Even though it’s been one year since the release of Rett Madison‘s acclaimed album, ‘One For Jackie,’ her healing journey will never truly stop. Honoring Madison’s late mother, ‘One For Jackie’ bows down to the non-linear grief process layered over her captivating vocal performance and poignant lyrics.
Celebrating the record and what it stands for, Madison shares a deluxe edition, ‘One More For Jackie,’ with four additional tracks exploring further themes of climate anxiety and heartbreak. The Los Angeles singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist offers her listeners a cathartic experience.
Featured on ‘One More For Jackie,’ Rett Madison pays homage with a cover of her mother’s favorite Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Everywhere’ to celebrate their shared passion for music. Aligning beautifully with Madison’s marriage of folk, rock, Americana, and soul, ‘Everywhere’ builds on the sentimental backdrop and album’s messaging.
In our conversation, Rett Madison talks about music as her ultimate safe place, and she also opens up about the writing process of ‘One For Jackie,’ the deluxe edition, and dissects the feelings of guilt and shame.
Recently you supported The Crane Wives on their tour, how did you find it?
I’ve adored being on tour with The Crane Wives! They’ve been incredibly welcoming and kind towards me and their audience has been so present and energetic at these shows. It’s a joy to join The Crane Wives on the road and listen to their music every night.
You also joined the Fray on their recent North American tour. What were some of the highlights?
A highlight of that tour was our show in Denver! We played Mission Ballroom and it was the largest venue on tour. I’ve only performed to audiences of 3,000 or more people a few times so it’s still an exhilarating, new experience to feel that much energy from a crowd. I also had my favorite dinner of that entire tour at an Italian restaurant in Denver called Tavernetta. Aside from playing the concerts, trying new restaurants is usually my main highlight of touring.
To celebrate the one year anniversary since the release of your acclaimed 2023 album ‘One For Jackie,’ you shared a deluxe version ‘One More For Jackie’ featuring four additional tracks. What are these new songs adding into the original tracklist?
The four additional tracks include “Apocalyptic Folk Song,” “Kiki (Rett’s Take),” “Everywhere,” and “Head On.” The songs “Head On” and “Apocalyptic Folk Song” add more of a 60s and 70s inspired rock and country sound to the record as well as a chance for me to explore other themes like climate anxiety and heartbreak. A lot of the songs that originally made the cut of “One For Jackie” were more specifically about the grief I felt mourning my mother. It was also fun to add a cover of one of my and my mom’s favorite songs, “Everywhere,” in celebration of the music my mom loved.
One year later, what does ‘One For Jackie’ mean to you?
Making “One for Jackie” was incredibly cathartic and healing for me on my own journey with grief. This album continues to teach me that speaking my truth is the most effective way to eradicate the shame surrounding my most painful experiences.
You covered one of the most iconic Fleetwood Mac’s songs ‘Everywhere.’ Why did you decide to do your own version? Do you have a personal connection to it?
“Everywhere” was one of my and my mom’s favorite songs. My mom introduced me to the music that I’m inspired by today so I decided to celebrate that part of our relationship by covering one of our most beloved songs.
‘One For Jackie’ is a brutally honest record talking about grief and healing. Did you feel comfortable uncovering these emotions in this way?
Songwriting has been a therapeutic tool for me ever since I was kid so it felt natural for me to process my grief through music. I feel very lucky that I have music to help me heal through the most painful experiences in my life.
Would you say music become your safe space?
Absolutely! Music is one of the few spaces I’ve always felt completely uninhibited to be honest and face my feelings.
What were some realisations you came to during the album’s writing process?
Throughout the writing of this album, my feelings of guilt and shame surrounding the circumstances of my mother’s passing became so much lighter. Facing the grief head on in these songs really helped lift a weight off my shoulders and I realized over time that my mom’s pain and addiction wasn’t my fault.
How did you first get into singing and songwriting?
I began writing songs as a tween. Some kids write in a diary and instead my diary was writing songs.
When starting out, did you have any idea what sort of an artist you wanted to be? Do you think you fulfilled your vision?
When I first began performing my songs, I knew I wanted to prioritize authenticity. I think by revealing parts of myself in my songs that I previously felt ashamed of has helped me build a fulfilling career where I don’t feel that I’ve had to comprise my values or hide my true self.
What artists inspired you the most to become a musician?
Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton, Prince, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Jeff Buckley and many more.
What do you want your listeners to take away from your music?
I hope that listeners will feel less alone after hearing my songs and that they’ll find strength in vulnerability.
What are some other projects you would like to spend time on outside of the music world?
Answer: This is music-adjacent, but I enjoy teaching songwriting and voice lessons so maybe I’ll make more time for that! I also have a newfound joy in cooking and want to learn more recipes while I’m home from touring.
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Words: Karolina Kramplova