RB Exclusive Interview: Maddy O’ Neal Talks Goals, Shambhala, & Set Prep (Part 2)

(Continued from Part One)

What inspires you about the electro-soul genre? Are there any other genres that stand out to you? 

“Yeah, I mean it’s funny because I think that term came from the Pretty Lights World. There was a group of producers under that umbrella. Myself, Late Night Radio, Michael Menert, Artifacts, Marvel Years, and Daily Bread. We were kind of all in that camp coming up. And it was interesting because it was adjacent to the bass world, but everyone was like “OH, you guys are electro-soul. It was like, were we too melodic or something, you know? And, yeah, I mean I love it. I think when you hear that, it makes me think of something specific and it definitely has soul infusion in it.”

Maddy O’ Neal’s positive attitude and gradual comfortability towards the term “Electro-Soul” is admirable. This label often came up to describe her music in my research, inspiring this question. It was fascinating to learn that there was initially not much (if any) separation between Electro-Soul and bass music. And that they are likely now considered separate due to outside forces, not the genre artists themselves. She also revisits the process behind chopping up record store finds, using the vocals from some tracks and “dusty instrumental elements” from others. “Sometimes digging blindly based on the album cover.” Also sharing that listening to these records immediately puts her into the era they came out in (“Sixties or Seventies”)

You recently performed at Shambhala in Canada. Was that your first time performing? (If so, what excited you about the performance?)

“It was, yeah. It was incredible. I’ve heard for years and years that it’s people’s favorite festival, and I was very curious to find out why or if that was an accurate description. It was great. I actually have not stayed on site and, like, camped at a festival in a really long time. But a lot of the artists do. They have, like, a. an artist’s village. And they have a happy hour for all the artists at 07:00 p.m. every night. And a lot of people stay the whole weekend and just hang out and kind of really immerse themselves in it. It’s not easy to get to, so I think that’s part of the reason why it’s, like, kind of 3 hours from Spokane in BC, selma, BC, but it’s right on a river. It’s beautiful.”

According to Maddy, the stages at Shambhala were “booked and curated independently,” and she played at the Fractal Forest stage herself. Describing it as “the funky, more uptempo zone” and referring to the festival as a Canadian Electric Forest. While discussing the kindness of everyone there, and the history/intimacy of such a massive festival.

How do you prepare for sets and festivals? Are there different processes behind preparing for a smaller show and a major festival slot? 

“Most of my headline sets at, like, a club I get a little bit longer. So I have 70 to 90 minutes, which is fun! I can have, you know, a drum and bass section. Expand on different vibes a little bit more. Or maybe get all the way up to House at the end.”

“Um, for festivals, I definitely think about the environment and the time of day, and I’m usually kind of testing out some edits and throwing in some new remixes. Trying to keep it fresh all the time, because I know there’s a lot of fans that see me at multiple festivals all year long. So it’s kind of a challenge to, like, keep it fresh, Yes. I definitely do, like, quicker edits and try to pack more into a festival set than my headlines because I have more time to stretch a little bit.”

What does your typical tour life look like when not performing? 

“I wish there was a better answer for that, but there’s not a lot. There’s not a lot of time on the road. I’m usually just traveling, sleeping when I can. I’ve been trying to be a lot better about trying, you know, the traditional cuisine wherever I am. Or doing something that lets me absorb the culture where I’m at. But sometimes I’m just so in and out that you only see the hotel and the venue and you’re gone. Yeah, as long as I can get some sleep. I started integrating yoga. When I do have the time, even if it’s just 30 minutes of stretching, I feel way better. And back to the vital signs. Centering yourself. You’re like, okay, now I’m in Indianapolis. Where was I yesterday? You know, just, like, having your brain be able to catch up to you is really important on the road.”

Maddy O’ Neal expanded on this by discussing how she enlisted the help of her tour manager for larger festival bills, but did not bring him along to every single club performance.

“But it’s interesting doing it totally by yourself. You show up in a new city, everyone’s all, like, hype and energetic, and, you know, there’s no one to carry the vibe with you from the last place into the next one. It’s just kind of like, start over, start over, start over. You know, it’s interesting.”

Do you have any professional/artistic goals for the next five years?

“One of my big goals has always been to headline Red Rocks because it’s in my backyard, and I think that’s a big marker for me, my growth, and where I’m at. So that’s definitely a goal in the next five years. I’m doing direct support for Reza in a couple of weeks, so that’s kind of the next step. I just want to keep pushing myself and carving out the lane that I feel like I’ve found.”

Further elaborating, she discusses her passion for staying authentic and innovative. Choosing innovation and expansion over sticking with what is “hot right now.” Also acknowledging the fragility and fickleness of trends. In her own words, she “wants to be timeless and know that I’m like really staying true to my vision as it evolves in front of me, you know?”

Do you have any other announcements or updates for your fans? 

“My next single for the record is coming out on September 4. I guess I could tease this. It’s a collab with DJ Paul from three six Mafia. So that’s really exciting. I’ve been a fan of theirs for a long time and I actually met their manager when I was on tour with Cherub in 2018 and I kind of always had it in my back pocket. And as soon as this one came out, it was the same thing, like with ProbCause. Cause I was like, okay, this is, this is the one that I’m going to send to Paul. So, yeah, it’s kind of like a trap anthem.”

Maddy O’Neal dove into further detail about her friendship with DJ Paul. Sharing stories about missed collaboration opportunities on “Woofer” and running into him at Bonnaroo. “He’s like, is that track still available? And I was like ‘No, that’s like finished and out already. Um, but I will write you another song.'”

It was such an honor to discuss a wide range of topics with such an incredible artist. Maddy O’Neal is friendly, personable, and extremely passionate about her craft. Stay tuned for the Maddy O’ Neal x DJ Paul Collaboration on September 4th, the Vital Signs LP release in October, and the accompanying tour. Thank you so much for reading!

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