Maddy Rodriguez Music, Toronto, ON
Winner International Acoustic Music Awards (All The Wasted Time)
Winner UK Songwriting Contest (All The Wasted Time)
Finalist John Lennon Songwriting Competition ("All The Wasted Time")
Finalist and semi-finalist International Songwriting Competition (Un Poco de Ti and All The Wasted Time.)
Honourable Mention USA Songwriting Competition (Falling Up)
Airplay (US, Canada, Europe): All The Wasted Time, Don't Play With My Heart, Tahiti
Music videos on TV (Canada): Falling Up and So Long Diana
Placements (USA): Tahiti on Army Wives Season 6
Debut album: Don’t Be a Stranger released in 2012.
BIO
When Maddy Rodriguez defines herself, she does so without hesitation, saying simply: “I write songs.” For the Toronto-based singer/songwriter and recording artist, music means everything. “It’s life,” she adds.
On her debut independent record, Don’t Be A Stranger, Rodriguez shares her musical and personal life with a 12-song set of acoustic guitar based, country/pop that dwells on meeting every challenge and transition in life – large or small – head on and without regret.
In fact, the title track, the final song written for the record, is about a major transition Rodriguez was making during the recording process, graduating from high school and saying goodbye to some of her closest friends. “For the title track to be a song dedicated to my friends was perfect. It sums up the record and where I am right now.”
Produced largely by Greig Nori (Treble Charger, Sum 41, Hedley), and recorded at various Toronto area studios, Don’t Be A Stranger concerns itself equally with letting go of the past and welcoming the future. In her songs, Rodriguez displays as much gratitude for positive experiences as she does for the knowledge she’s gained during difficult times. “It’s about learning what to leave behind and what to hold on to,” she says, “to get you to the other side, smiling.”
The future may look bright for Ms. Rodriguez. In 2013, she has been travelling to Nashville to co-write new material and make new friends. Also in 2013, she received a "creation" grant from her province's government via the Ontario Arts Council to record 3 new songs. The result is the 3 songs at the top of this EPK: Animal, You Can't Hide and Friends. Having a small budget, Maddy decided to co-produce with her friend Johnny Simmen (producer of her song Freedom of Speech) in order to hire the best musicians she could afford. Maddy plans to release the songs as singles in 2014.
Besides music, Maddy likes travelling and she loves cooking.
