#IMMusicMonday: Take a Hint and Keep Your Eyes on Maddy Newton
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Maddy Newton is no stranger to the music biz. She’s had the songwriting bug since she was just 12 years old and is showing no signs of slowing down, despite the insane year the music industry has been seeing. With a new single (which found itself on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist) and more music on the way, the pop singer is just getting started.
We chatted with Maddy about her past, present, and future and what it’s like being a pop artist in the Country Music Capital.
Let’s talk about your musical journey – what inspired you to become a singer-songwriter?
Since I was little, as in pre-school, I always loved singing. It was the expression that felt most true to myself. When we moved to Nashville when I was 12, I got the songwriting bug from all the incredible writers I was interacting with. I knew that’s what I wanted to do forever!
You’re currently based in Nashville, which is typically considered the home of country music, yet your style is a twist on modern pop. What drew you to Nashville?
My parents and I visited on my spring break in 6th grade and fell in love. We have horses and loved the friendly people so it seemed like a perfect fit! I learned how to write songs in the storytelling nature of Nashville, but sonically, I’ve always preferred pop melodies and production.
What’s the current music scene in Nashville like? Do you ever feel out of place as a pop singer or is the city more diverse music-wise than we may think?
Well, since 2020, the music scene is just trying to get its footing again! It’s cool to see shows start to pop up after a long year without it. I definitely think there’s more musical diversity than people realize, but country is still the majority of the music industry out here.
The past year has been a strange one for musical artists, especially for those releasing new music. What has that been like for you? Has it influenced how you create your music at all?
This year gave me much needed space, which allowed me to get clarity on the direction I’d like to take my music in, in addition to defining my purpose and passions. I’ve been able to release music that I’ve been sitting on for a while, which was a nice push!
You recently released “Take a Hint,” which was featured on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist. How did it feel to have your track be specifically selected by the platform’s editors?
In a time where so much is up in the air, it was SO COOL to be featured on both Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Pop! It’s so rewarding to have something you’re so proud of getting recognized.
Fresh Finds has over 750K followers on Spotify. Now that you’ve had that exposure, do you feel any added pressure for your next release?
I definitely think about keeping my songs at a high bar now! I always have, but now I feel like Spotify is watching closer, so I have to continue to “wow” them.
What was the inspiration behind “Take a Hint?”
I was dating a guy in LA, and it got to a point where it was clear he was starting to pull away but was still trying to have some sort of tie to me. The slow “ghoster”! I went to write with my two co-writers and was so fed up with it! I said I wish he’d just get it over with and end things. They loved the idea, so we ran with it!
The year is far from over. What more can we expect from you in 2021?
Most definitely! I just released the music video for “Take A Hint,” which was probably the most fun video I’ve done yet. I was very involved in the creative process so I’m proud of it. I have more music coming out this year that I’m so excited about. It will be a slightly new side of me.