Madelyn Paquette

NEW YORK, NY ― August 4, 2020 ― The winners of the BMI Foundation’s 23rd Annual John Lennon Scholarships, a program that recognizes the nation’s best and brightest young songwriters between the ages of 17 and 24, were announced today by Samantha Cox, Vice President of the BMI Foundation and Director of the competition. - BMI Foundation

Moving in with a partner is a major, life-changing step for anyone at any age. With her soothing, calming and confident vocals, Madelyn Paquette’s “Move In” is the affirming song you need to put your mind at ease and clear away any uncertainty and apprehension. - American Songwriter

The Session II Finalists are listed below. - John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Listening to this young artist, makes me feel like the future of music is in good hands. Madelyn is smart, talented, conscientious and relatable. Her lyrics are furnished with a warm intensity and truth. It’s clear Paquette is passionate about expressing herself, but she does it with such vocal grace and poise that her message just glides into absorption. - Country 102.5 - Carolyn Kruse

Artiste émergente et indépendante de la scène Country américaine, MADELYN PAQUETTE vient tout juste de dévoiler le tout premier clip vidéo de sa carrière pour son tout nouveau single « Move In« . - Alongside Nashville

I'm a 21 year old country-pop singer-songwriter, producer and recording artist from Boston, MA; now based in NYC. I attend NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music where I'm a junior focusing on songwriting, music business and production. My song "Broke Like Me" recently won an Independent Music Award in the country category, I'm a 2020 winner of the BMI Foundation's John Lennon Scholarship for my song "Ready or Not," and I've spent the last few months writing and recording some of my favorite music yet, to be released in 2021. I'm a Sagittarius but couldn't tell you what that means, enneagram type 2, and my favorite household object is a winter-y smelling candle. - Serious Songwriter

Madelyn Paquette has written and performed hundreds of songs since 2010, but her latest, “Better Weather,” is surely the New York University music major’s most significant.

Madelyn Paquette has written and performed hundreds of songs since 2010, but her latest, “Better Weather,” is surely the New York University music major’s most significant.

The high-octane track, which debuted on April 15, conflates Paquette’s moving melody and message with a big piano sound, silky vocals and stirring harmonies that inspire listeners to unite against Covid-19 with courage and hope.

The track on its release date drew almost 1,000 views on major streaming platforms, many among her 3,500 Instagram followers.

The next day Carolyn Kruse of Country 102.5 profiled Paquette and “Better Weather” on its “Catch of the Week” show. Today, Pacquette’s music is lifting the spirits of viewers worldwide. Many have cried tears of joy. A Swedish woman likened the song to a hug. Another viewer said it moved him to do a painting depicting the fight against the virus.

“Everyone has their way of dealing with all this chaos,” said the 20-year-old, who graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury High School in 2018. “So, we’re alone, but we’re all in this together and better weather is around the bend. We just have to wait for it.”

Written and produced in one month – the fastest Paquette ever produced a song - “Better Weather” was inspired in the rain on March 12 in New York City. The virus was making its mark, and NYU students were told to pack extra clothes for a possible extended spring break. Paquette’s dad arrived to drive her home to Sudbury, and she was dispirited as his car pulled away from the NYU campus.

“We said really difficult goodbyes,” she recalled. “A lot of us were just starting to grasp the gravity of the situation. We had no idea when we would see each other again.”

Sobbing as the raindrops fell, Paquette squeezed out a few lyrics without knowing their direction. Once home in her bedroom studio, where she writes and records most of her music, Paquette sunk into creative thought. Her anguish in New York gave way to a more positive mindset. The virus, despite its power, she reasoned, would not prevail. People would – they just had to believe.

Transcendent ideas came to her as she culled the lyrics. Then, with these words, her message was complete: “Oh I never used to have a reason. But when you’re drowning it’s the time to start believing. Cause baby we’re all on this ship together. We’re on our way, we’re on our way to better weather.”

When composing, Paquette typically programs piano and guitars - she plays both - for a country sound on her music creation software. “But this was screaming lush strings, piano, and vocal harmonies,” she recalled. More pop than country. “I didn’t want to make it something it wasn’t. I let it tell me what it wanted.”

Paquette then assembled a quarantined team of specialists to complete the process. Her sister Becca performed backup vocals. Boyfriend Michael Mironidis in New Jersey arranged the string instrumentals, including violins and cellos, plus percussion. Another friend from New York helped design the song’s cover art.

In the end, the collaboration validated the song’s theme of people alone working together. “These projects always take a village - and even though my village couldn’t meet in person, we still made it happen together,” she said.

Still quarantined, Paquette is upbeat yet realistic about her future.

“Every summer, I play shows around Boston,” she said, “but I don’t think I’ll be able to this summer due to the circumstances. If I’m out of work, my plan is to stay home and make as much music as I can. Just write and record as much as possible.” - The MetroWest Daily News

Madelyn Paquette recently released her new single Broke Like Me and it sounds so good. I like the catchy melodies. Besides, the hooks are powerful. Furthermore, I am also a fan of the unique vocals and energetic drums. - Lefuturewave

Dès son jeune âge, la passion principale de Madelyn était de chanter et d’explorer les éléments musicaux qui composent une chanson – développant une oreille attentive pour l’harmonie et la hauteur à cinq ans. - Direct Actu