By Dylana Milobar

Madison Olds’ latest release taking off with flying colours

Mar 2, 2019 | 11:25 AM

KAMLOOPS — Between the release of her new album, and becoming a finalist in the CBC Searchlight competition, Kamloops’ own, Madison Olds has been making a name for herself on the national music scene.

Thursday, (Feb. 28), Olds was named one of the top 10 finalists in the 2019 CBC Searchlight (a Canada-wide music competition) with her single, Thank You.

Now that voting for contestants has wrapped up, Olds say it’s a bit of a waiting game for the judging panel to select the winner.

“It’s an opportunity to be a part of the Juno’s masterclass, an opportunity to play at Juno’s fest, CBC fest, and 5 days at the Telus recording studio in Calgary,” Olds says, “Its this amazing package that will take an emerging artist, and completely emerge them. (It will) give them this foot up in the industry, so I’m praying I get this.”

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: North Shore BIA working hard to develop a 'happening place'

4h ago

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

The winner will be announced on March 7th, but regardless of winning or not, Olds will not be slowing down any time soon.

Most recently, the 21-year-old singer-songwriter is riding off the successful Feb. 22 release of her latest album, Blue. 

“Everyone has been so supportive of it,” She explains, “It’s been placed on a couple Spotify playlists and it’s been getting really good streams.”

No stranger to producing original content, Olds already has another album written, and says recording it will be the next step.

“I guess I’m in this constant loop now of creating music and putting it out there,” She explains, “We’ve talked about maybe keeping the colour theme going on. Maybe the next album will be ‘Red’. We’re not too sure yet, but that would be kind of a cool theme to continue on.”

Olds’ career started gaining serious traction a few years ago as a member of the group, the Bees and the Bare Bones, who won the national 2016 Chevy Tailgate Find the Next Local Legend competition and went to Nashville to record. 

The trio has since parted ways to pursue other opportunities, and now her father, David, has stepped in to fill the role.

That presence has now become a common sight on the Kamloops music scene, with most of Olds’ shows featuring herself and her father.

“My dad originally picked up the cajón in a moment of panic when everyone was like ‘We want the Bees, we want this bigger, fuller sound’,” She laughs, “I joke about it being Madison Olds and the even older.”

Most recently, the Kamloops native has also joined forces with singer-songwriter, Brooke Azzopardi to form the duo, 2SHÉ (pronounced, touché).

The duo spent some time together in Nashville recently- writing songs, and finding their sound.

“We’ve kind of taken a pop-funk, with a sprinkle of disco sort of sound,” Olds explains, “I think I’m at the point now where because I write across all genres, I’m developing all these groups and personas I can perform across.”

Olds says they have plans to release music together when they find the right mix, and can coordinate schedules, with Azzopardi currently living in Toronto.

“It’s almost like we’re in a long distance relationship,” She jokes, “So hopefully you guys can expect some stuff out of us too.”

While she often hits the road for performances and gaining writing experience, Olds says she definitely does not take the support she is given from Kamloops for granted.

In particular, she describes seeing online comments to articles written about her as ‘heartwarming’. 

“It’s a feeling that I wish everybody could experience. I’m very, very honoured that Kamloops is my home right now.”

Among her list of upcoming performances, Olds’ next show in Kamloops will be March 7th at the Blue Grotto with Scott Helman. (Full list of shows can be accessed here)

Always working hard to keep up with the success her music has earned, Olds won’t be taking her eyes off the prize anytime soon.

“The goal is ‘Madison at Madison Square Gardens’. And the goal will probably always be that, so I’m just going to keep chipping away at this huge stone and hope that’s where I end up one day.”