Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Palmer
Hi Madison, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into electronic music began in the early 2000s, with the pulsing rhythms of global underground dance music in the Los Angeles club scene. I was drawn to the music like a moth to a flame, spending countless hours digging through record shops, falling in love with everything from trance to deep house, tribal to tech house etc.. My first big break came through Swedish Egil’s Grooveradio.com, where I interned and eventually co-hosted a show called Counter Culture with April McLellan. These were magical days of musical discovery, where I would bring in records and share them with listeners.
I played clubs, lounges, after hours, private events and raves in Los Angeles and beyond, San Francisco, New York and Miami.
In 2009, my husband and I created a multimedia show called Mystic in Venice Beach with nine sold-out performances. Being the music supervisor, I dove deep into all genres. Mystic featured performers from Cirque du Soleil, Lucent Dossier, and the Earth Harp. It was a beautiful exploration of how music could transcend traditional boundaries and tell a story through a multi-media platform including; music, dancers, and visuals.
Then came a period of profound personal challenge. After moving out of Los Angeles to start a family, I was diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer just a week after my son was born. Looking at my newborn, I was terrified, not knowing what the future would hold. But everything was divinely timed – my son quite literally saved my life. I’m forever grateful for the incredible team of doctors and my supportive husband who guided me through that challenging time. Music was also a profound force for healing!
In late 2018, I made a conscious decision to return to music – but this time, with a deeper commitment. I started learning music production, taking masterclass courses, and working with an incredible teacher, Keith Snow. The pandemic became a transformative period. I moved to Austin, built a home studio, and began streaming on Twitch, connecting with a global community of music lovers. This is when I created my previous alias (MeowWow), which became my cocoon for self-discovery through music and performance. After releasing on labels such as Perfecto, Red Trail, Krafted Underground, and Sound Avenue, I decided to use my name moving forward with all releases – a way to connect more authentically with my audience.
One of my proudest achievements has been hosting a monthly show on DI.FM’s Progressive channel called PURRGRESSIVE. It’s two hours of progressive house, melodic house and techno, deep tech, with some room for surprises. The second hour features a guest artist – past guests have included Forty Cats, Paul Sawyer, Nihil Young, Evelynka, P.O.U., Into the Ether, and Zy Khan. I love to feature and support artists that inspire me, from global to regional talents. Hosting my own show has been a dream, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to grow it.
It’s always been about the “why” – why I create music, why I continue to push forward. I do this because I love music. I do this to share a positive message. Every setback is an opportunity to reconnect with that fundamental passion. In 2022, I signed my first tracks “Dream Rider” and “Present Moment” featuring Meredith Bull with the UK label Krafted Underground, and things started to bloom from there. I began releasing tracks on labels like Perfecto, Sound Avenue, Of Us Records, and Elevation London, and collaborating with incredible artists from around the world.
I’ve been blessed to collaborate with artists like Paul Sawyer, Danny Stubbs, Zy Khan, Shemsu,and 08 Orbit to name a few.. Getting support from legends like Paul Oakenfold, Solarstone, and Hernan Cattaneo – has of course been incredible!
Recently, I’ve had the honor of being direct support for artists like Paul van Dyk, Gioli and Assia, and Nora en Pure at The Concourse Project in Austin. It was really a full circle moment being direct support for Paul van Dyk. He’s an absolute legend and one of my earliest influences in my musical journey! This was an absolute dream!! The world renowned The Concourse Project, run by the incredible Kelly Gray and Andrew Parsons, truly feels like home. They have been a massive and integral part in shaping the electronic dance music scene here in Austin!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never lose sight of why you started. Music is a journey, not a destination. There will be challenges – personal, professional, health-related – but your passion is your compass. Learn, grow, and be patient with yourself. Every experience, every obstacle, is part of your unique story. Try new things and challenge yourself.
To any artist out there struggling, remember your path is yours alone. But with time, dedication, and belief in yourself, anything is possible. Stay true to yourself. Music is a universal language that connects us all! Keep digging, keep creating, keep believing and keep learning new things.
I’m excited for what the future holds and to grow as an artist! Looking forward to sharing some new music with you all in 2025, so please stay tuned! Thank you to all that have supported me through this journey. I’m super grateful for your support, and thank you to all the artists out there making music that continue to inspire!
Love is the message!
The best is yet to come!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Picking music back up again wasn’t just a simple return—it was a challenge. Learning production without a classical training background created a learning curve. But I kept moving forward, leaning into the discomfort of learning something new, trusting that inner voice that whispered and said “you are on the right path”. My soul was happy, so I knew I was doing the right thing. I loved every moment of it. I consumed as many tutorials as possible along with my one on one Ableton classes with my mentor Keith Snow.
Smoothness happens when you are in the magic place of flow, and when you feel the mountain of momentum that you have built pushing you forward. When you put all that hard work and passion into something you can start to see, feel, and hear when things align and crystalize. Key thing is to not give up!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My journey is a sonic exploration – a deep dive into the realms of progressive grooves to melodic techno, indie dance, and cosmic soundscapes, woven with hypnotic, funky, and pulsating rhythms. I’m not just a DJ, producer, and remixer; I’m a storyteller weaving musical narratives that transcend the dance floor. I try not to get too lost in the genre. I enjoy experimenting and dancing along the edges of where those soundscapes meet.
My musical alchemy is about transformation – creating sonic journeys that are both intimate and expansive. Each track is a ritual, a spiritual passage that invites listeners to explore the shadows and light, the celestial and the tribal. I craft my sound as a shamanic experience, balancing frequencies like an audio alchemist – low, mid, and high frequencies dancing together, creating a textured, otherworldly landscape.
Some moments stand out as true milestones in my career. Releasing “Tears in the Rain” on Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto – inspired by the classic “Blade Runner” – was a defining moment. Being direct support for the legendary Paul van Dyk was a profound honor. And reaching number one on Beatport with Danny Stubbs’ remix of “Now Would Be the Time” was a celebration of connection and creativity.
Speaking of connection, my friendship with the late Danny Stubbs remains a most treasured part of my musical journey. He was more than a fellow artist – he was a mentor, a friend, an incredible talent who left an indelible mark on our community.
For me, music is never just about sound – it’s about invoking a collective experience. This is a celebration of human experience, encoded in rhythm, vocals, mantras, and melody.
Each set, each track is a chance to create a momentary universe where we can all exist together – transcending boundaries, sharing a collective heartbeat. That’s the magic that I aim for.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
When you feel like you might be failing– that’s precisely when breakthrough happens. It’s a lot like climbing a mountain: the moments of greatest doubt are often just steps away from your most significant revelations. Success isn’t about outpacing others, but about challenging yourself.
Intention is everything. The clearer and more focused your vision when you sit down to create, the more you can tap into that creative flow and have something to move towards.
In music, as in life, persistence and not giving up is everything. Keep climbing, keep creating, keep believing in yourself and your vision.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.madisonpalmermusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madisonpalmer_music/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madison.palmer.376/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@madisonpalmermusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/madisonpalmer
- Other: https://www.di.fm/shows/purrgressive
Image Credits
Photo by Bryan Portray
one of the photos is marked in the meta data as – photo by Clark Terrell
