MADELINE EDWARDS PUSHES FOR INCLUSIVITY IN "MAMA, DOLLY, JESUS" MUSIC VIDEO AND DEBUT ALBUM
MADELINE EDWARDS: "I WANT THIS VIDEO TO SHOCK PEOPLE AND SHOW PEOPLE 'COUNTRY MUSIC ALSO LOOKS LIKE THIS.'"
Many Nashville newcomers fly under the radar when they arrive in town. Madeline Edwards marched into the limelight with a mission to drive inclusivity and reshape country music.
The genre learned her name during the 2021 Country Music Association Awards when she sang "Love My Hair" alongside Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer. The performance highlighted Black beauty and forecasted Edwards' bright future as a country trailblazer.
On the heels of inking a record deal with Warner Music Nashville and touring with Chris Stapleton, the progressive artist released (Nov. 4) her debut full-length album "Crashlanded." The 12-song collection not only embodies Edwards' growth as a vocalist and her genre-transcending sound but also captures her primary purpose as an artist.
"It pushes inclusivity. That's my whole brand in a nutshell," Edwards told CMT. "It's going to be a theme. Not only with every song on this album but with visuals and videos. I want it to reflect what my life looks like. I have a lot of different people in my life that look different than me and believe different things than me."
CMT's Next Women of Country member and Equal Play award recipient gives a glimpse of what she would like the landscape to resemble in her music video "Mama, Dolly, Jesus." Edwards co-wrote the high-energy track alongside some of Music Row's most esteemed songsmiths – Jessie Jo Dillon, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz.
"I picked people that sonically and lyrically would fit best for this project. Many of them were like, 'Hey, I see what you're doing, and I'm on board with it. I really love your sound and message,'" recalled the fast-rising star. "I told them my experience from being a woman in the industry, black woman, and Christian woman."
She continued to reflect on the songwriting process and mentioned that unexpected criticism from the Christian community sparked the inspiration for "Mama, Dolly, Jesus." Upon the release of her gospel EP, naysayers commented on the not-so-provocative cover art. The questionable comments and concerns left the songstress bursting with rage and creativity.
"I was fuming, and my husband had a great point. He said, 'anyone that feels like they need to go online and bring people down with words, usually are at home not very happy with themselves – they don't love themselves,'" said Edwards. "I wanted that to be the theme in the song. I'm confident in who I am, but I want you [the fans] also to learn how to love yourself."
In true singer-songwriter fashion, they took Edwards' eye-opening story and transformed it into an empowering anthem that touches upon the opinions that matter the most – her mother's, Dolly Parton, and the man upstairs. While the razor-sharp lyrics are uplifting, they intertwined a snarky twist that nonchalantly acknowledges Edwards' skeptics.
The vocalist turned to video director Quinton Cook to bring the vibrant narrative to life. She expressed that her goal was to match the high-energy melody and represent unity.
"He brought the vision to life in a way I never even expected. I am so grateful for him. This whole video is a party, and I feel like people are going to want to be transported into the music video when they watch it, or they are going to walk away from it and feel really confident about themselves," she declared. "It evokes a call to action for the listener. I love that the video pairs so well with the song. Not only does it match the song's energy, but it brings even more in a crazy way."
The state-of-the-art clip captures Edwards and a group of friends from different backgrounds embracing their individuality, rejoicing under one roof, and letting go of unnecessary negativity. Between the choreographed routine and the Dolly Parton drag queen cultivating a safe space, viewers are destined to be infused with a new profound confidence.
"I want this video to shock people and show people' Country music also looks like this,'" stressed Edwards. "There's a lot of different types of people, and it just shows us accepting each other in love. I feel like the country music space needs more of that. I hope it inspires people to be themselves when they hear this song, and the video drills into that message even more. It's fun, unique, and a breath of fresh air."
Her open-minded perspective and introspective storytelling are placed on full display throughout "Crashlanded." While carefully cultivating the collection, Edwards said she was very "intentional" with each song placement to bring fans on a well-rounded journey.
"The first half of the record basically slaps you in the face and leans very rock. It will get you out of your seat and dancing, or maybe head-banging," she said. "Then you will see this really slow transition, where you have these really beautiful and emotional songs that are so positive."
After honing in on her artistry and finding herself throughout the years, she believes "Crashlanded" represents who she is at her very core.
"I'm here. I've arrived. I know exactly who I want to be. I've put in the hard work. I've been to therapy, and I've got my family and friends around me to support me during this time," she expressed. "I'm stepping out, and this is what I'm here to do, and I'm here to conquer the world."
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CMT.com