Hey there, Honey Bees; allow us to shine a light on a brand new popstar to add to the playlist! Haven Madison first made her mark on American Idol and is wowing us once again with the release of her debut EP Turn Off All The Lights. With breathtaking vocals, catchy melodies, and lyrics straight from the heart Turn Off All The Lights is absolute pop perfection!
Thank you for talking to us here at the Honey POP! For our readers, could you give us a quick introduction?
Hi Honey Pop!! I’m Haven, a pop singer-songwriter from Nashville & I’m so excited for you guys to hear my debut EP, Turn Off All The Lights, available now! I was on American Idol season 21, and I’m now an upcoming pop artist ready for you to hear all I’ve been working on.
Growing up, who were some of your favorite artists? How do you feel their music or their journey has influenced or inspired you?
I grew up heavily inspired by Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus! As I grew, more artists came into play, like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Conan Gray, etc. But from an early age, I was in love with genuine pop-star-pop.
You were a contestant on American Idol. What was that experience like? Are there any lessons that you learned on the show that you continue to carry with you as you navigate your career?
I honestly feel so blessed by the people who were on my season; everyone had such positive attitudes, and it quickly became a family. I even got to go back on set last week, and it was like I was a contestant yesterday; the culture of the show is encouragement and I love that. I learned a lot from it, honestly, it’s like a massive boot camp for the music industry, but the biggest thing I learned is that as an artist we basically run a massive ship with tons of members. It’s important to listen and soak up advice from everyone on your ship, but as the artist, the only appropriate role and place for me is behind the wheel. So I quickly got engaged with how I was styled, my makeup, my hair, my arrangements, and everything in between. To do that, I had to learn who I was and not be waivered by any comments or critiques, which is the biggest takeaway from my time on Idol.
You performed original music on the show, including some very vulnerable tracks. Was that nerve-racking for you to be open and vulnerable on such a large platform?
Oh my gosh, it was TERRIFYING. Singing my song “Still Need You” was especially scary because I didn’t open up to my peers in my hometown, so I knew if it aired, everyone would know my struggle that I tried to carry on my own.
‘Still Need You’
The reason I was brave enough to sing that song was because I knew someone out there needed to hear those words. I never thought I was going to go as far as I did on the show, so I took my chance to tell my truth and use my voice as soon as I could.
As a songwriter, how do you find the courage to share intimate pieces of yourself with your audience?
I think we’re all struggling and the beauty of music is it makes us feel so heard and seen, like we’re not alone. Amazingly it does that for the listeners AND the creators. When I get comments or messages or see videos of people saying my song related to them or helped them in some way, it makes me feel like I’m not alone in what I’m experiencing.
With all that you’ve accomplished so far, where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?
Well, I have a pretty hefty bucket list, but I just hope I continue to create art that invokes emotion, whether you dance or cry to my songs, I just want you to feel. In the next five years, I hope to hit the pop charts and I would love to perform in arenas, opening or headline, I just hope to feel the energy of Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Your new EP TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS is out now. What was the process like in creating this EP?
The process of this project was really unique, I was actually going to re-record my originals I performed on American Idol, but I realized while literally tracking the vocals, that I wasn’t doing the re-records but the art called for it. I was doing them because I felt like that’s what the Idol audience might want when I knew I had five other songs sitting in my files that needed to be heard. So I turned the whole project around in that moment and chased after the music that I created when there was no pressure. I didn’t have to look, write, or be a certain age or way. I spoke my authentic truth and I knew that’s what I wanted to come out of the gate with.
Is there a track from this upcoming project that stands out to you the most or is there a song you’re excited for your fans to hear?
I’m honestly so in love with all of the tracks; there’s not a skippable one; they’re all different emotions and vibes that take listeners on an amazing journey. I think I’m the most excited for the world to hear ‘Claw Marks.’
‘Claw Marks’
That song changed everything for me, and I think it’s so unique and beautifully heart-breaking.
If you could only use three words to describe this EP what would they be?
Empowering, authentic, invoking.
Now that the EP is released, what else can we (and our readers) expect from you this year?
Well I can’t spoil too much, but I was back in the studio writing the week after turning in my masters for this EP, so there is something very special coming. I believe I was born to do this and I think this year will be the year others will believe that as well.
You can click here to stream Haven Madison’s debut EP, Turn Off All The Lights, right now!
Are you as excited as we are to turn up Turn Off All The Lights by Haven Madison? Let us know in the comments, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @thehoneypop!
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