When you listen to Madison Watkins’s music, you can hear her heart and soul. The pop singer and songwriter is known for her high-energy sound, her charming personality, and her ability to weave personal revelations and tender moments of self-discovery into her music. In doing so, she has amassed over 1.5B plays on TikTok with viral hits like “Curls” and has racked up over 1M followers across Instagram and TikTok. Her fans are simply drawn to her style, which also incorporates elements of R&B and classical soul—genres that Madison has grown up listening to. Whether fans recognize her from social media, opening for Elle King and Gwen Stefani, or competing on American Idol and America’s Got Talent, they are here to support her journey—and this journey has been a wild one. On her latest EP Letting Go, Madison recounts what it was like to come out of a negative situation and start a better chapter in her life. We recently caught up with Madison to learn more about the EP and the overall impact she hopes it will make with fans and listeners.
Hi, Madison. Thank you for taking the time to chat. You released your Letting Go EP back in May. How has the reception been so far?
I am so happy you had me today! The reception from the EP has been amazing! This is my first faith-based project, and it has been amazing to see the response to these songs. I feel like the biggest takeaway has been people saying that it gave them “hope,” which is always the goal for my music!
I read that Letting Go was recorded in Stockholm and London. Had you been to either of those places before? What was the recording process like overall?
It was recorded all over the world! L.A., Nashville, London, Sweden… I have been everywhere but Sweden. It was so amazing to explore and see everything that it had to offer! The food was incredible, and the people are the sweetest people ever!
I also read that the EP is kind of about letting go of your past and embracing a brighter chapter of your life. I can hear this in each track, but is there one track out of the five that resonates most with you and captures this theme?
I think “Letting Go” is the most impactful because I left a life in LA and “let go” of everything I knew to move to Nashville and start a completely new journey! That song hits home for me.
For the “Spin” music video, fans see you sailing the ocean on a boat, and looking fierce in the process! Was it a tricky video to shoot, or was it a fairly smooth process?
It was one of the hardest music videos to shoot because everyone was so seasick! It was hilarious to shoot and then see people leaning over the edge of the boat. It was all worth it though!
If there’s anything you want listeners to take from the EP, what would it be?
I want people to know that they are not alone. It is so easy to think we are the only ones going through something until someone tells us they understand. I want people to feel less lonely in whatever they are going through!
You recently released the piano and instrumental versions of “You Won’t.” Are you planning on releasing different versions of the other tracks as well?
This one is a “you have to wait and see!” (wink wink)
Is an upcoming album in the works perhaps? If so, what could you tell us about that?
I have the absolute best songwriters and producers I am collaborating with. I am so excited to see how all of the songs I am making turn into a project! I have made so many songs, it is going to be hard to choose my favorites.
Fans probably know you from your America’s Got Talent and American Idol days. How did those experiences compare to each other?
They both were incredible experiences, as I was figuring out who I was as an artist. I was 21 during AGT, and 25 during American Idol. I think they were so different because with AGT, I was so new to the industry, but with American Idol, I knew who I was as an artist.
Is there any advice or lessons that you gained from those experiences that you incorporate into the way you create and perform today?
I learned that if I am not completely authentically myself, the audience isn’t going to connect to the songs and I will not be able to have a lasting impact.
What else do you have going on for the rest of the year?
The rest of this year is about finishing my album and doing some shows to end out the year! The thing outside of music I am most excited for is my boyfriend coming home from a nine-month deployment in the army. I haven’t seen him in so long, and I can’t wait to see him again!!
Thank you so much, Madison. Do you have any final thoughts or comments?
Thank you guys for having me today! As always, I am so grateful to be here. If you are reading this, LET’S BE FRIENDS! Message me on Instagram and we will connect!
You can listen to Letting Go here.
Keep up with Madison Watkins: Instagram // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube
