CANADIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER MADDISUN’S NEW ALBUM, THE PAGES, IS AN AMBITIOUS PERSONAL CHRONICLE OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND UNCOVERING RAW BEAUTY
Hailing from Cranbrook, BC, singer/songwriter Maddisun has unveiled her album, The Pages.
This new collection of 12 tracks is a beautifully ambitious project—a musical journal that draws on vintage Folk, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Southern Rock, and Americana, blending the spirit of influences like Sheryl Crow and Tom Petty. Maddisun herself describes it as being about “turning our hardest moments into beauty.”
Given her extensive touring—from Canada to Ireland and Los Angeles—and her reputation for raw, resilient storytelling, there’s a lot to dive into. We’re here to talk about the journey that inspired this deeply intimate album, the unique release strategy, and what it felt like to pour her story onto “The Pages.”
First off, what have you been up to since we last spoke?
Wow – so much! Mostly playing shows and touring – literally hundreds of shows since we last spoke! I put out a few singles that I recorded in Toronto with Ian Docherty (JulyTalk, Dwanye Gretzky) and then got to work on my new album, “The Pages”! Also, in that time I went to Nashville and Los Angeles again! Now the album is out!
“The Pages” is described as a “deeply personal musical journal.” Was the concept of structuring the album like a journal something you decided on early in the writing process, or did that structure emerge organically as the songs came together?
Great question – thank you! It really emerged as the songs and vision for the album came together. I was low-key freaking out while we were recording because I still didn’t have a name or a huge concept, but then once I showed my producer Julian (Bonecrusher Collective) the song “The Pages”, he was like, “Damn, this is the one.”
So, then I sort of built the world around that song. Everything became very storybook/journal-esque. It also makes so much sense for me, because I do write songs like they’re my journal, leaving out no details.
You mentioned the album is about “turning our hardest moments into beauty.” Can you share a specific song or “page” that represents a difficult personal moment you successfully transformed through music?
It would definitely be “Amber”. In writing and recording it – especially when I’m belting out “Only in your dreams” in the chorus – I realized just how much of myself was in it. It’s a song that really leans into my own “serial optimism”, as I like to call it. I refuse to dwell in negativity, so it really captures that side of me.
Your sound on this album is an eclectic blend of vintage folk, rock ‘n’ roll, Southern Rock, and Americana, with influences ranging from Sheryl Crow to Tom Petty. What specific sound or musical element did you feel was essential to capturing the “old soul vibe” of this record?
Honestly, it came down to lots of great guitar work (huge thanks to Harry Bartlett) and layering different elements in a really natural way. We recorded in a studio that literally felt like home – Julian’s living room – so the whole process had this warm, relaxed energy. The result is music that feels lived in, like old blue jeans or a pair of cowboy boots. Nothing about it feels manufactured or contrived – it’s all different, organic, and very real.
The Pages was produced by three different people: Julian Bueckert, Ian Docherty, and Jim Bryson. How did working with multiple producers on such a personal project impact the sound of the record, and what unique perspective did each one bring?
I feel really lucky to collaborate with a few different producers on this record, because each one brought their own touch to the songs.
Early on, I worked with Ian – we made three tracks together that I originally thought would belong to a different project, but the last one we did, “To Heal” felt so special that I knew it needed its own home on this album.
Later, I connected with Jim and shared some ideas I was working on, we ended up producing a Christmas track, “Evergreen” for that season, and then “Big Star”, which was the song that really resonated with him.
At that point, I had this big collection of songs and was trying to figure out how to shape them into an album. That’s when Julian said, ‘Why don’t I produce the whole record?’ and everything clicked into place.
Even though I worked with different people, the album still feels cohesive because my songwriting ties it all together.
What’s up next for you?
Hopefully some rest in November! I’ve played over 60 shows since June. Sometimes 5+ shows a week, and then teaching students and doing fan work/Patreon/social media in between, I am certainly exhausted, but this life is everything I’ve ever dreamed of, and so I am very, very lucky to get to be here.
Before I get some rest though, I have two of the most important shows! October 17th, I am opening for iconic artist PEARL in Vancouver at St James Hall, and then a week later I am playing my hometown album release show at Key City Theatre, where I’m going to leave my entire heart and soul on the stage.