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Madison Hughes, All That I Am
Madison Hughes has always explored the spaces between genres. From prime-time TV performances of rock & roll hits to viral covers of modern-day country singles, she's spent years building her own sound, enjoying the journey as much as the destination itself. All That I Am marks her arrival. Rooted in Americana, blues, indie folk, and contemporary country, it's a wide-ranging debut record that highlights not only the vocal chops that first earned Madison a national audience but also the songwriting skills that have turned her into one of Nashville's newest exports.
Shot through with Southern storytelling and organic production, All That I Am is as broadly diverse as the musician who made it. Raised in an entrepreneurial household in Jacksonville, Florida, Madison grew up attending her mother's local music festival, where she played some of her first shows as a teenager. Also on the bill were acts like Shovels & Rope, Drew Holcomb, and Lera Lynn — artists who all brought a modern edge to the traditions of American roots music. Inspired to pursue her own creativity, Madison studied digital film production in college, where she honed the skills that would help her grow a large following on TikTok before moving to Nashville during her 20s.
"I've always been a late bloomer and an old soul," she says. In Nashville, though, she discovered a newfound sense of self-assurance and musical drive. Madison’s acoustic covers of songs by Morgan Wallen, Bruce Springsteen, and the Eagles helped her build a viral audience, and she took that momentum into the writing room, where she teamed up with some of the city's best songwriters to create a catalog of material that was every bit as strong as her voice. She also reconnected with one of her earliest mentors, Lera Lynn, who agreed to produce Madison's full-length debut album.
All That I Am is inspired by a broad range of sources: the Black Keys' bluesy swagger, Chris Stapleton's southern stomp, JJ Cale's rootsy rhythmic shuffle, and Alison Krauss' Raising Sand-era Americana. Tying that mix together is a songwriter who's never been afraid to embrace the full spread of her influences. "I've gone through so many phases before coming to this album," says Madison."By mixing everything together, I was able to find my original sound. There's country. There's rock. There's blues. It's a crossover sound that feels like me."
A crossover sound, indeed. On "Nobody Knows Your Love," Madison shares the spotlight with duet partner Brent Cobb, trading harmonies over an atmospheric swirl of acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and brushed percussion. It's a cinematic ballad for rainy days and quiet mornings, a mood that's echoed by tracks like "Gypsy Wings" — a soft-hued song about leaving home and chasing down new horizons — and the breezy "Mystery Highway." Meanwhile, songs like "Losing the Grip" and the titular "All That I Am" dish up plenty of groove and grit, while a stripped-down cover of Blind Melon's "No Rain" showcases a lifelong appreciation for the rock music Madison inherited from her father.
Together, these are vividly detailed songs about life, love, and the courage it takes to strike out on one's own. On a record filled with gorgeous production from Lera Lynn and her guitar-playing husband, Todd Lombardo, Madison's voice is the standout instrument, capable of effortless phrasing and a smoky, soulful delivery. Even so, her songwriting is what truly steals the spotlight, with Madison working alongside some of Nashville's best co-writers — including Lynn, Lombardo, Matt Rogers, and Andrew Combs — to craft a mix of introspective autobiography and lush, nuanced narrative. She may call herself a late bloomer, but here, she's in the full flower of creativity.
All That I Am marks the culmination of a long journey toward self-discovery, stocked with songs that find Madison exploring her sound, her voice, and her place in the world. She's not conforming her music to some pre-existing category. Instead, she's creating her own. "I took a bunch of meetings with record labels when my Morgan Wallen cover went viral, and the experience taught me that it's so important to know yourself as an artist." That strong sense of self-discovery pushed Madison to embrace her independence and make an album without the constrictions of a major label. "It's important to speak up in the writing room and craft something that's yours," she adds. "It's important to learn how to trust yourself, and that's where this album came from. It came from me. I'm so glad I didn't try to be like someone else because that wouldn't be honest
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