A Quick Chat With Maddison Kate
Maddison Kate returns with More To Me, a quietly stunning folk-pop single that weaves hope, heartbreak, and self-worth into something tender and timeless. Based in Meanjin, the rising artist has made her mark with warm tones and poetic songwriting, earning spots at Gympie Music Muster, Queensland Music Festival, and a support slot for Kyle Lionhart. More To Me is an emotional slow-burn built on gentle piano, soaring violin, and Maddison’s delicate vocals, exploring the ache of loving someone who needs to change, and the strength to hold space for that growth. We caught up with Maddison to talk about the track, her upcoming EP, and what’s next.
Can you tell us what your upcoming EP means to you and what you want people to take away from it?
What I’d Say To You is my debut EP, so that alone makes it super special to me. It’s a collection of songs that map my emotions from my teenage years into my early 20s. To me, it’s all about growing pains and how confronting change can be — it can make knowing and understanding yourself really difficult. Each track is about the things left unsaid that I never consciously acknowledged during this pivotal period of my life, hence the EP title What I’d Say To You (and the lyrics in my song ‘A Truth’).
I want this EP to be a source of comfort for people, and to show that it’s okay and normal to feel confused by your own identity and growth sometimes. Hopefully, these songs can build connection and help people feel less alone with what can be messy emotions. That’s what it did for me when writing it, and why it means so much to me.
What can listeners expect to hear when you release the EP on August 8?
You can expect soft ballads, introspective and poetic lines, glistening piano, sweeping violin, and build ups that pull you right into the heart of these emotions! The EP has really become a body of work, and I was lucky enough to have amazing people sprinkle their magic onto the recordings. Each song feels like a natural progression from the last, musically and emotionally, while still holding their own individual gems.
Who are some of your influences, and why?
Some of my earliest influences would have to be Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. I loved their early acoustic, folk style, and one thing they’ve always done incredibly well is tell a good story. I never failed to connect to their songs, and I try to be that honest and vulnerable in my own writing.
I’ve also been a long-time fan of Missy Higgins, and whenever I get the chance to sing ‘Scar’ to an audience, I take it! Both her music and her authenticity as an artist inspire me greatly and have influenced how I approach my storytelling, both in song and when speaking to audiences. Her songs bring me so much comfort, and I deeply relate to and appreciate her vulnerability.
What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
My writing process can vary, but I often start with the melody and have a tinker with my guitar, allowing a story to develop around those elements. I’d describe it as a stream-of-consciousness way of writing, because sometimes I don’t even know where it’s come from!
Other times, it’s pretty cool — I get this intuitive urge that tells me I have to sit down and write immediately. Often, it reveals something I didn’t even realise I was feeling.
My recording process usually starts with some pre-production based on a stripped-back vocal and acoustic guitar version of the song. I love getting into harmonies and vocal adlibs quickly, because that’s my favourite part! Then I also adore what comes when other musicians add their instruments, because there’s so much magic in how other people feel the songs during this experimental phase. I also find a lot of joy in the production stage, where you can give each song those defining sparkles.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
That is tough… there are so many more artists I could’ve mentioned who influence me, but I think collaborating with someone like Billie Eilish would be such an amazing experience. She works in a very different soundscape to me, but I’m obsessed with everything she puts out. She can make me feel both moved and on edge when listening to some of her songs which is such an interesting combination. I would be extremely intrigued as to what we’d create!
When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?
I love any form of writing. I love sitting in nature and writing poetry or coming up with a short story that often weaves in some kind of fantastical element.
I also love to dance! Going out to salsa nights is one of my favourite things to do.
Who are some local bands we should check out?
Some Meanjin bands I absolutely love are Serendipiti, Hazel Mei, Pipin, Neish, Dublin Rose, and Georgia Scarlett.
Winter or summer and why?
I honestly change my mind about this a lot, so I don’t know if I have a true answer. However, at the moment I am adoring winter. It’s cosy, it’s the season for drinking tea, sitting by fires, enjoying the sun on your back, and also… the fashion! Coats and scarves are my weakness when it comes to buying clothes.
What do you have planned for the rest of 2025?
My focus is on releasing my debut EP and connecting with more audiences by doing as many gigs as I can. I’m aiming to travel to the UK towards the end of the year, hopefully get some gigs, and work on my songwriting in different parts of the world. I’ve always wanted to spend some time in Ireland, and especially being a folk artist, I feel I must try my luck there!