Piper Madison – I Used To Care

By starrymag | May 29, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I would say my sound is Indie Rock with a retro vibe. It’s not hardcore, but it definitely has an edge to it. I’ve tried to conjure up a “vintage” sound by using live recordings of real instruments, rather than using synths. I play my guitar on nearly all my tracks.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I have so many musical influences: Paramore, Sia, Prince, Grace Potter, Alabama Shakes, Cage the Elephant, Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse and Mac DeMarco to name a few. But I’m able to find inspiration in every artist, new or established and so this list is constantly growing.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “I Used to Care.”

A) I wrote this song on my back porch with my electric guitar and my vintage amp. I remember the exact lighting: the moon cast a soft, yet pungent hue over the concrete, fighting for dominance against the glow from the porch lights. I remember the exact mood: determination and unaffected freedom. “I Used To Care” wasn’t really about a specific person or situation; it was more about how every situation up to that moment had aligned to allow me to reach this milestone. I used to care about pleasing everyone, but now I realize I don’t have to. It’s really about choosing to care about yourself.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) Life can be super tough sometimes and I think people are able to connect to this song because it’s honest. It’s about staring down whatever doubted you from the start and telling it to go to hell. I think people are able to relate to that mood because everyone wants to do that sometimes.

 

Q) Your song “Shots Fired” was inspired by gun violence with a portion of proceeds going to The Brady Campaign. What motivated you to write this song?

A) I wrote this song after the Borderline shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA. I couldn’t figure out how to fill the glass of society that is being drained by hate. So, I poured my feelings into this song. The song really wrote itself—I was just the medium. I wrote it in less than an hour and then immediately started recording it so I could release it immediately because I felt like this was a message that should be heard now.

 

Q) What made you want to share proceeds with The Brady Campaign?

A) The Brady Campaign is an organization dedicated to ending gun violence. I admire this organization for standing up and making a change and just want to support however I can. Because my music is my way of reaching people, I wanted to use my song to draw more support to bringing an end to gun violence. It’s time.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

A) Every song has a different process. Sometimes I start with a guitar riff and then work from there or sometimes I’ll start with a lyric idea and form a song around that. But, in general, I write my lyrics and melody and music all at the same time. I don’t usually start with music before creating lyrics because I often find that I like to adjust the music to fit better with the lyrics and vice versa. However, I have recently started experimenting with writing lyrics and melody to a track and I enjoy that as well. Songwriting is songwriting. [smile]

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

A) I’m involved in the production of every one of my songs. Because I have a home studio, I’m able to work all the time. So, as soon as I record a part on a song I’m able to immediately start editing. Learning how to edit my own music has made me a better musician. As an artist, I like to know everything about my craft: the musical side, the production side, the business side, etc. Of course, I still have things to learn and I don’t do it all by myself, but everything I have learned so far has made me a more well-rounded artist. I like being able to guide the production of my songs to match the vision in my head and, since I’m so involved in their production, I am able to be more connected to my own songs.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Piper Madison performance?

A) Lots of jumping and smiling from me on stage. Performing takes me to my happy place and I love to share that with people.

 

Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming in the near future?

A) My debut full-length album will be dropping VERY, VERY SOON! I’m aiming to release it this summer. But before that, you can expect a new single THIS MONTH.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

A) I loved singing at SXSW in Austin, TX. I had never been to Texas before and the first thing I noticed was that everyone was so NICE! I sang at Dirty Dog Bar and it was my first major festival performance, so Dirty Dog Bar will always be significant to me. Another one of my favorite places to perform is at the Eagle Rock Bark and Meow – an annual block party held in Eagle Rock to help rescue pets get adopted. It’s always such a friendly crowd and I love being surrounded by these beautiful animals and helping connect them with people who will give them a home.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I could see myself collabing with Phoebe Bridgers, Hayley Williams, Vampire Weekend…they all have a unique sound and have inspired me as a songwriter.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) I’ve been listening to a lot of Vampire Weekend lately. Their vibe just makes me happy. And, FYI, the new album is awesome!

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Social media is a super powerful tool because I can connect with fans instantaneously. It’s great because I can share upcoming performances, music releases, etc. at the press of a button. It’s also easy to track the growth of my fan base and see how fans are responding to my latest releases.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I’m so grateful to have a platform through which I’m able to share my art and it means so much that there are people out there listening.