Madysin Hatter

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jack Lue Madysin Hatter is back with her all new single “Wild & Strange,” a raging banger of a tunes whose all-star lineup includes the likes of Tyler Bryant (frontman of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown), Frank Ferrer (of Guns N’ Roses), Rob Bailey (David Johansen), and Brett Bass (Gregg Allman)! There is some mighty ferocity unleashed within the new single, and Madysin promises a whole lot more madness and intruigue in the future. In this interview for Highwire Daze, Madysin Hatter discusses the making of the wickedly wonderful Wild & Strange, performing at the world famous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip, her recent photoshoot with the legendary Jack Lue, and a whole lot more! Read on... Where are you based out of and what is your local music scene like there? I live in Jersey and have found an awesome music scene right on my doorstep. Both New Jersey and NYC are bursting with talented, dynamic rock artists with that east coast hustle.

You’ve played a few times on the opposite coast at the world-famous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. What was that experience like and who are some of the bands you have opened for? I’m never shy in professing my love and adoration for Whisky A Go Go. I love performing there, and have always had the best experiences, on stage and off. The people who work at The Whisky are amazing and always have my back— love them! And I love seeing the familiar faces in the audience as well. It’s great to catch up with everyone after a show, and stay connected on social media until the next time. My most recent show at The Whisky was opening up for Lita Ford to a sold out crowd. In the past, I’ve also opened for Buckcherry (for Whisky A Go Go’s 50th Anniversary Celebration), Faster Pussycat, Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Bulletboys, Jack Russell’s Great White, Uli Jon Roth of Scorpions, Winger, and more. Also Vh1’s “That Metal Show”’s Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, & Jim Florentine — fellow Jerseyians! You have a new song out entitled Wild & Strange. Is there any story behind the lyrics to the song? Yes! Since having my son, I’ve gotten really into Muay Thai. I practice it a few times a week (shout out to Amped Mixed Martial Arts in East Hanover, NJ)! Muay Thai helps me feel strong, confident, capable, and clear-headed, which spills over into all aspects of my life. We practice to some great “hype” music during classes— something like AC/DC — which just gets my adrenaline jolting. A lot of that empowering, angsty snarl smack talk vibe spilled over into my new song Wild & Strange. The song captures that fighter energy for sure. It’s been a few years since I released original music, and I wanted to kick the door down on my way back in for Round Two. How did Tyler Bryant become involved with Wild & Strange? He is such an amazing talent! What was it like working with Tyler?

I’ve been a fan of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown for a while— they’re awesome! Most everything had been recorded for Wild & Strange, when I was struck with the crazy idea that Tyler’s crunchy, bluesy, dirty guitar would be a perfect addition on lead. I reached out to him over social media and asked him if he would please consider being a part of the song. I got lucky! He said yes! He was awesome to work with— wildly talented, thorough, and professional. Everyone involved in the song— Tyler, Frank, Rob, and Brett — helped me create the best, most ferocious version of Wild & Strange we possibly could. It’s angsty and aggressive, with some slither. I’m proud of the end result, and excited to unleash it!

Another surprise appearance on Wild & Strange is Frank Ferrer from Guns ‘N Roses and The Psychedelic Furs. How did he become involved and what was it like working with him? Frank is a good friend of mine. He’s not only an amazing musician, but a great human as well. It was actually Frank who introduced me to Rob Bailey and Brett Bass a few years back. Frank, Rob, and Brett play under the name “Mulekick” in NYC (along with Rob Clores, who is featured on my next release, Treasure). They’ve had me up to perform with them a bunch of times, and it’s always been a blast! The guys are all masters at what they do, and being in their presence has helped me become a better musician. I’ve learned a lot from them. So when it came time to record new music, having them be a part of it felt like a no-brainer. It’s a pleasure to work with them. Frank is the sickest drummer. He’s got a killer work ethic; he’s welcoming, supportive, and a great role model of what a true “rock star” should be, on stage and off.

A new song coming out in May is called Treasure. What is the story behind that song and lyrics? Treasure is a ballad with teeth. It’s one of those songs that will have different meanings for different people, so I hesitate to thrust my own interpretation of it out there just now before it’s released.

What has it been like to write and release new music in the middle of a pandemic and so much social unrest in the world? We’ve been working on this material for a while now. A lot of the work had been done pre-pandemic, which made recording logistics easier. Working on these songs during the pandemic helped bring a small sense of normalcy back to my day to day. It gave me something positive to fixate on and look forward to. Thankful for it. Thankful for all music, in that regard. The photos in this article were taken by legendary photographer Jack Lue. What was it like working with Jack Lue and where did the photo shoot take place? Jack is amazing!! I had been dying to do a shoot with him, and I’m so happy we were able to set something up when I was out in LA playing a gig! We shot at the beautiful Ragdoll Pink Palace. Working with Jack, it’s easy to see why he’s a legend— he’s got a great eye, laser focus, detail-oriented, calming presence. We had a great shoot and he captured some incredible shots. I hope I can work with him again one of these days! Has any member of Aerosmith heard or commented on your cover of Nobody’s Fault? Not to my knowledge. I wish, man!! I love Aerosmith! What do you hope the rest of 2021 brings for you and for music in general? Health and peace. I hope this pandemic ends soon and we can all safely re-enter the world again. I can’t wait to go to a concert! Can’t wait to travel. There’s so much I’m looking forward to experiencing again.

Check out Wild & Strange, out now on all digital and streaming platforms! And be sure to check out the official music video, on my Youtube page. It’s insane!! You can tell I had fun making it. Also, connect with me on social media, subscribe to my YouTube page, and follow me on whatever platform you get your music from— it’s the best way to stay up to date on my future releases. Visit https://linktr.ee/MadysinHatter or www.MadysinHatter.com for links to all of the above. Thanks so much! Stay safe out there!

Interview by Ken Morton Photo by Maddie Baldinelli

Formed in 2015, Lovely World (Landon Rojas, Cade Rojas, Cameron Smith and Michael Gilbert, who are all in their early 20s) built their musical foundation on their love of 70s music and new school rock. “You Know Darlin’” is their latest single, continuing their journey into the big leagues. Produced by Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Dandy Warhols), the song is sure leave an impact on all who give a good listen. Highwire Daze recently caught up with Lovely World’s charasmatic vocalist Landon Rojas to discuss the making of You Know Darlin’, working with legendary manager Vicky Hamilton (Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, Poison), their previous visit to Los Angeles, life for the band in this age of Covid, and more.. how long the band has been together. Hey Highwire Daze! I’m Landon Rojas, singer of Lovely World, the band has been together since high school. I’d say roughly about 4 years now.

Where is the band based out of and what is your local music scene like there? We’re based of Clemson/Spartanburg in South Carolina. There’s like zero music scene here honestly, so we are creating our own. There’s bits and pieces of small indie venues opening everywhere but we don’t even have a real music venue in Clemson or Spartanburg. Not to sound pessimistic lol. It’s just the truth….

So we are widening our scope on the way to world domination. Get your tickets now for May 7 at the The Orange Peel in Asheville and welcome back live music!

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Lovely World, and