Catching Up with Indy Pop Duo Lily & Madeleine

Writer  /  Jennifer Magley

Fresh off the release of their third album “Keep It Together,” American folk pop duo and Indiana natives Lily & Madeleine discuss their upcoming performance at the Indiana Conference for Women, life on the road and what it’s like being in the music industry.

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What inspiration did you draw from on your most recent album “Keep It Together”? What artists did you grew up listening to?

Lily: I was inspired to create more of a pop-influenced album because a lot of our previous work is very folky. I think Madge and I were both influenced by the dreaminess of Lana del Rey and the vocal melodies of Radiohead and Arcade Fire who we listened to a lot growing up.

Madeleine: I’ve always been a fan of Beck, and though I’m not sure it’s apparent on “Keep It Together,” I’m hoping to draw more inspiration from him on the next record. 

I saw on social media that you will be performing at the Indiana Conference for Women. What most excites you about this?

Lily: Well, I think it’s great to be involved in events that are happening within our community!

Madeleine: I think it’s going to be a very energizing event. Part of their mission statement is “Focusing on large-scale change, we work to engage women and men in critical discussions and learning opportunities that will drive action and create advantage for women in leadership. We need more women in these roles. We exist to make it happen.” I mean, how inspiring is that? 

Anyone you are looking forward to meeting at the conference?

Madeleine: I’m honestly really excited just to be surrounded by such amazing ladies! Lisa McKinney is a partner at our dad’s law firm, so I’m looking forward to meeting her! 

Your national tour is quite extensive, and you are in cities every other night at times. Do you write songs while on tour? When does the touring end?

Lily: No, I usually write songs when I have a lot of alone time, and we really don’t have any spare time or alone time on tour (haha). And Madge and I don’t really have album-specific tours as much. We kinda just try to play as much as we can!

Madeleine: I usually gather inspiration while on tour, and then I actually get to writing once we’re home. I prefer to write in private too. Songwriting is very intimate to me. 

What is it like being in the music industry based out of the  Midwest?

Lily: Living in Indiana while working as a musician is both good and bad. It’s good because it’s super cheap, and the music scene here is cool and accessible, but sometimes, I feel like we would have more opportunities somewhere else. We’re happy here for now, but maybe in the next phase of life, we’ll move. Who knows?

What is your most fond moment as performers?

Lily: I don’t know if I have one specific time, but I always feel really good when Madge and I are exhausted but still pull off a good performance. In moments like that, I just get to focus on how much I love singing.

Madeleine: We played a show a couple months ago toward the end of our tour, and everyone sang along to one of our songs. I actually teared up on stage because I couldn’t believe a whole crowd of people were singing with us. It was so special. 

What is your dream venue to perform at?

Lily: Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado!

Madeleine: It would be a dream to play the Ryman in Nashville someday. It’s so beautiful and holds so much history. 

What does women’s leadership mean to you?

Lily: It’s obviously very important to me, as a female, to see women in positions of power. 

Madeleine: Women’s leadership means having a strong female role model for both boys and girls to look up to, someone who works to better herself, other women and all people. 

That’s a great answer. In what ways do you give back to the community?

Madeleine: When we’re home from tour, I like to volunteer with hospice patients in Indianapolis. I’ve been doing it for a year now, and it’s been so rewarding. I like being able to meet patients and their families, learn about their stories and connect with them on an intimate level. I’ve also learned to be more grateful for my life and health. 

As a pop duo, you have accomplished so much from being on the CBS Morning Show, recording on a soundtrack for John Mellencamp, featured in

the New York Times and the list goes on and on … so what’s next?

Lily: We’ll be going on tour supporting Brett Dennen for six weeks this September and October, hopefully touring more in the spring and making another album in 2016 or 2017!

Madeleine: I definitely want to record another album in the next year or so. I’m still not sure what it will be about or where we’ll record it, but this creative energy has to go somewhere!

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