A Dirty Dozen with MADAME MAYHEM – January 2019

According to a recent press release: “MADAME MAYHEM released her new single “BROKEN”! The single was co-written with Keith Wallen of Breaking Benjamin and features Ray Luzier of Korn on drums, as well as Billy Sheehan of David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and others on bass. Those who yearn for the electric catharsis of loud guitars, driving rhythms, hypnotic hooks, and the strength of shared experience have a new muse in Madame Mayhem. The Manhattan born singer/songwriter and burgeoning rock icon-in-the-making has weaponized the darkness, turning it into a rallying cry for all who were ever cast aside. Songs like “Broken,” “War You Started,” and “So Wrong” are equal parts timeless sentiment, bareknuckle fury, and energized urgency. Madame Mayhem’s songs rival the best of Modern Rock, early ‘90s emotive-grunge, and nü-metal angst.” We get Madame herself to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I am very excited and proud of my new single “Broken.” “Broken” is a song about sensing a relationship is over and admitting the fact  that you both aren’t the same people you were before. It’s about that difficult moment right before the end of a relationship, that turmoil, internal struggle to break away, and not let that person you once loved take you down their destructive path no matter what, by standing up for yourself and not letting them break you. I wrote this song with Keith Wallen. Writing with Keith has been such a great experience and I can’t wait for everyone to hear everything we’ve created, starting with this song! It was also very special to me to have my mentor Billy Sheehan and Ray Luzier play on this track. They are both such great people and of course incredibly talented musicians. I think their talents contribute in the best way to the song.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I have wanted to be a singer, musician, performer my entire life, for as long as I can remember. This is what I have always wanted to do and have been working on my career ever since.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Though I do have a very eclectic taste in music, I have always gravitated towards Hard Rock. My mother played grunge music in the car when I was a child, when she got tired of the baby tapes, which sparked my interest in rock. My taste got heavier as I grew older starting with Nu Metal and then heavier and heavier.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Honestly, I try not to over think influences. I try to create music that makes me move, makes me feel something, and then people come up with what they think those musical influences are on their own.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

That’s a great and difficult question! There are so many people I would love to collaborate with, and I feel so grateful to have had the privilege to collaborate with so many talented people already in my career.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Hard hitting, high energy, with hard rock roots that include melodies and a variety in the vocal range. I try not to dwell on other people’s comparisons. I try not to be like anyone else, just be true to the music I want to make, and the artist I want to be. I don’t mind leaving it to the listener to draw their own comparisons however they need to in order make it relatable to them.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Being able to create, and express your feelings, frustrations, and passion through music.  Singing and performing live, are my true passions, and being able to share my music in a live setting with a crowd full of fellow music lovers is such an amazing feeling.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

It’s a group effort all around!

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I feel fortunate that I have so many people that I normally would be start struck by as friends and mentors. I feel grateful to be surrounded by such an amazing music family of living legends and extreme talents all the time!  But to answer your question, I was definitely giddy when I met Corey Taylor briefly when we were both performing on Shiprocked 2018. I think he’s super talented!

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

There is nothing else I have ever dreamed of doing. It’s always only been this. I actually started out in Musical Theatre (singing, dancing, acting) and Opera. I became a classically trained singer and went to the Frost School of Music for my Bachelors of Music degree at The University of Miami, but the entire time I was writing music and listening to rock and metal music. So when it cam time to pick a career, I wanted to perform in the genre I truly love and feel most connected with, ROCK!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I don’t know if I would want to do anything over. It’s definitely been a bumpy road and isn’t easy, but I think all of the hardships, missteps, and certain situations I have been through have helped make me stronger and has somehow gotten me to where I am today. I am sure I will continue to face missteps or difficult situations throughout my career, but getting through them and overcoming those things, are part of the life and career I have chosen.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Another great and difficult question! So many come to mind! But for the sake of answering the question, I always wanted to hear Chris Cornell live, and unfortunately, never had the chance to. So that being said, I would want to either be part of any Soundgarden record, OR Metallica’s …And Justice for All because it is one of my favorite records, and it would have been amazing to be part of it.

MADAME MAYHEM LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Category: Interviews