Artist Name: Jaye Madison
Hometown: Lumberton, TX
1. What project(s) are you currently working on?
Our next single “Down” is set for release March 4th and is available currently available for pre-save
We are getting in the studio soon to work on our EP set to release later this year.
2. What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?
Growing up, we had music on all the time in the house. Mostly 80’s Rock. It was always in the backdrop of our childhood. We started getting into musical theatre from an early age and performed in countless plays, musicals, school choir productions over the years. We were really into classical music in high school as well, and both landed in the TMEA All-State choir our senior year. We knew in high school that we wanted to pursue music, but never thought we could possibly write our own. We found out about the Commercial Music program at Belmont University here in Nashville and we quickly became very tiny fish in a very large pond. We spent 4 years learning, growing, and figuring out what we wanted to say with our music outside of the words and experiences of others.
3. If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?
Jordan: Probably what I’m already doing for my day job. Working with a talent agency/management company, and helping other artists create plans to get them closer to achieving their dreams. I love talking with creative people all day. It keeps me inspired and encouraged.
Madison: I’d be a therapist. I’ve always been interested in people’s stories and that’s a way I could help and connect with others. That’s not all that different from what I do now though in a way.
4. What is your favorite downtime activity?
Jordan: Trash reality TV that I know is killing my brain cells, but I can’t look away. That, and snacks. All the snacks.
Madison: (Laugh) I’m not so into the trash reality shows like Jordan here but I’m a huge nerd. Give me a good logic puzzle, a book, or a crime show to watch and I’m all set.
5. Who is your biggest celebrity crush?
Jordan: I haven’t had a celebrity crush since I was 12, but it was Joe Jonas, because duh.
Madison: (Laugh) Oooh okay just gonna slip that question in there all casual…I see you. Alright, Shawn Mendes and Chris Pratt.
6. Who is your favorite sports team(s)?
Jordan: What are sports? (Laugh) I love the community and social aspect of everyone getting together for a common cause, but I don’t care about who wins what. I hope they all win! (Laugh) Let’s just say I’m the one at the Super Bowl party who only cares about the chips and queso.
Madison: I feel obligated to say all the Texan teams (The Astros, The Texans, The Cowboys) but I’ll be honest, we really don’t have an interest in sports. My dad tried.
7. What is the last movie that you watched?
Jordan: I really don’t watch a ton of movies. The last movie I saw in theaters was Frozen 2 because it was about sisterly love, so of course, I had to support that and go see it with Madison. Still bitter there was no duet with Elsa and Anna.
Madison: Little Women was amazing! It’s one of my favorite books and it’s such great storytelling.
8. What is the last album you listened to?
Jordan: Jagged Little Pill has started moving back into my life. Probably because I feel like I’m really growing into my own person as a woman and an artist, and Alanis Morissette just tells it like it is and gives me the courage to keep keepin’ it real.
Madison: An Innocent Man by Billy Joel and quite a bit of Patsy Cline too. Billy is still one of the best lyricists out there and Patsy just has a voice of an angel.
9. If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Jordan: Could I make my own mixtape full of songs from multiple albums? I don’t see any rules written about this, so I’m gonna go ahead and ask for forgiveness rather than permission. I’ll listen to everything from “No Scrubs” to “Live Like You Were Dying.”
Madison: Probably, “Building Balance” by Allen Stone but I would definitely want to have one playlist for the rest of my life instead of an album. This is too hard!
10. What is the greatest country song of all time?
Jordan: Look, I can’t pick one, but The House That Built Me is a contender in my book. Forever and Ever Amen is just a classic as well. I had the honor of meeting Paul Overstreet, one of the writers for it, and he was so kind. He gave me an autograph to give to my grandma for Christmas, and took the time to listen to our last single Soul of Texas. I was shaking the whole time!
Madison: One of my favorites is Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson. I like that he doesn’t necessarily add a twang to it but it’s still so characteristically country. Speaking from the heart, story-telling lyrics, and a southern drawl are all elements of classic country that I want to bring back in music today. I think people are craving it.
11. What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?
Jordan: Well, out on the road makes it sound like we have been on tour. We haven’t…YET! We definitely want to head down to the southeast Texas/Louisiana border at some point and just show love to where we come from. Honestly, we could fall in love with anywhere, as long as we are doing what we love.
Madison: Hmm…yes we haven’t technically been on the road with Jaye Madison but we have traveled a bit. Some of my favorite cities have been New York City, Austin, and New Orleans. All have such different cultures and it was fun taking it all in.
12. What is your favorite meal?
Jordan: BRUNCH IS MY LIFE. End of story.
Madison: I really like Italian food so probably spaghetti or lasagna. But…Jordan is right…I didn’t fully appreciate brunch culture until I came to Nashville.
13. Who is your dream duet partner?
Jordan: Madison
Madison: Jordan
14. Who would you like to go on tour with?
Jordan: If we got to go on tour with Heart, Tracy Chapman, Pink, Alanis Morsiette, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar….and the like… I would probably die. Really, working with any one of thousands of the powerhouse women in music out there who could also be our mentor would just be a dream come true. We have so much to learn from all of them.
Madison: Oh man, soooo many people! Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Stevie Nicks, Lady Antebellum, Allen Stone…they all are amazing in their own ways. Really anyone that we can learn and grow with.
15. What is your ultimate career goal(s)?
Jordan: Ultimately, I think it’s about being happy. Whatever that means for us. Making a living sharing our hearts with others, and knowing our music is helping people get through or escape from life is the main goal. Anything else is icing on the cake.
Madison: My ultimate career goal is to live a life full of meaning, music, and freedom and to be able to share that with others. To tell stories, even those that I haven’t experienced, but resonate with, so that everyone out there has someone that sees and understands them.