Spotlight On Madeline Castrey

With musical role models such as Karen Carpenter, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, English singer songwriter Madeline Castrey is making her own mark on the UK contemporary jazz and soft pop scene with her latest single ‘Brand New’.  This sultry yet hugely melodic cut has Madeline’s brand of soulful and sincere smooth jazz at its core and as such sits comfortably alongside output from the likes of Rumer, Norah Jones, Tom Misch and Corrine Bailey Rae.

 

Yet Madeline, who was born in Surrey and now calls south London her home, did not immediately identify with a career in jazz music.  She started out as a classical musician, training as an opera singer, and after overcoming serious illness as a teenager became the first ever 16-year-old to be admitted onto an undergraduate degree course at The London College of Music.  Madeline went on to gain a distinction in her Masters degree with a specialty in opera. Not only that, her strong background in operatic and West End productions opened doors for her to appear in several shows across London and in various television productions.

A shift in artistic direction found her composing and performing her own music.  Three singles, ‘This Love’, ‘London’ and a spine tingling take on the Earth Wind & Fire classic ‘September’ all followed while now the warm and velvety ‘Brand New’ demonstrates just how adept Madeline has become in blending chilled modern pop beats with the echoes of the legends.

Away from the recording studio Madeline is a published author, lecturer and a PhD music student.  As a fundraiser she has composed music for various ensembles and choirs connected with charities that helped her as a teenager and in doing so has raised over £60,000.  Her fundraising has been acknowledged by receipt of the prestigious Princess Diana Award yet in terms of accolades it seems only a matter of time before Madeline Castrey is recognised as a rising star in the constellation of modern jazz.

‘Brand New’ is out and now and is well worth checking out.