“Kelson’s voice is rich and warm”

— NPR

Madeleine Kelson is a Nashville based Americana artist. She pulls from a rich tradition of Folk, Country, and Americana, challenging its boundaries as a queer artist to represent the modern world. Madeleine spent her high school years in Chicago band, The Kelson Twins, playing venues including House of Blues and Thalia Hall, and landing a top Daytrotter Session with Paste Magazine. She later moved to Nashville to pursue a solo career. Inspired by artists like Patty Griffin, Jason Isbell, and Brandi Carlile, her dynamic and down-to-earth storytelling and rich vocals are part of why NPR named her a Nashville artist on the rise.

Once in Nashville, Madeleine won the 2017 International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Songwriter Showcase, and in 2018 released her acclaimed solo debut Siren, an introspective five-song EP with clean, melodic vocals backed by elegant countermelodies on violin. Praised by press for its genre-defying, sparse style and emotional richness, Siren earned Kelson comparisons to both Amos Lee and Gillian Welch.

In 2022, Madeleine released her debut, self-produced album, While I Was Away, on Olivia Records. Since its release she has gained praise from No Depression, been featured multiple times in NPR, and was a finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition. Her queer country anthem, The Way I Do, became a viral TikTok hit with over 3 million views. Madeleine has been featured on Spotify editorial playlists including Queer as Folk, Emerging Americana, and Fresh Finds Folk. Her EP, Where the Spirit Meets the Muscle, was released in February 2024.