By: Nicole Bessette

Junior Madison Cain is new to our school this year.  Moving from a small town in northern California called Novato, Madison came here to the Music City capital of the world to pursue a career in country music.  With the help of her dad, Journey keyboardist and songwriter, Jonathan Cain, she has been able to write and perform with some amazing people in the industry, and she is well on her way to becoming a huge success.  Eager to hear her thoughts about FRA, to learn why she chose to sing country music, and to understand the specifics of what she does, it was my personal pleasure to sit down with Madison and ask her the following questions.        

1.  When did you realize that you wanted to be a singer?
            “I’ve actually known since I was really little.  I started singing when I was four, but the moment I decided I wanted to become a singer was probably when I was around eight years old.  There was just one night where I was standing on the side of the stage watching my dad, and all of the sudden it just clicked.  I mean, he’s considered a rock star to those people, and it’s insane.  He’s my dad, and he has so much passion for music and a real love for it, and his performing really inspired me.  Just watching people totally in awe of him and his talent was really amazing to see, and then I got up on stage and got to sing, and it was just the most amazing feeling in the world, and I didn’t want to get off the stage.   I was so afraid to get on, but once I did, and I started singing it was just the coolest thing, and it was so much fun.  So, that’s when I decided I wanted to perform, and I wanted to pursue singing.” 

2.  Why did you choose country music?
            “Well, my dad always told me stories about how he came to Nashville when he was nineteen years old and how much he loved it, and my aunt is a huge country music fan so we used to drive down the freeway listening to Alison Krauss, Faith Hill, and Rascal Flatts.  Then, Gretchen Wilson’s ‘Redneck Woman’ came out, and one day I was singing it in the kitchen for my mom and she told me I sang it really well, and that was kind of around the time when I really wanted to start getting serious about my music.  So, I could sing any genre, and I was pretty much all over the map, so my dad told me to pick some of my favorite songs and that we’d head into the studio with a karaoke track, and I’d just sing along with them.  And I ended up singing along with all these different songs, but I just didn’t feel like myself, and I felt like I was trying to be something that I wasn’t.  But then I sang Gretchen Wilson’s ‘Redneck Woman,’ and I had so much fun singing the song, and I just felt like myself.  I felt like I had finally found my direction, so that’s when I decided I wanted to sing country.”

3.  Outside of school, what’s a normal week like for you?
            “Outside of school, a normal week includes songwriting, which I try to do at least once or twice a week, and I usually have some show or event that I’ve been invited to where I sing and meet some new people.  I also normally have a meeting with my manager, and I go into the studio.  And, depending on whether or not I have a show, then I’ll have rehearsals.”   

4.  What’s the coolest thing you’ve done so far in regards to your career?
            “Well, I’d never done an actual TV performance before, so being on Tennessee Mornings was pretty cool, and that was a great experience.  But then, in regards to a show, I’d have to say it’s probably when I did an Animal Rescue Foundation show for Tony La Russa, and they split the show into two nights, Friday and Saturday, and for the Friday night show, I got to close.  So, that was pretty awesome.  We did this really amazing set, and we had a fiddle player and a banjo player, and my brother was rocking on the drums, so it was really amazing.”

5.  Who would you like to work with in the future?
            “I’d love to write with Pat Monahan from Train.  I think he’s an awesome songwriter, and I’d love to do a duet with Dolly Parton because I think she’s amazing.  And, I love Carrie Underwood, so if I ever got the chance to do a show with her or open for her, that’d be pretty incredible.” 

6.  What advice would you give to people who are in your position and have the same dream as you?
            “I would say to always remember who you are because it’s a really tough industry, and when you walk into a meeting you have to show yourself.  They’ll ask you who you are and what your music is all about, and you have to explain your entire self to these people.  And when they don’t get you, it really hurts, and it’s really discouraging sometimes, and you wonder if you should give up.  So, it’s important to remember who you are, what you’re all about, and what your dream is.  That really helps you stay strong and believe in yourself.  If you do that, then you’ll definitely get there.”

7.  Where do you ideally see yourself in ten years?
            “I hope that I’ll have a couple successful albums and have won some great award either with the CMAs or a Grammy or something incredible like that.  That would be my dream.”

8.  As of right now, how can people listen to your music?
            “Well, at the moment, because a lot of my stuff isn’t published, you have to go to MySpace Music and type in Madison Cain, and you can listen to snippets of my music there.  But, I’m working with record companies right now to try to get something figured out so that I can release an album, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

9.  How did you go about choosing FRA?
            “Well, my parents were looking for schools and came across FRA online, and they had heard from other people that it was a great school for new students and that people are really welcoming.  So, my mom and dad read the mission statement, and they loved it.  Then, I came with my brother and sister, and we all took a tour and had some interviews.  And, for me personally, I just thought it would be a really good choice.  I also really liked the laptop program, and I thought it would be great in class for taking notes and would make things way easier.”  

10. What is your favorite class and why?
            “My favorite class would have to be English because I love to write, and I find that other than singing, it’s another great creative outsource for me.  Also, I love songwriting, so writing for school is the closest thing to it.”