INTERVIEW: 9 Questions with M'ADAM

We sit down with Irish artist M'ADAM for an exclusive interview with IGNITE magazine.

Tell us about yourself as an artist?

I am an indie artist and songwriter from Cork, Ireland. At present I mainly make indie folk or folk rock style music that is focused on themes of grief, disconnection and environmental catastrophe. I released my debut single in 2022, debut album in 2023, and now I am releasing my second album after seven releases already this year. The goal with this music, in particular for this year, is to be prolific and to continually make new demos, to create and enjoyable and productive process.

What got you into music?

Ever since I was a child there was music in the house, I was always encouraged from a young age to play music, piano mainly. It was in secondary school when my friend approached me to sing in their band. After that I was really hooked and started writing, performing and recording music.

How would you describe your sound?

The current sound is more indie folk and americana with influences from artists such as: Blake Mills, Beck, Sufjan Stevens and Big Thief. Alongside this the sound can be cinematic at times and rockier depending on the theme. 

Where did the title come from?

‘You get me’ came from thinking about appreciating the people you have in your life, in this case my wife. There is no person who gets me more than her. To have people who understand you and get your perspective or experience and get the little things you say or how you explain yourself, or not even using words at all, is all very special.

What is your favourite venue to play?

I really enjoy playing in small venues or making spaces that are not ordinarily venues into venues. I recently played in an arts centre and I really enjoyed getting to curate an experience for the audience making it like a cosy front room.

What is special about this release compared to your other releases?

‘You get me’ is my end credits song. It is different thematically as it ends my latest album in a more uplifting perspective, after a more complicated and grief related journey. The world is a very chaotic place at the moment, with impending external forces that seem to be inevitable. I felt with this song I could say ‘look at what we have’. For me I got and currently get to enjoy so much of the world and nature, and I would love for this work to make people want to conserve nature and create a more sustainable society.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

I couldn’t say any in particular, but at the moment I am planning a series of collaborative co-writing sessions with musicians I know and hopefully some I don’t. I am really looking forward to making more demos and maybe getting more alternative and bolder in my writing. I have found that everyone can bring different strengths or flavours to the dish and also getting an insight into how people write can help you write better.

What is your creative process, and do you think it differs from others?

I think how it comes out or starts can sometimes be different. I have to be in a certain way or mood to really get the most out of the song and write it very quickly. Which can be troublesome sometimes when you are better at working late at night. I usually start with a melody. It could be humming, or just noise, and depending on the instrument I use thereafter it can change the energy. Lately I have taken to working with reference tracks and curating the style I want to lean into more especially if I have a fully written song with lyrics. I also find the tuning of an instrument, or the style of it, can bring you a certain direction. All of this then feeds into a pot and the song is formed.

What is special about this release to you?

This release is the last release before I drop my album in August. It's the end of a journey for me and the start of a new one which is sad and exciting at the same time. I am trying to enjoy and savour the music for the moment as it has been a big year for me with lots of little wins thus far.