ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Madi Saskia
Welcome to Madi Saskia's Artist Spotlight! Today, we delve into the vibrant journey of an artist who's not just about creating music, but also about forging connections and spreading messages of love and authenticity. Reflecting on her experiences from the ERNB 2024 tour, Madi shares insightful moments, lessons learned, and her vision for the future of UK RnB. Join us as we explore the heart and soul behind the music with Madi Saskia.
1. Reflecting back on the ERNB 2024 tour experience, what were some highlights or memorable moments for you as an artist?
For me, more than anything, I’m a people person. I love creating new friendships and bonds, and being able to do that through the common love of music is a blessing. If I were to pick a moment though, it would be going home to Birmingham and performing. I’m probably bias but for me, the Birmingham show was the best night on tour. The vibes from the crowd were immaculate and for me, it’s where I felt the most love and warmth. It felt like a real family occasion and everyone popped off vocally on that show too!
2. How do you feel the ERNB tour has contributed to the elevation of UK RnB, and what impact do you think it has had on the participating artists and the genre as a whole?
R&B in the UK has never not been amazing. It has never not existed. The problem has been the visibility and access for artists to thrive. The UK has always prioritised genres like Pop, Indie, Dance etc before shining a light on R&B. From charts down to awards categories, it’s evident. Platforms like ERNB mean that R&B in the UK has a place to shine and thrive. It has a place to be celebrated and to be spearheaded by a guy like Ace, whose opinion holds so much weight and value, means not only are we seen, but we are respected too. I think platforms like ERNB, Rhythm in Britain and Blues Project for example, have brought a new spark to the scene and I think it’s improved the overall confidence of the artists participating in the genre, as they know there is a space for them in the UK where they will be celebrated, and who will be advocating on their behalf when it comes to the state of R&B.
3. Can you share any insights or lessons learned from being part of such a significant tour in terms of your growth as an artist and performer?
Self care is important. Tour is beautiful but it’s draining. Whether you’re doing four dates like me, or a 20-date tour, if you don’t look after you, you won’t be able to show up on the night of the show. Make sure you eat, hydrate and most importantly if you’ve got something going on, tell somebody. I struggle with really bad anxiety and a condition called fibromyalgia. For me, tour taught me that I don’t need to fight these battles alone. Speak up. If you need help, ask. Being proud can leave you feeling worse off. The crew on tour were the most beautiful people and looked after me the whole time, but it took me having a mad panic attack before anyone knew what was going on. More than anything, I learned to live in the moment. Before I knew it tour was over, but I made sure every night I took everything in, lived every experience and never took one thing for granted.
4. Being among a lineup of talented artists on the ERNB tour, how did the collaboration and camaraderie among performers influence your own artistic journey?
I think because of how short tour was, the opportunity for collaborations was very limited but when it comes to the camaraderie among us, personally, it made me better. The artists made me better. Watching them go out every night and just kill it made me want to step up my game. Everyone was so supportive of each other too. By night two we had each other’s songs down and we were in the audience singing along to each other’s sets. It was beautiful.
5. Looking back on your performances during the ERNB tour, were there any particular songs or moments on stage that stood out to you, and if so, why?
All the songs I performed on tour were unreleased, as I haven’t released for awhile and wanted to test new material. The ending song of my set “Hard To Love” is a very personal song for me about my struggles with mental and physical health issues and the struggles of finding love sometimes because of them. When I performed it in Birmingham, I got really emotionally overwhelmed and ended up crying the last couple of notes of the song. I just remember feeling so supported by the crowd and then Ace coming on to stage and giving me a massive hug.
6. How do you envision the continuation of your musical journey post-ERNB tour, and what new projects or collaborations can your fans anticipate?
As mentioned before, the songs I performed on tour are unreleased, so this year is about changing that. Expect singles, collaborations, shows etc. I’m also working on my debut project, which I’m aiming to release late this year.
7. As an artist who has experienced the tour life firsthand, what advice would you give to emerging musicians aspiring to embark on similar ventures in the future?
I can’t tell anyone about how to be themselves, and I definitely can’t tell anyone how to be their own artist, however, I can speak on how important it is to have a clean heart. I say this to all of my friends within music, and even to people who try and network with me. Artists are people. Sound engineers are people. Tour managers are people. We’re all just people, so for me, before anything, be a good person. The content of your character is so important. Your job as artist is to make your audiences feel something but the crew’s feelings are just as important. On tour you become a family and you don’t want to be the one person who is known for being the difficult one. Just be kind. Once the tour is done people might speak about your performance but they will probably go to another show and forget about that smaller show they went to, but they will never forget how a person made them feel in whatever moment they choose to remember them by.
8. With the tour behind you, how do you plan to carry forward the momentum and connections gained from such a significant platform like ERNB into your future endeavors?
When it comes to momentum, more shows, new music and consistency is what I’m going for this year. In terms of connections, I think I’ve found some genuine friends for life. It’s obviously super easy to see people as beneficial for business but the best thing that makes us artists is the fact that we are humans first. We get to experience life and put that on to paper and tell our stories through song. That’s a vulnerable process. So more than anything we need a shoulder to cry on, a friend and a listening ear, or just someone who understands what it’s like in the industry. Each artist has a new fan in me at all their shows for sure!
9. Reflecting on your involvement with ERNB and other notable achievements in recent years, how do you see your role in shaping the landscape of UK RnB moving forward?
To be honest, I don’t know how to answer that question. I get told all the time I’m way too humble for my own good. I think my role is to make great music, stay honest and to represent Birmingham R&B Soul the best I can. Not just personally though. I want to bring through other artists from my hometown and show everyone how amazing the Brum scene is.
10. Lastly, what message or takeaway do you hope audiences took from your performances during the ERNB tour, and how do you aim to continue spreading that message through your music?
I hope they learned to be honest with themselves. To love themselves. My music is very vulnerable and speaks on things like heartbreak and mental health issues, which are two things I feel like an expert on with the life I’ve lived. I hope they learned that healing is a process and to give themselves grace, and also to be themselves unapologetically. I wear my ailments on my sleeve and wear them with pride. So I hope knowing you are still enough regardless of what you’ve got going on is something I hope audiences took away. I also hope they had fun. As for how I plan to continue, I aim to consistently be honest in my work and speak my truth and share that with every audience I encounter.