motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’re from Hamilton, Ontario. How would you describe the current indie music scene there? Could you recommend some of your favorite local venues and artists?

MADAM SAD: The music scene in Hamilton feels very welcoming. Its not too difficult to plug into events, but mostly its the size that I find encouraging. I think meeting folks you’d want to create with or go to shows with or just be friends with, is a timely and attainable goal, thanks to the community we have with art and music.

Nim Agalawatte hosts my favourite, and what I think of as one of the most important music spaces in Hamilton, “Sounds Gay” at the casbah (usually.)

Into the abyss has really blown my mind for what a music venue can be and do. Rooneys is also a sweet spot. I love spaces that create or encourage intimacy.

Favourite local music projects, LOAMING, Cuffy, softer fruit, Blue Moss, Small Orbit, Hogtied.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new single, “Exs.” Will it be part of your new album? Could you tell us more about the recording and writing process?

MADAM SAD: Yes ! My album release on August 30 will include Exs. This album is part of my emotive songs, now that I do fictional song writing I see the two types different in terms of vulnerability. All the songs on the upcoming album are love songs, and almost all related to the same person. I would say they are all limerent or desperate songs, feeling at a loss of something or broken inside.

Recording this with Evelyn Charlotte Joe was a wildly varying experience. There was deep emotional growth, grief from poverty and disability, deep love and happiness, and magic from the wild cool noises that were created. Only in retrospect can it feel all very special. During my one recording trip to Montreal I had a bipolar episode, just from stress. Lots has gone into this album and still is, however I’m excited to just move on.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve been struggling with illness lately. How has this influenced your art?

MADAM SAD: My music only exists because of my disabilities so it impacts it all very broadly. I love to try and figure out exactly why this is through neuroscience honestly. My brain is accustomed to not only very large emotions, but to mostly negative ones due to an overactive amygdala. This is what happens with chronic PTSD. I think this helps me channel very concentrated messages about grief and life. This I think is one of the main reasons why I can’t create through postivity for the life of me. As well as why I’ve started to come up with fictional concepts that tell a story of torment. Even as a heal and improve every year, it’s so cool to me to see how these wounded inner selves drive my creative focus.

MOTEL VOID: Who or what is your biggest inspiration at the moment?

MADAM SAD: Great question! I love thinking to the future with creativity. There’s this band, 100%. It’s been driving me so heavily. The artist creates ambient music with instrumentals, low production quality, careful layering. They use field recordings and very soft singing. Thoughtful lyrics and even have a concept album. I have no notes. It’s definitely the direction I want to head in. I’m working on my 2025 album right now, and have already collected so many great field recordings. The goal is to create a vulnerable, soft soundscape, that can bring people into a safe world thats right infront of them.

MOTEL VOID: What are your other plans for the rest of the year?

MADAM SAD: My 2025 album is my vocal transition album (HRT changes your voice) so I have a few more timed out recording sessions for that. Then I’ll be pulling out everything and sorting through it, adding layers I perform myself or delegate to friends to perform. I want to try doing more music shows too, it’s a big hurdle for me thats felt semi important to overcome. I’m also writing my 2026 album and that has felt very interesting and wonderfully challenging. Its a narrative love story, about a ghost and a girl. Equal parts adventure to the grief of someone being gone forever.