Press Kit
"World-class music." - The Winnipeg Free Press
Listen to Madeleine’s new album “Nerve” (out Aug 30 on Birthday Cake Records) produced by Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman, Bob Weir, Hiss Golden Messenger).
Bio
Madeleine Roger (she/her) is a singer-songwriter from Winnipeg, Canada. While skillfully accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, it is her artistry as a songwriter that can silence a room, uniting her lyrical prowess with a breathtaking voice that lingers long after the last note.
Her newest collection of songs is a deeply personal body of work examining every nook and cranny of love and loss. It is unflinchingly honest - Madeleine has poured over every word, and the mastery of her craft shows. Nerve, the album created in the process (out August 2024 on Birthday Cake Records) was produced by Josh Kaufman (Anaïs Mitchell, Bob Weir, Bonny Light Horseman) and recorded in four days in Kingston NY by engineer D. James Goodwin (The National, Fruit Bats, The Hold Steady). Nerve is an uplifting gut-punch; an uninhibited account of risk, longing, regret, grief, and love. It touches the exposed nerve left over from a breakup with a long-term lover and musical collaborator, the death of a soul-friend, the secret of an unrequited love, months of caring for a dying grandparent, and finding a curious peace in spite of it. Madeleine bravely exposes the delicate and private moments in life that are universal and sets them adrift on melodies and arrangements that make us feel like nothing is insurmountable.
She has toured extensively for over a decade across Canada, the US, Europe, and the UK performing live at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Shetland Island Folk Festival (UK), Vancouver Island Music Festival, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Wintergrass Festival (US), among many others. She is also a regular collaborator with JUNO award winning string quartet The Fretless, appearing with them in performances and on recordings as a vocalist and co-writer.
English Songwriter of the Year nominee (2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards)
Producer of the Year nominee (2019 Western Canadian Music Awards)
More about “Nerve”
Nerve, the second album by Canadian songwriter Madeleine Roger (out August 30 2024 on Winnipeg’s Birthday Cake Records) is a journey into the hidden depths of ourselves.
Written in the wee hours over several years, and recorded with producer Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman, Bob Weir, Anais Mitchell), these are brilliantly soul-baring songs.
Whittled down to the 10 most vulnerable songs from an initial 30, the album was recorded in four days with engineer D. James Goodwin (Blitzen Trapper, The National, Bonny Light Horseman) and assistant engineer Gillian Pelkonen at The Isokon studio in Kingston, NY. Each recording began with Madeleine singing and playing acoustic guitar, with producer Kaufman accompanying on an instrument of his choice. No click tracks, no headphones – just the songs coming to life in their most honest form. After multiple takes of each, one complete take was chosen, to which Josh added a gorgeous flurry of textures – organ, tenor guitar, mandolin, wurlitzer, bass, piano, and drums. Other musicians added their brilliance here and there: JT Bates on drums, Julian Bradford on bass, and Elise Boeur on fiddle. The resulting recordings are raw and full of life, masterfully combining Madeleine’s exceptional songwriting and heartfelt voice with Josh’s intuitive and adventurous production.
“Never have I written such personal songs, so specific and revealing, and had the gumption to share them with anyone. I’ve pulled at these hidden pieces of myself and found that I can handle sharing them. So much of the creation of this album was about going toward things that terrified me – from writing these songs in the first place, to traveling to the US to record them with Josh and Dan, whose work I have deeply admired for many years, to tracking the songs in full without editing the “mistakes,” to mixing the record in a way that keeps my voice front and centre. It’s a piece of my heart brought into the open.”
The album begins with the question “What am I supposed to do with you, my old lover?” and ends with a wish, “I hope you think of me whenever you find wildflowers.” The rest unfolds in a series of snapshots; lovers pulled over in a ditch picking brown-eyed susans, suitcases and guitars being loaded through a front gate for the last time, sparrows singing outside a deathbed window, a lone dancer at the foot of a stage, the aroma of tea in the morning across from a dear one, and a traveler that seems to only have time for one kiss.
Nerve is an uplifting gut-punch; an uninhibited account of risk, longing, regret, grief, and love. Madeleine bravely exposes the delicate and private moments in life that are universal and sets them adrift on melodies and arrangements that make us feel like nothing is insurmountable.
Quotes
“Many years ago I shared a band house with touring artists. For a week, I shared a kitchen table and living room with Joni Mitchell, who sang songs and wrote words on paper. I got goose bumps listening to those words and songs. A lifetime later and I’m getting the same goosebumps from a new album Nerve from Winnipeg’s Madeleine Roger. These songs and this singer deserves to be heard - by everyone.”
- Terry David Mulligan, CKUA“These are devastating songs - beautiful music from Winnipeg’s Madeleine Roger” - Tom Power, Q on CBC
TOURING HISTORY
Canada | 450+ performances including The Winnipeg Folk Festival, Vancouver Island Music Festival, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Canmore Folk Festival, Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival, Summerfolk Festival, etc.
Netherlands & Germany | 40+ performances including Meneer Fritz, Tivoli Vredenburg, and Acoustic Alley.
UK | 10+ performances including the Shetland Island Folk Festival and Edinburg Trad Fest.
USA | 20+ performances including Wintergrass Festival.
Madeleine has opened for Justin Townes Earle, Pharis & Jason Romero, Courtney Marie Andrews, The Once, Bill Bourne, Steve Poltz, Air Supply. Yes, THAT Air Supply.
Promo photos
COLLABORATION with THE FRETLESS
Madeleine also regularly tours and performs as a vocalist with JUNO award-winners The Fretless.
Contact
Madeleine Roger
madeleinerogermusic@gmail.com
Label | Worldwide
Birthday Cake Records
Stu Anderson | Stu [@] birthdaycakemedia.com
Bookings | Canada
Traverse Music
Teresa Nelson | teresa@traversemusic.ca
Bookings | The Netherlands
Sandra Zuidema
Lucky Dice Music Bookings
www.ldmbookings.nl | 020-6996607
Social Media
Facebook: /madeleinerogermusic
Instagram: @madeleineroger
TikTok: @madeleine.roger
YouTube: /madeleineroger