Haven Madison is certainly one to watch as she gets ready for the release of her five-track studio EP, “Turn Off All The Lights,” which is set to drop worldwide tomorrow!
Haven just released two tracks off her EP, her debut single “Sky Up” and “Monster.” Her new music follows on the heels of her successful run as a Top 8 finalist on ABC’s “American Idol” where she performed her own originals like the wistful “Fifteen” and heartfelt “Still Need You” that she wrote about her brother’s fight against depression and suicide. Her viral duet performance of “Still Need You” with Perry catapulted Haven into the spotlight, garnering the admiration of millions of viewers and fans.
The “American Idol” Season 21 finalist has received praise from judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and guest judge Ed Sheeran. Katy Perry even hailed her as “the next big pop star.”
Check out our interview with Haven:
What inspired you to start singing and writing your own songs?
Haven: I like to joke that I came out of the womb singing. I grew up living on a tour bus, traveling across America, and I think I’ve been writing songs since I could pick up a pen. The songs became something more, when I got to Middle School and started making more emotional and personal music.
What drives your songwriting?
I think the more I work and the older I get, it becomes more of a craft and has more strategy to it, but I always draw concepts and emotional targets from my personal life experiences. Recently I’ve been loving creating a character or version of myself that I step into, which helps me create music that conceptual isn’t a personal experience, but one I want to write on.
Are there any artists that you look up to?
Haven: I draw inspiration from so many, recently It’s been a lot of Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lizzo.
Your debut single, “Sky Up,” is now available. I absolutely love the song and both music videos. It’s such a powerful song. I had chills. What is this song about?
Haven: Thank you so much! The song was about me feeling like the weight of my world was crushing someone I loved, and the fear that if they left, my world would crumble. It’s an unconditional, irrevocable, and guilty love song.
The animated music video is adorable and sad and I loved that too. What inspired the animated video?
Haven: The Co-writer and producer of the song happened to edit a piece of the song to the ‘Lost and Found’ short film, and it wrecked us. I knew that it had to be shown to the world, so my label got in contact with the creators all the way in Australia. It was just the perfect depiction of the song, so we were determined to make it happen.
You also just released your music video for “Monster” last week. This song is very different from “Sky Up,” so, how would you describe your sound?
Haven: Hahaha yes they’re very different tracks. I think a lot of artists get hung up on needing all of their songs to have a thread tying it all together, and I decided early on that my thread would be humanity. Writing songs about real emotions, experiences, and just being honest through and through is what my brand is. I think it’s hard-hitting pop, with a very unique twist.
And “Sky Up” and “Monster” are two of the five-tracks on your studio EP titled, “Turn off all the Lights,” that drops worldwide on April 26. How excited are you for the release?
Haven: I am so PUMPED! The process of writing, debating, deciding, recording, filming, and promoting for a project is long and difficult. So I’m so excited after almost a year of work, that the world can get their hands on this EP.
How are you celebrating the release?
Haven: Honestly I just want to get my friends, family, and partners together and just turn it on and laugh, dance, and cry together.
What can you tell us about the other tracks on the EP?
Haven: There is such an amazing balance of pain and punch in this EP. Two of the songs will make you hype, dancing, and feeling empowered, two will make you cry, think, and contemplate, and one is super light-hearted, sarcastic, and fun!
Switching gears to your time on American Idol, seeing as you are a talented singer/songwriter, why did you audition for the show?
Haven: I actually got scouted by a casting producer, and truthfully I did it fully expecting to get cut on each round I went to. I’m so grateful I did it, and so blessed that they not only promoted me as a singer, but as a writer, artist, and person that I genuinely am.
As an artist, how does it feel to have some of the greats like the American Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan along with guest judge Ed Sheeran praise your work?
Haven: Honestly it still doesn’t feel real, especially singing my original with Katy Perry. I respect all of the judges and mentors as people in the industry, but also role models in general. I would love to one day be at the same place at the same time down the road and reconnect after my growth as an artist since they saw the beginning.
What was it like singing a duet with Katy Perry, especially with her dubbing you “the next big pop star”?
Haven: It was so surreal and so moving. The way our songs came together and made just a vulnerable, beautiful, and IMPERATIVE story for the viewers, was so inspiring. To sit next to an icon just in jeans and a shirt and let the music speak for itself was chilling. She is a strong woman, who I can only hope to be like.
Can we look forward to some more collaborations like this in the future?
Haven: I am a firm believer in collaboration over competition, so I’m excited and ready for any opportunities that may arise. One of my inspirations is Noah Kahan, and his ability to reinvent his own album just by collaboration.
As your career is just taking off, what goals have you set for yourself?
Haven: I have a pretty hefty bucket list, but some of my goals are a world tour, a number one song, and a Grammy, but at the end of the day if I make music that makes people feel something, that is enough for me.
Now that your EP is dropping, what’s next for you?
Haven: I’ve been writing for quite some time now and am stepping into the planning of the next project, which I can’t say too much about, but I am so excited. Hopefully a tour in the fall and continuing to expand my catalog of songs.
Is there anything else you’d like to add about your music?
Haven: I think we covered most of it, but thank you so much for this opportunity and thank you for watching and listening to my work! The best way people can support is by following my socials @havenmadisonsings and being an active consumer of my work that they love 🙂
To follow Haven and her music: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube.
