Musician Rett Madison, Robert C. Byrd Alumna, Hits it Big with Rolling Stone and Billboard Features
By Trina Runner on July 27, 2020
There are those who sing in the shower, those who belt out tunes while driving, and those who sing into their hairbrush in front of their mirror.
Then, there’s Rett Madison-level singing, raw and soulful, strong and inspiring, songs that leave you craving the message behind the music. Born Madison Douglas of Harrison County, she changed her name to Rett Madison two years ago to separate how she was perceived musically from her own personal energy. It’s a good fit, one that harnesses her feminine and masculine sides and allows her to continue to grow as a musician and song writer.
Many locals can remember being awed by Madison’s voice as she performed at fairs and festivals and music venues in our area. She started at a young age and, at sixteen years old, transferred from Robert C. Byrd High School to Interlochen Arts Academy to focus on songwriting. The school gave her a good foundation on which to build, but it wasn’t until she arrived in Los Angeles two years later that she truly immersed herself in live performances.
When she was only 12, she wrote her first song, finding that the writing was therapeutic, sort of like an extension of a diary entry. At 23, she still sees songwriting as a salve to her mental health, often creating lyrics that mirror her own struggles. She uses narratives from her own life and from loved ones to inspire her music, which has served her well as she continues to make a splash in the industry.
Madison was touring when the pandemic struck, canceling her remaining performances for the year, but also allowing additional time in the studio. She released her first three singles of her album this week and, after beginning her debut album three years ago, she will release it this fall.
She has opened for and performed with acclaimed musicians such as Vulsteck 's Theo Katzman, Shawn Colvin, and Lauren Ruth Ward, as well as solo performances both locally and nationally.
When it comes to working as a musician, few accolades compare to being featured in Rolling Stone Magazine and Billboard Music Charts. Madison has been showcased in each of these, giving her a platform for both her music and her message.
The Rolling Stone Magazine article, which appeared online in May, compares her music to that of the legendary Joni Mitchell. Likening the introduction to her song, “Shame is a River,” to a lullaby, the article notes that after the introduction, it becomes a force to be reckoned with.
Madison uses the song to process the grief of her mother’s suicide and her final visit with her prior to her passing. The lyrics reflect her pain and intertwine her own mental health struggles with those of her mother, creating a look inside the impact of depression, shame, guilt and anxiety. The article can be found at https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/rett-madison-shame-is-a-river-1000653/
On Billboard.com, Madison is featured among several other new artists, doting on both her guitar skills and her resilience as she navigates her pain. The article can be found at https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9378445/new-music-big-freedia-alma-first-out
While gaining fans through her press and her social media pages, as well as her performances, Madison took the opportunity to raise awareness about mental health, using her talent to raise funds for Loveland Foundation, which provides therapy support for women of color. Her Instagram (@rettmadison) did a 15-episode series of conversations around grief and mental health. Her goal was to model vulnerability, relate with others experiencing struggles, destigmatize therapy, and raise awareness of resources for help.
Throughout her career, Madison has used her authenticity as a building block for her music, remaining honest and accessible to fans and utilizing platforms to empower other women, musicians, and causes she supports. 
Her next album, which she has begun working on recently will feature themes of grief, suicide, and depression that she has begun processing through therapy and through her lyrics. Both her current and future albums showcase her amazing talent as a musician, singer and writer and engage the listener with a wide range of emotions, celebrating the hometown favorite as she enters the big time. Rett Madison’s Spotify provides links to her music and more.
Leave a Comment
Log in or create an account to post a comment.