As I interview singer and guitarist Maddy Kirgo on Zoom, she gets out of a car and sits in the sand at Venice Beach wearing Black, oval-shaped sunglasses with the breeze blowing her hair out of her face.
The 29-year-old musician sunbathing at the beach and moving away from her well-meaning, eaves-dropping father, is the exact vibe of her latest album “Shadow On My Light.” It is laid back, relatable and feels bright and honest. As the Los Angeles native’s debut album, the refreshing, summery body of work showcases her angelic range and effortless ability to sing soothing melodies across genres like indie, country and pop.
“I have a really hard time talking genres, because I’ve listened to so much music,” Kirgo said. “So I think there’s genre purism that I’ve never really been able to stick to.”
Kirgo’s father, who owns a music studio, taught her to play guitar at 13. When asked about her hypothetical Spotify Wrapped playlist, she said it would include classic R&B, Fleetwood Mac deep cuts, Dolly Parton and Frank Sinatra. Understanding her varied musical influences and career history sheds light on the vocal freedom and control she showcases in her latest album.
Over the years, she overcame her stage freight by performing with a country band, sharing secret songs on Soundcloud and busking with her guitar before releasing “Shadow on My Light” with Arkansas-based independent record label Gar Hole Records in 2024.
She plans to record another album this fall including songs she’s performed live throughout the year. She wants to go back to her roots with a paired-down album focusing on guitar and thoughtful lyrics about a breakup, falling in love again, family and the state of the world. She hopes to tap back into how she felt when she was in her bedroom, singing and playing her guitar, afraid to perform in front of anyone. In her dream album recording scenario, Kirgo said she would have all of the required recording equipment set up for her so she can record in solitude. There’s something special about being alone, she said before mentioning her new solo painting practice.
“I’m influenced by everything around me, but I always like to focus on love,” Kirgo said. “I think that’s the thing that makes us human and ties us all together. And people just have to remember that that’s available to them. They could be focusing on love instead of all that weird shit.”
