Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Madeleine Rose Witney
There’s a pillow-propped reverie to Madeleine Rose Witney’s work that not only dreams of the past, but shades of David Lynch‘s Blue Velvet, and smatterings of feeling out of step. From this unique, jazzy disposition, the Kentish Town starlet creates worlds of vague familiarity.
On her debut EP, From Now On, she asserts herself as a crooner in the ascendency, waltzing over melodies with prowess as her songs plunge you into a noir jazz bar from a Thomas Pynchon novel. ‘Shine’ is shimmering and cinematic, ‘Struttin” brings a certain bluesy, showbiz style to proceedings, and ‘Shut Up & Kiss Me’ blends styles dynamically, like an expert mixologist.
Mostly, it’s an exploration of moving through modern life, though. As she explains, “‘From Now On’ is a phrase to me that feels heavy with hope, strength, and quiet sadness,” she adds. “It marks an ending of one life and a beginning, with this new release, into the world – a full stop and an open door.”
Speaking further about the EP, out now on 5dB, she adds, “The songs I wrote for myself stayed in the shower,” she admits. “But this EP… it’s the first time I’m putting my own stories out there. It’s for her. It’s for me. And it’s for anyone who’s ever felt like they were just a little too much for the room.”
They are songs that slide from the bedroom to the ballroom, pairing mellow vulnerability with the glitz of getting out there. And when we caught up with the singer-songwriter for a few quick questions, she showcased both sides. Check out our quick-fire questions with Madeleine Rose Witney below.
Quick-fire Questions with Madeleine Rose Witney:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
“‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ Billie Holiday’s version – that’ll really get the tears going.”
2. What has been your favourite album of 2025 so far?
“Lily Allen’s West End Girl, without a shadow of a doubt. I think it’s genuinely a masterpiece.”
3. Where should people start with your back catalogue?
“I don’t have much of a back catalogue as I just released my debut EP, but you should definitely listen to that!”
4. Do you believe in ghosts?
“No, but alien ghosts maybe.”
5. Which independent venue is closest to your heart?
“Spice of Life in Soho. It’s where I had my first ever gig at 14.”
6. Which venue would you most love to play, and who with?
“EartH with Jessica Pratt could be a nice combo.”
7. What’s your favourite opening lyric?
“‘Junky walking through the twilight, trying to find my way home. I left three days ago, and no one seems to know I’m gone.’ from ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’.”
8. What album have you probably listened to the most?
“Probably Solid Air by John Martyn.”
9. What song took you the longest to write?
“I have a song ‘Let Me Be’ that might be released at some point next year, and it has A LOT of quite complicated lyrics. I reckon that took me the longest as a whole.”
10. If you had to compare your sound to a movie, what movie would it be?
“Blue Velvet – David Lynch.”
11. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever been inspired by?
“So so so so many weird and random things. Maybe a vent in a working men’s club toilet.”
12. What’s the strangest gig you’ve played?
“Outside a Metro Bank at Christmas. We were absolutely freezing playing Jazz Standards and suddenly people on stilts and in big M costumes started dancing. It was very, very strange.”
13. What was the last great book you read?
“I feel like I haven’t had time to read for a long time. I’m dyslexic, so I actually find reading quite hard, and I have to have a perfect environment so I can concentrate properly but this has inspired me to get some audio books on the go.”
14. One tip you’d give a young artist wanting to release an EP?
“Just do it and do it how you want to do it with absolutely no compromise.”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
“Maybe a little bit? Eek… feel like people are going to come for me for that.”
