Interview: Everything About Freddy Madson’s Debut ‘Boys Never Cry’ EP “Feels Right”

Music has a truly unique power and influence over every listener, and an artist has a truly unique power to influence every listener. How will they harness that power to create something that turns their mistakes into someone else’s motivation, or their fears into someone else’s excitement for the future? For Freddy Madson, it’s to lay it all out on the table and hone in on connection, and that’s exactly what he does on his stunning debut EP, Boys Never Cry, with the perfect combination of vulnerability and strength.

“It feels great to finally see it all manifest itself ‘out there’ and to show the world what I’ve been working on for the last 2 years,” Freddy tells TREMG. “But it’s also very intense, and for me personally – will people like it or not? Will it be noticed by anybody? Hopes and expectations. It’s nerve-wracking.”

Boys Never Cry is a project that was years in the making, and Freddy’s commitment to his artistic vision shines through on each track. That’s especially poignant given after his experience being dropped my a record label – Freddy admits, “My self-esteem took a big punch and I doubted myself as a musician, singer, and writer. But I had to keep going and figure things out myself. ” This perseverance is a key part of what makes tracks like “Blue Rain,” a reflection on that time of his career, so touching and ultimately, uplifting.

“It tells the story of a period in my life where I was feeling blue on and off due to my music career not taking off,” Freddy explains. “I compared myself to other artists a lot and it affected my self esteem and mood. I dwelled on it a lot and was overthinking everything… Like a tape on repeat. It came from a place of self-reflection. The song has a very powerful chorus and it was just too great to not give it the needed attention it would get as a single. It’s also a very empowering song with a touch of hope.”

With every lyric on Boys Never Cry, Freddy curates a warm pop landscape that’s sure to make you feel less alone in anything you’re going through. It feels intimately personal, but also so widely relatable to a broad spectrum of people. It’s almost as if you’re sitting on your living room floor with Freddy, sharing stories and secrets while looking back with gratitude for how your past experiences have shaped you, no matter what those experiences may look like.

“If you’re going through a tough time in life and it’s hard to figure things out, know that you are not alone and that it’s okay,” he insists. “Don’t blame yourself! I hope my music will somehow empower the listener to trust themself and their gut.”

You can find Boys Never Cry on your favorite streaming services now, and get to know Freddy Madson on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! Keep reading for more from our conversation with this thought-provoking singer-songwriter.

Hi Freddy, congrats on your new EP, Boys Never Cry! How does it feel to finally share the project with the world?

Thank you very much! It feels great to finally see it all manifest itself “out there” and to show the world what I’ve been working on for the last 2 years. But it’s also very intense, and for me personally – will people like it or not? Will it be noticed by anybody? Hopes and expectations. It’s nerve-wracking.

How did you know that now was the right time to release your debut EP?

It’s been about 1 year since I released the first single, “Hanging in the Air,” and everything was ready to go. It felt right to do it now. New year, new music, go!

The project opens with your debut single, “Hanging In The Air,” which discusses your experience with a major label and picking yourself back up after that experience. What has it been like for you to get to now forge your own path in music, especially after what was probably such a crushing thing to go through?

My self-esteem took a big punch and I doubted myself as a musician, singer, and writer. But I had to keep going and figure things out myself. With that also came a lot of freedom. In retrospect, I learned a lot about myself and developed as an artist. It didn’t come easy and I’m still dealing with stuff from that experience. I try not to dwell on the past, but it can be hard when new experiences sometimes bring back thoughts and doubts from back then.

Every song on Boys Never Cry is so introspective with such thoughtful lyrics! Are there any lyrics on the project you’re especially proud of?

Thank you. I really appreciate that! Overall I’m really proud of all the lyrics. There are bits here and there that stick out and are very personal to me. The songs are like a dialogue with myself – or “post-its” to myself, if you will. There’s a line in “Blue Rain” I really like: “I’m spicing up the meal bite after bite, by telling how I feel.” And this line from “Boys Never Cry:” “Bad therapy, you’re still your own worst enemy, you claim it, like it’s meant to be.” They are both about me dwelling on bad thoughts and self-sabotage.

A few weeks before releasing the EP, you gave fans “Blue Rain” as a sneak peek into the project. What does that song mean to you, and what made you choose to release it ahead of the EP?

It tells the story of a period in my life where I was feeling blue on and off due to my music career not taking off. I compared myself to other artists a lot and it affected my self esteem and mood. I dwelled on it a lot and was overthinking everything… Like a tape on repeat. It came from a place of self-reflection. The song has a very powerful chorus and it was just too great to not give it the needed attention it would get as a single. It’s also a very empowering song with a touch of hope.

Which song on Boys Never Cry means the most to you and why?

“Hanging in the Air” because it gave us a musical direction for the project. It was the first thing I did together with Summers, who produced the EP. I was pretty impressed with what we had done. It was a quantum leap for me as an artist.

Which songs on Boys Never Cry took the longest and shortest amount of time to make?

The song that took the longest was probably “Hanging in the Air.” It took some time to figure out the structure of the song and the vocals were a bit tricky for me. “Boys Never Cry” only took a couple of sessions. But it’s not like any of the songs were written and recorded in the blink of an eye, haha.

If there’s one message you hope listeners take away from Boys Never Cry, what would it be?

If you’re going through a tough time in life and it’s hard to figure things out, know that you are not alone and that it’s okay. Don’t blame yourself! I hope my music will somehow empower the listener to trust themself and their gut. 

For anyone who isn’t familiar with your music already, which of your songs would you recommend to them to get a feel for who you are as an artist?

Can I please recommend two? “Hanging in the Air” – it’s a good combination of everything I’ve been in touch with musically and “Feels Right” – it shows another side of me that I hope to explore more in the future.

We at TREMG love getting to know new artists who haven’t gotten the success or attention they deserve. Who are some of your favorite underrated artists at the moment?

I don’t know if they are underrated but they definitely deserve more attention! Lately I’ve been listening to these danish acts: Soon, Lowly, Looney Gloomers, and Blaue Blume.

What can your fans look forward to in the rest of 2023?

A couple of single releases and maybe a few concerts. I hope so!

Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans that the questions didn’t touch on?

Thank you for listening.