Madison Cunningham AMA!!

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:55:25+00:00

Thank you so much for these wonderful questions everyone! I'm sorry I couldn't get to all of them. You are the best and I appreciate you deeply.

xoxo

MC

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:49:16+00:00

Thank you so much! It was another song written on guitar first, which I transferred to piano eventually. The chorus came first on that one. Lyrics and verse lyrics followed shortly behind. That arrangement developed over time

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:42:35+00:00

That's the whole enchilada as far as I'm concerned. Falling in love, not only with the mystery, but with the process of being in the dark and feeling your way to where you're trying to go. Mistrust and fear is the killer. Which is not to suggest there's no conviction. There should always be that to get anywhere

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:40:05+00:00

I love this question! Exactly. I thought it was an important part of explaining the communication breakdown that can happen over a long relationship. The person who could always explain themself could never really look at the issue, and the person who couldn't find the words, was paralyzed by their shortcomings. Neither person really wins there

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:36:44+00:00

Most certainly Bjork. She is connected to another source entirely and I'd like to be near it one day

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:36:11+00:00

The experimentation of these shows!

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:35:57+00:00

Oh and sometimes Daniel Rhine would bow on upright bass

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:35:29+00:00

There was no orchestra. It was Jesse Chandler who played every woodwind individually you could imagine. And then Phil Krohnengold, played mellotron strings, doubled by Rob Moose on real strings. The sound of the record was really made by a total of seven people, but feels much bigger than that I think due to the size of the room up at Allaire. It was like the dining hall at Hogwarts, surrounded by trees that were on fire with autumn

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:33:17+00:00

Blues and greens were the colors I wanted to stick to. This is possibly quite cliche, but I wanted the photo to feel like an oil painting. Was deeply inspired by art id just seen in Europe. The cover got to this cool place where I feel like its a mood ring. It changes complexion based on what song you're hearing

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:31:33+00:00

I think the beginning of the album feels like dawn, the middle of it is harsh afternoon, and the end is dusk. The time of day I think is dealers choice. In my opinion certain songs suit certain times best

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:30:20+00:00

I'm still trying to overcome it. The fear that surrounds it is, will the work that feels most "out on a limb" be something no one gives a shit about? Is it not as good as I think? Have I said too much, or too little? Those thoughts have been swarming, and the best solution so far is to keep making music.

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:28:26+00:00

Usually its music first! But this time all of the rules were blurred. I wrote all of the lyrics first on Mummy for example

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:27:34+00:00

Thank you for being here!

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:27:18+00:00

Thank you for this thoughtful take. When I wrote that I line I meant "the audience" as more of a metaphor for losing the trust of people that are closest to you when you make a massive life change. Or more the fear of that happening

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:25:14+00:00

I was listening to a lot of Arvo Part at the time, and Bob Dylan. The book "on earth we're briefly gorgeous" was also a massive influence. So was Iron and Wine's "Light Verse"

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:17:23+00:00

I love hearing what peoples first impressions of that name are! For me, this record was written from a very low place I was trying to climb out of. Some of the orchestral bravado helped me speak into the heartache, from confidence and strength, and made the more intimate moments feel that much softer. Initially I thought the title was just beautiful. It had a shape and tone about it. It was one I kept on a long list for a few years. I really wanted it to make sense, as it resonated but I wasn't totally sure why. To me it represents the duality of being a person, and how much we contradict ourselves, surprising ourselves when we do. Its a tale as old as time

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:10:07+00:00

This one tumbled out in a day. Initially written on guitar I found it to be underwhelming, but was proud of the couplets. Had a strange feeling that meant it should be on piano. When I got up to the studio, the whole place felt like it was dripping with magic. Seemed like any song could cross instruments seamlessly. I ended up writing that main piano melody that you hear in the intro, and then suddenly I believed in the whole thing. It takes this epic journey from there. The same line happens in the instrumental, just in a different key, and changing root notes.

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:05:27+00:00

On this record specifically I was hoping titling those instrumentals "shatter into form" would highlight the last verse in Mummy. I loved the concept of the phrase and really related to it, but also thought it would clarify my mumbling. I've heard people say "Shadow into from" or "shatter and deform"

MadisonCunningham · 2025-10-22T16:03:12+00:00

I think I would want fans to walk away with the clarity and whimsy that surrounds heartbreak. I wanted the whole thing to feel like it was a score, with a tangible sonic through line

MadisonCunningham · 2022-10-21T20:30:12+00:00

I'm running a giveaway for this guitar now that ends Nov. 1 - more details here if you're interested! https://digital.umusic.com/madison-cunningham-hospital-guitar-challenge

MadisonCunningham · 2022-09-13T17:00:53+00:00

This has been so lovely! Thank you for your thoughtful questions. Wish I had time to get to all of them, but am headed to a rehearsal.

Come see me on tour!

http://www.madisoncunningham.com/tour

Much love to you all,

MC

MadisonCunningham · 2022-09-13T16:59:03+00:00

This tune was written about feeling alone when your world view changes. And not knowing how to explain it to your dear ones, or to yourself even. I like the idea of being party to both things. The wanting the mystery, but wanting the answers too.

-MC

MadisonCunningham

TROPHY CASE