BY IRVIN RIVERA

Earlier this month, we had the opportunity to experience the emotional storytelling of rising singer-songwriter Rett Madison’s intimate performance of her album “One for Jackie” in Los Angeles.

Prior to seeing her live, I stumbled upon her song “Pin-Up Daddy,” and that started my curiosity about this incredibly talented artist.

Despite the creeping cold air in the city, Rett warmed us up with her vocals- it’s incredibly controlled, strong, powerful, yet it feels raw at the same time. It’s that type of voice that instantly connects with you and finds that unique emotional link that would trigger various emotions and memories inside you. That’s her voice’s power. It’s soothing, it’s melancholic and it’s weirdly comforting.

As soon as she hits that first note, you could clearly hear and notice her unique style but Rett’s singing and storytelling also loosely reminds me of Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and Tori Amos combined.

This intimate live performance was punctuated by anecdotes and backstories from each of the songs from her album which is a tribute to her mom who passed by suicide in 2019. Her willingness to open up and share those really intimate, painful, and dark times of her life provided that extra layer of context and just made this album more solid. There’s a story about a flea market leopard print, a story about mediums, a murder ballad, and more.  

Its Rett’s heart-ripping emotional journey and we’re riding with her, going through the ebbs and flows, guts out, tears flowing with arms wide open.