Wednesday, August 20, 2014 11:31am ET by  
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Alicia Madison on Sia's shyness: 'It's raw and I appreciate it because I used to sing facing the other way'

EDM songstress Alicia Madison recently sat down for an interview with Pressparty and opened up about doing an internship at a major label so that she could sing for one of the bosses there and how she overcame her shyness. 

You were discovered during an internship with Warner Brothers Records after singing in front of A&R Vice President, Tommy Page. How did that come aboout?

Yeah, I sang for Tommy Page, who was the A&R at the time at Warner Brothers. He put me on the spot and called me into the office, and was like “I hear you can sing”. I definitely made it known that I loved to sing and wanted it to be a career of mine, hence me going into this internship to meet him, and he introduced me to my now manager. I think I sang… maybe, like an Aretha Franklin song.

That was the purpose (for taking on the internship). I didn’t want to work at a label, but wanted to get my feet wet and meet the people at the label to get a feel of what was going on inside the business. I learned a heck of a lot when I was there. Learning a lot about new artists that were signed and how the process goes, and how sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. It was a real eye opener for me.

When did you first start singing?

I started singing when I was 14 around the house and was always making people close their eyes and turn the other way because I was shy! When I was in high school, I started breaking out of my shell and singing in public. I joined a wedding band and got a taste for it, and did that every weekend. That was a great experience and I did that for 9 years. The first job I had was at a bar filled with drunk people… I was 17-years-old.

Do you write your own material? What inspires you to write songs and what do you like to pen tracks about?

In the last 2 years I started writing (music) on my own. It was a fear of mine, really, to be that vulnerable, but I’ve had a lot of rough life experiences so it just poured right out of me eventually. I’ve been in a lot of shitty relationships, so that definitely helps a lot… a lot of heartbreak. I don’t like to write too much about love because it can seem corny – I’m talking more about the dark side of that more.

Did you always want to be involved in the EDM scene or did you fall into that from another genre?

I always listened to pop music – I was a big Christina Aguilera fan – when I met my manager he introduced me to the EDM scene and I fell in love with it. I loved the energy… it was a little different for me, but I loved it. Christina Aguilera… literally, I used to study this girl every day and watched her live performances and acoustic performances. Amy Lee from Evanescence – I’m going back in the day now, but these are singers that I grew up listening to. Etta James, I used to listen to Alanis Morrissette. Lots of different singers to get tips from them and to see how they sing. I like Katy Perry’s stuff a lot, too.

I would belt all day, you know? When I started singing EDM, I found a softer spot in my voice and I incorporate that a lot with what I’m singing. I love the belt, I love the power and the feeling behind that. 

When I perform, I plan on doing more acoustic versions of my dance songs so people can see I can actually sing. I guess that would be a little more mainstream sounding, yeah. 

Your latest track ‘Gravity’ is great. What was the process behind creating it?

I wrote that song and had a co-writer help me out. That was a very sensual song about meeting someone after a really bad break-up/relationship and finally seeing that light of day, and that there are people who can make you feel really good. 

I am dating at the moment. I’m still young, marriage isn’t on the cards, but I am dating for sure. 

What are you listening to at the moment?

Sia's ‘Chandelier’. I love that song. I love her so much and I appreciate her being so shy and performing facing the other way. I think that’s cool – I know what it feels like being shy. For a long time… I was very conservative, there was something about performing that used to freak me out. I used to make my own mother turn around. Or I’d sing from another room. Sia’s style makes it raw.

What’s next for you? 

I have a song called ‘Avalanche’ coming out. It’s another good song that showcases my vocals. We’re putting together a little showcase – mini-tour – type of thing and I want to incorporate the acoustic versions of my songs! I’m going to be working with a lot of people – a lot of great DJs doing some features. Expect a lot more from me!

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Watch her music video for 'Gravity'