and self-reliance is deeply imbedded in Maddisun’s DNA, as is a curiosity to see the world and an understanding that life is to be skilled. Mix this with the precocious need to be the centre of consideration at household gatherings, the will to placed on exhibits, to sing, to play music to precise herself, and it’s no shock that journey has been an enormous a part of her life. At one level, barely 20 years of age, she alighted off to Europe to stay, work, and once more in a retro time period ‘discover herself.’ Residing on her wits, her work ethic and her expertise – three qualities that Maddisun possesses in preternatural abundance, she not solely immersed herself within the numerous inventive and cultural landscapes, however ultimately determined to quiet down within the fertile and creatively fecund land of poets and playwrights – Eire.
“I simply had this loopy have to go to Europe. I used to be obsessive about Europe, however with Eire, one thing simply referred to as me. I don’t know, it could be a planetary factor. I’m into astrology for certain, so I adopted the decision and went there. I didn’t actually do music, however I used to be writing and I used to be taking part in slightly little bit of guitar. I actually was simply discovering myself, if you’ll, and I lived there for nearly three years. I travelled round a bunch of various international locations, like 20 completely different international locations. After I moved there, I used to be 20, again in 2016,” she mentioned, including that again then the cellphone service and her personal cellphone weren’t precisely high of the road, so, backpack on, she would actually do the old style wanderer’s method – ask locals the place to go and how one can get there.
“I labored in a pharmacy in my hometown after I was 17, 18 and 19 and saved all my cash, about $15,000. So I form of retired for 2 years after I went abroad. I went to Eire and was having a extremely enjoyable time and I wasn’t anxious about cash in any respect. I’m a fairly good solo traveler and I’m additionally fairly frugal as it’s, and will be much more so after I must be. So I used to be by no means struggling there in any respect. However then I dated an Irish man for some time and acquired a piece visa and labored for the Financial institution of Eire doing technical help; I used to be fixing bank card machines and debit card machines and doing fairly properly. I bear in mind thriving in that job and that’s the place my tech abilities got here into play and I spotted I used to be fairly good at it. I used to be climbing up the ladder and thought I might do that endlessly. However then my visa expired and I broke up with the boyfriend and I knew I might stick it on the market, however I additionally realized I needed to come back residence. I felt like my time over there was over. I additionally knew I couldn’t totally pursue my music over there as a result of it’s arduous to start out up a enterprise anyplace, let alongside outdoors of your property nation.
“I had truly began writing music once more earlier than I left. I downloaded the packages I wanted onto my laptop computer the place I used to be dwelling in Dublin, acquired a USB microphone and began making music. It was round this time that Spotify was changing into a factor and I figured I might put out music on Spotify and I put out slightly EP. However then after I realized I needed to go all in on music, I knew I wouldn’t be capable to do it in Eire”
Most of the songs, together with the ethereal ‘Mountain Air’ ended up being launched on what would grow to be Maddisun’s first album Self Reflections, which was launched in 2020.
As evidenced by her time overseas, the mix of confidence in a single’s personal knowledge and one’s personal path, mixed with a powerful sense of practicality, ingenuity and fearless autonomy (there’s that mountain life upbringing coming into play!) has led Maddisun to eschew a lot of the company music business infrastructure of managers, reserving brokers, and so on. and so on. In some unspecified time in the future, merely to alleviate the workload, she might have to herald these types of execs however it should undoubtedly be on her phrases and for her functions.
“In some unspecified time in the future I’d wish to be represented by a reserving company. Proper now I’ve to e-book my very own excursions. I don’t suppose I would like a supervisor, however I might use an assistant to do all of the admin.. I consider all the perfect sorts of issues simply occur to me as a result of I’m on the market and I’m open to the alternatives whether or not it’s in Toronto, in New York, in Nashville, good issues occur to me as a result of I’ve that sort of persona the place I’m very a lot a go getter, however within the music business you additionally should be a great hold, somebody that individuals need to be round. I’ve a great vibe, I’m a great hold and I find yourself assembly good folks and making these connections,” she mentioned.
“What I really want proper now’s an assistant. I would like a roadie. I would like somebody to be on the highway with me as a result of it’s so exhausting. Somebody like a tour supervisor who will help with the admin and logistics and take a few of that load off me.”
Now that Pages is out, the touring has begun – with out a tour supervisor, however with a ton of enthusiasm over the brand new materials. Maddisun will likely be hitting each the east and west coasts of Canada, in addition to the massive centres of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver properly into the autumn. Additional afield, she mentioned the U.Okay. is on the horizon for 2026, however that she is open to going anyplace – in all places in reality – the place folks need to hear her.
These journeys, these adventures, these experiences will little doubt grow to be new ‘pages’ in what’s already a exceptional and robustly noteworthy life.
For extra data on Maddisun’s upcoming exhibits and different updates go to her social media channels or https://www.maddisunmusic.com/
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and writer primarily based in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising and marketing specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
