She’ll be in here in June, when the weather is hot – and as Madeline Merlo is gathering heat on the Canadian country music scene.
The singer from Maple Ridge, B.C. product, holder of the Canadian Country Music Association’s (CCMA) Rising Star Award in 2015, lands in Barrie June 23, at Mavricks Music Hall. By then, fans will have taken in her latest single, Motel Flamingo, due to drop May 19.
Ironically, it’s not her first trip to Barrie: Merlo had a featured role in a film called Country Crush, which opened in Barrie in March, and Merlo tells Barrie Today the shoot was hard but rewarding.
“It was a difficult and exciting experience over all and I feel like I learned so much about myself as a creative individual through it. I worked with an amazing cast and crew and even got some of my original music into the film as well!
“I wasn't in Barrie for very long, but we had a really great night at the premiere.”
These days, however, Madeline is lighting it up out west, on tour with multiple CCMA winner Dean Brody and Barrie’s own James Barker Band.
“Touring is really the best learning experience and a way to improve so much in a concentrated amount of time, all the while travelling around the most beautiful country in the world.”
Merlo, who just turned 23, comes from a varied musical background, “everything from country to coul to Classic Rock. A few of my favourite artists growing up were Stevie Wonder, Shania Twain, Etta James, The Beatles and Carrie Underwood.”
Merlo caught our ears in the last year or so with such tunes as Whatcha Wanna Do About It? and Over and Over, but perhaps the song that’s making most waves is War Paint, which deals with mental health issues.
“I wrote this song with the hopes of spreading the message that it’s okay to feel the way that you feel, but not to suffer alone. Talking about mental health ends the stigma behind it and I hope that this song could start a few conversations. If you have a friend in that situation, it’s important to just listen and be there to support them.”
Fans can hear War Paint, and other tunes in Madeline’s repertoire, Friday, June 23, at Mavricks Music Hall, 46 Dunlop Street West, along with Blackjack Billy and Kansas Stone. Show starts at 9 p.m. For tickets, click here.
