Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Kisera Perry
Mads Deaver is a singer/songwriter that is sure to be on your radar soon if she isn’t already. With a growing fanbase and fun pop-rock sound, Deaver is an artist to watch. Nyota talked to her about creating a Christmas song and working on her EP.
You have been performing since you were 10. What initially got you interested in performing and creating music?
I’ve always loved music. When I was little, I used to love to drive in the car because it meant that we could listen to music loudly. My favorites were compilation CDs because they had all the popular songs and I could sing every song. When I was finally old enough, I took voice lessons at a local music school and a group of us performed at local charity and community events. About that same time Youtube was getting popular, and I started making videos singing covers. Honestly, I can’t think of anything specific that got me interested in performing. I can’t remember a time when music wasn’t super important to me.
Who are some artists that inspire you?
There are so many artists that have inspired me for different reasons, but I have always been really drawn to powerful women with strong messages. I’ve loved Demi Lovato since the Camp Rock days, and have loved growing with her as a fan through so many different stages of her career. I also admire Gwen Stefani. Her concert was my first one. I knew every single song from the album and sang at the top of my lungs the whole show. I was exhausted afterwards. LOL. P!nk and Hayley Williams are also artists that really inspire me.
What is your songwriting process?
I wish I had a more organized writing process, but it’s pretty spontaneous. Some songs take a few hours or a day to write and some I’ve been working on for months. I do a lot of my best thinking while I’m driving or late at night. Sometimes I think of a line or a hook and I put it in my notes. Other times I just have a wave of inspiration and I run to my keyboard to pound out a melody and record it in voice recordings. I guess my iPhone plays a big part in my process.
Tell us about your song “GR*NCH.” What made you want to put out a holiday song?
I wanted to put out a holiday song as a bit of a fun change. We’d been stuck at home and it just seemed like a good time to put out an upbeat song to lift spirits. It also helped put me in more of a positive mood. It was a fun song to write.
“GR*NCH” is not your typical Christmas song, which makes it fun. Were you hoping to release something that was atypical?
Thank you for saying that. I love the way that the song came out. I’ve been playing with my sound lately and “GR*NCH” has a kind of a guitar-led Pop Rock vibe which is what I am really loving right now. I didn’t set out to make something atypical, I just wanted something that sounded like me.
Has the pandemic given you more time to work on new music?
Definitely. Don’t get me wrong, I wish the world was in a healthier place, but I’ve been able to use this extra time to concentrate on music since a lot of my usual tasks aren’t happening right now. I’ve released three songs during the pandemic: “When You’re Drunk”, “I Forgive You”, and now “GR*NCH”. I also created and edited the videos for “When You’re Drunk” and “I Forgive You” myself at home, so it is definitely forcing me to be more creative and self-sufficient production-wise.
Should fans expect an EP from you in the near future?
Yes! I am really excited about it. I am working on my EP now. I’m working with producers from both the US and the UK, and I feel really lucky to be able to have such amazing people on the EP. I hope to have it out early 2021.
What advice do you have for aspiring singers?
Keep practicing and sing every day.
You can also read this interview in our music issue here.