Essential 8+: Madelyn Victoria

Courtesy of the Artist

Texas native Madelyn Victoria’s debut single release, “He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor” reached #1 on the national country AM/FM chart, New Music Weekly, making it one of the biggest debut singles of 2016. The self-penned song won an Akademia Award for Best Country Song in April 2016, earning her numerous other award nominations and a spot on the CMT.com Top 50 Most Popular Artists chart. But, for the young Texas native, nothing can compare to walking in the footsteps of her legendary idols. Her latest video release, the original “I Can Be Your Senorita” has already received over 10,000 views and here, she answers her Essential 8+ where she talks about everything from her musical mentors and road life to her dream venue, what she's listening to, and much more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
First and foremost, I like to think as my family (cousins, uncles) as my musical mentors. Just seeing them play and sing has inspired me so much. They support me so much in what I do. I also consider my choir director, Ted Lyra, and mariachi director, Mark Bazaldua as my music mentors as well. Mark has sadly passed on, but I will always keep with me all the teachings, encouraging words, and support he, and Mr. Lyra, gave me.

With (please choose a song), what was the “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
The “a-ha” moment with He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor was when I completed the chorus/hook. I wanted this to relate as much as to what a person could be thinking while they are actually dancing on the dance floor.

What’s the story behind your album’s title?
My EP is self-titled. I wanted it to be an introduction to who I am as a music artist. I wanted the musicality of it to define my brand as a Neo-Traditional Country music artist- which to me is defined a little old, a little new.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
I express my emotions and thoughts the best when I write. Inspiration for me comes from everywhere. I can be watching a sunset, listening to a story from one of my relatives of how life was back in the day, or I can hear a song from one of my favorite artists- I take a bit of inspiration from every aspect of life.

When/where do you do your best writing?
I do my best writing anywhere. An idea or thought can come to me while I’m doing anything and will drop everything to make sure I jot it down. If I had to pick a place though it’s definitely traveling on the road. I have so much time to think and take in all the sights.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
It’s definitely a combination of everything. I may even start off a song with my own personal experience then combine it with someone else’s. I observe a whole bunch so that’s where I will say my writing mainly comes from. The one thing that happens a lot when I’m writing is that I sort of foreshadow my own life events. I may write about something I think I am just making up, but then I will go through that situation I wrote about in the near future. It’s kind of crazy, yet cool!

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What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
The best advice I’ve gotten has to be from my good friend James DeBerry. James is an amazing fiddle player. When I first started songwriting, he would give me great tips and songs to listen to that he thought would help inspire me.

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
I always say use the tools and market around you, and then expand from there. Having a solid fan base from where ever you are is always good to start off on.

What’s your favorite food on the road?
Chic fil A, Whataburger, and Subway’s personal pan pizza!

Do you have any touring tips?
What are your “must have” albums for the road?
All of my favorite Eagles, George Strait, Ronnie Milsap, and Turnpike Troubadours albums.

How do you kill the long hours in the van?
Songwriting and doing homework. I also like buying lotto scratch-offs.

What’s the most frustrating thing about being on the road?
There’s nothing really frustrating about it, I guess just bad drivers really get to me haha. Seeing an accident on the road is something that makes me so sad. I always pray for our safety and for others on the road.

What do you love most about being on the road?
I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. When I was in Nashville one time I met the most interesting man and he told me stories of how he grew up and how he raised his children- I get so inspired to song write when I hear people’s stories.

What has been your biggest struggle so far?
My biggest struggle has to be the fact I don’t obtain all the funds to record a full-length album, yet. I believe everything will happen at the right time and I have complete faith that my time is just around the corner.

What has been your biggest success?
I would consider my biggest success as all my “little wins”. Every step I take in my career is just as important as the end results.

What’s your favorite venue and why?
I love most of the venues I play at, but if it’s a small honkytonk, that always wins my heart. I really enjoyed playing at Dale Watson’s old bar, The Big T Roadhouse. I am so glad I was able to play their before they closed it down. It was mainly the crowd that made it so special to me- most of them knew all my songs!

What’s your dream venue and why?
My dream venue is going to be whatever venue I sell out my first show at.

Who would you love to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with Chris Stapleton, Cody Jinks, and Adele.

Which song of yours gets the best crowd response?
"He Only Loves me on the Dance Floor" is definitely a crowd-pleaser. I’m starting to see more and more people mouth the words when we play it, which is definitely an amazing feeling.

What song are you tired of playing and why?
I never get tired of playing a song! I seriously don’t, haha.

Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative?
I believe over-indulgence in anything is a bad thing, so drinking at a balanced rate to calm the nerves isn’t so bad.

Favorite (or first) concert you have ever attended?
This one is hard! I have to say seeing King George Strait for the first time has been my all-time favorite because he is one of my biggest inspirations.

Favorite thing to do on a day off?
Going fishing on South Padre Island, TX!

Do you have a favorite gift from a fan?
Yes, a young man drew my brother and I on the back of a paper plate while we were playing, and he gave it to us at the end of a show- it is awesome! That was so meaningful, and I have it displayed in my room.

Have you met any of your heroes? How did it go?
I actually have had the opportunity to share the stage with Charlie Daniels, and he is definitely one of my heroes. I was able to have a good conversation with him. We talked about how him and Freddy Fender, who was from my hometown San Benito TX, would hang out and play back in the day. It was all so surreal. Then when I talked with his band and they were all the sweetest guys ever- they were very complimentary and supportive.

Recent release you cannot stop listening to?
Tyler Childer’s new album White House Road. I am obsessed with it.

Song (of yours) you wish you would have released as a single and why?
It’s not that I wish I would have, it’s I wish I could already release my next singles. I have so much material that my true wish is to release my first album. It’s all in God’s timing though and it will happen soon.
 
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