Maddie Southorn - The Pilgrim Soul

"A voice that could melt glass (Decode magazine) A songwriter of quality, the possessor of a fine voice and an excellent pianist. Venue Magazine Maddie Southern is a Bristol-based West Country bom singer, songwriter and pianist. Raised on an eclectic diet of music that ranged from traditional folk to heavy metal, taking in 1960s pop and Hollywood show tunes along the way Maddie emerged unscathed and with a deep love of melody and storytelling; something which she demonstrates to great effect on her first album for Fellside. Although a relative newcomer to the folk scene she has been playing and writing from a young age. Starting out in a rock band, with whom she gained not only valuable experience but also Radio 1 airplay, she quickly realised that her path lay as a solo performer. Her self-penned, self-produced and self-released debut album, the enigmatically titled Unlikely Prom Queen (""having quality stamped all over it"" Net Rhythms), saw her utilise the power and simplicity of voice and piano and establish herself as more than just one of the army of angry young female singer/songwnters with guitars. Drawing comparisons with Kate Bush and Suzanne Vega her mellow songs, telling stories and drawing on personal experience with the occasional dash of black humour, gained fans and airplay both here in the UK and in the USA. Her second release EP ""Hollow"", saw her returning to her roots as she included interpretations of traditional material alongside her own songs and was described as ""Proper grown up songs... if it fell on the right ears could find itself resting proudly on a million coffee tables worldwide"" (Decode Magazine). Her appearance with her musical partner, Janet Martin at the 2004 Trowbridge Festival was described as ""spellbinding"" and was instrumental in the highly respected agency, Emerging Music, wanting to add her to their books. This new album The Pilgrim Soul, completes this journey and showcases Maddie's ability not only to tell poignant and absorbing stories of her own, such as the mysterious tale of Roanoke and the haunting Misery Point, but also sensitive and contemporary interpretations of traditional material as in The Murder of Maria Marten or Andy Stewart's beautiful Valley of Strathmore. The sensitive arrangements, featuring the cello of long-time musical collaborator Janet Martin, the fiddle of Nancy Kerr, the accordion of Karen Tweed and the multi instrumental talents of Steve Lawrence (ex Iron Horse) enhance the songs and at times display an almost classical purity. Maddie has proved herself to be an assured and charismatic performer equally at home on the festival stages of Trowbridge and Priddy as in an intimate acoustic setting. With an album launch at Brampton Live this July and selected live dates throughout the coming year it appears Maddie is destined to make her mark. Tracks: + Roanoke + River + Nell's Garden + The Valley Of Strathmore + The Pilgrim Soul + On Cold Ground + When I Was On Horseback + Misery Point + The Murder Of Maria Marten + King Of Prussia + Who Is At My Window Weeping"