This is tricky - as I can never decide what "kind of singer" I am this list could get a little ... ahem ... eclectic, but here goes. Vocally these woman are what I aspire to:
Ann Wilson (Heart), Eva Cassidy, Faith Hill, Julia Murney, Theresa Thompson, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton...
From a songwriting perspective, I have great admiration for the following - all genuises in their respective fields - these people make me wish I could write for myself. My ideal song would have the vision of Peter Gabriel, the natural poetry of Billy Joel, the killer groove of Daniel Bedingfield and the musical virtuosity of the members of Dream Theater... with a country feel... is that possible??? If anyone out there can write melodic progressive country music then I'd like to buy you lunch!
But then there's the musical theatre side of me that I've recently started to explore... and I'm lovin' it! Stephen Schwartz, Andrew Lippa, Jason Robert Brown
Sounds Like
REALLY depends what's appropriate - I like to think of myself as something of a "vocal chameleon" - I can generally adapt to my surroundings, be that other singers, the environment I'm in, the style of the music, the mood of the event.
I am frequently asked the question "what do you sing?" and I never know how to answer it. Pigeon-holing in the music industry is always guaranteed to alienate certain people and I hate that so, from now on, I will direct people here for the answer to that question.
I like to sing everything and I have been very lucky so far to have been given the opportunity to be as diverse as I would like to be. From Gilbert and Sullivan to Gloria Gaynor, from Bon Jovi to Bach, from Shania Twain to Sting.
Maddie started her vocal training at the age of 10, singing light classical music, show tunes, jazz; which provided an excellent foundation for the career she, at that time, only dreamed of…
When she reached senior school she became one of the leading lights in their musical and dramatic productions, having the dubious honour of playing a lot of the male roles - the perils of an all girls’ school! Her acting roles included Prince Charming (Cinderella) and, her favourite, Mrs Corney (Oliver Twist), whilst she also took on the vocally challenging roles of Hansel in Humperdick’s operetta Hansel & Gretel and Yum-Yum in The Mikado.
Whilst continuing her (classical) musical training at Cardiff University she pursued every opportunity she was offered, including the strongly-contested and much-prized honour of being asked to sing solo in the annual Christmas Concert. Maddie was a stalwart member of the university Choral Society and Jazz Orchestra as well as playing a variety of instruments in the Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra from time to time. Cardiff University awarded her several prizes for both her academic work and her recital performances.
At the same time she was pursuing her love for popular music, competing in talent competitions. She was very proud to be voted South Regional Winner of Jumping Jacks’ “This Is Your Moment” and Cardiff Winner of HTV Wales’ “Karaoke Queen”. As part of a small renegade group of musicians she broke through the boundaries that had previously been set within those hallowed walls, performing jazz and pop songs regularly in concerts. This is the point at which “Clockworks” was born. With renowned keys player Liam Holmes at her side they took pop music to another level – rearranging well known rock, pop and jazz songs for voice and piano, featuring both their virtuosity and versatility.
Since graduating university and returning to her home of Southend-on-Sea, Maddie’s musical career has gone from strength to strength. In 2004 Maddie successfully auditioned for The Show Providers and was offered a place in their 60s/70s production show, Red Hot Chartbusters; singing, dancing and playing tenor saxophone. For 2006 Chartbusters was revamped into Red Hot Flashback, a fully fledged “Rock, Pop & Soul” Show “where the excellent Maddie Cole [can be heard] belting out Kate Bush’s brilliant Wuthering Heights”. [Derek Smith, The Stage]
Maddie has completed three years with Flashback for the Show Providers. She has returned to her roots, entertaining audiences throughout the South East with her one-woman cabaret. Maddie was also a tenor sax player and vocalist for top function band "Musik Express" and now sings lead vocals with "7th Wonder" and sings and plays alto saxophone for "Soul Desire". She has worked with Stage One Theatre for their productions of Buddy, Sweeney Todd and BatBoy and her favourite role to date, that of Scaramouche in We Will Rock You.
In the past year, Maddie created the role of Lulu La Belle in "Let's Do It... Let's Fall In Love" , a brand new, through-sung Cole Porter revue. She has also recorded her first original song, written for her by Yiannis (who is also a member of 7th Wonder), "I Won't Take It Anymore".
Maddie is now in search of the next big thing... what will it be??
Maddie's versatily and adaptability have led her to be in great demand as a "dep", both as a singer and as a saxophonist. Watch this space!
Hey! Hope all is good with u :O) Got a gig coming up at Viva Viva - hope u can make it! If ud like a ticket for discounted entry email me at info@nikkiaston.com
