I recently sat down with the Los Angeles Metal band MADISON ViOLETT for an interview. The band consists of Madison Melocoton-vocalist and rhythm guitar, Cooper Fink-lead guitarist and back up vocals, Raph Vazquez-bassist, and Israel Hernandez-drummer. I have had the opportunity to see them live a few times and I was completely blown away from the first show. If you’re a fan of that early 2000 ‘s music, MADiSON ViOLETT will be right up your alley. Here’s our interview.
How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard your music before?
I want to evoke nostalgia and familiarity while also making people think, ‘ooh, this is unique and something that grabs my attention.’ It’s hard to categorize my music with traditional labels, but I describe it as a mix of 2000s post-hardcore and modern alt-metal and metalcore, with big, belty powerhouse vocals. My vocal style blends Hayley Williams and Amy Lee, probably the two most important vocalists to me as a musician.
What are some of your musical influences, and how do they shape your style?
As mentioned before, I love 2000s post-hardcore, including bands like The Used, BMTH, Underoath, and Sleeping With Sirens (I actually had the incredible opportunity to work with the singer, Kellin Quinn, on our song Bleed For Me!) Same with 2000s nu-metal like Deftones, Linkin Park, and especially Evanescence. Amy Lee is one of the core artists who shaped me vocally and musically. As a little girl, it was awesome to see a woman as a pioneer in the metal genre, especially given its intimidating male dominance and social pressure. That representation alone was crucial to my journey as a musician.
Some modern artists who inspire me, production-wise and genre-wise, are Dayseeker, Thornhill, Architects, Loathe, and Spiritbox (same reasoning as Evanescence; Courtney La Plante is an absolute badass!) I loved their collab on Evanescence’s Sanctuary tour and their song with Poppy.
I think it’s so cool when artists stay true to their originality while pulling sonic inspiration from their favorite artists, which is what I strive to do.
Are there any non-musical inspirations (such as art, books, or experiences) that influence your music?
I’m a huge nerd, so of course I love fantastical media- whether it be medieval fantasy, cyberpunk, sci-fi, etc. I try to bring those vibes into my lyricism and visuals, most notably in my recent single Nowhere To Run, where I shot a really cool 3D, cyber-looking set, and in my Restless Mind reel, where I got to live out my dark fantasy dreams in a forest. Lyrically, I’m poetic and visually evocative, and I often incorporate fantasy imagery into my songs. I want people to feel immersed in a different world as they explore my media.
I hope to eventually direct/produce a full music video in a dark fantasy setting with nerdy costumes, visuals, and all that. Badass women with swords are quite literally the coolest thing.
Are there any artists or bands you’d love to collaborate with in the future?
As already mentioned, either Spiritbox or Evanescence would be a dream to collaborate with. Two powerhouse, unapologetic women who rock the stage without shame and genre constraints. Two women who are living reminders to me to keep going with my dream because they’re evidence that it’s possible 🙂
If you could perform on any major festival stage, which one would it be?
This is difficult for me because, of course, my roots are in Warped Tour-era bands, but I consider myself modern alt-metal and would probably fit best at either Aftershock Sacramento or Sick New World. All three would be an absolute dream to perform at and I hope they’re in my future!
MADISON ViOLETT links
Written and Photos by Denise Johnson
https://denise-johnson.kavyar.site
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