Madison Palmer on authenticity, evolution, and the dance music scene in Austin
Austin-based DJ and producer Madison Palmer is making waves in the underground electronic scene with her distinctive blend of Progressive House, Melodic Techno, Tribal, and Deep Trance. Recently shedding her MeowWow moniker, Palmer has embraced a new chapter in her musical journey, focusing on authenticity and deeper connections with her audience.
Photo credit: Madison Palmer – Facebook
In this exclusive interview, we delve into Madison’s artistic evolution, from her roots in California to becoming a prominent figure in Austin’s vibrant electronic music community. We explore her upcoming collaborations, including releases on Dissident and Of Us Records, her experiences at major events like Seismic Music Festival, and how her personal challenges have shaped her approach to music and fan engagement.
Join us as we uncover the story behind Madison Palmer’s rise in the electronic music scene, her monthly residency on DI.FM, and her perspective on the thriving Austin music landscape.
EG: Welcome to EG, Madison. It’s great to have you with us today. You recently transitioned from MeowWow to Madison Palmer. What was the driving force behind this change, and how has it impacted your music and public image?
Madison: Thank you so much for inviting me to speak with you. The decision to change my artist name to Madison Palmer was really about returning to myself. It was about transformation and shedding my skin. I started as Madison, DJing all over California. MeowWow was like a cocoon for me – a space to explore and experiment. But it was time to emerge and create a more authentic connection with my listeners. While my music is constantly evolving, this wasn’t about a dramatic shift in genre or direction – it was about authenticity. I’m finding it much more natural to connect with people as Madison, and hopefully it’s made it easier for people to discover my music.
EG: With new projects on the horizon, what can fans expect from your upcoming work? Are there any experimental directions or collaborations you’re particularly excited about?
Madison: I’m particularly excited about my upcoming collaborations with Zy Khan. One will be coming out on Dissident, which includes a remix from the incredible Amir Telem. There’s also a special release coming up on P.O.U.’s label Of Us Records called ‘Torn Apart,’ dropping on November 15th. Zy and I also did a recent remix for Taylan’s ‘The Storm’ that came out on Enormous Vision. It was a dream to release on Enormous and work on Taylan’s music. We’ve also got something really special planned for the dancefloor, plus a few more exciting collaborations in the pipeline. Stay tuned!
EG: You’ve had standout performances at Seismic Music Festival, SXSW, and The Concourse Project. Any particularly memorable moments or unexpected experiences from these gigs that you’d like to share?
Madison: Playing at the Seismic Dance Festival and The Concourse Project in Austin has been one of my absolute favorite experiences. I’m thrilled to be returning this year for the 7th Seismic Dance Event with headliners; Eric Prydz, Carl Cox, Disclosure, Orbital, Fatima Hajji, Massano, Arty, and Debora de Luca to name a few. The festival is happening November 15-17th, 2024 in Austin, Texas. More details on the lineup, tickets, and set times are here.
“The decision to change my artist name to Madison Palmer was really about returning to myself”
EG: Austin’s music scene is both eclectic and influential. How has the local scene shaped your sound and approach to music?
Madison: Moving to Austin from Los Angeles in 2020 was transformative. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here 4 years ago, but I’ve been blessed to connect with a vibrant community. While Los Angeles is massive in dance music culture, I discovered a strong, passionate, and thriving community here in Austin. The opening of The Concourse Project was an exciting moment – it really confirmed that I was exactly where I needed to be. The level and quality of shows are top-tier. I truly feel blessed to be invited to play and support some of the best electronic dance music artists in the world.
Having this vibrant community here has inspired me to dive deeper into the full sound palette and explore while staying true to the music that I love. All these shared moments have helped to shape my sound. It’s continually evolving in nuance! I love it.
Austin is very special! Kelly Gray and Andrew Parsons (a dynamic husband and wife team) are the co-owners of The Concourse Project, RealMusic Events, and Seismic Dance Event in Austin! What they have done for the Austin scene is quite mind-blowing. Their dedication to bringing world-class talent and maintaining impeccable sound and top production really sets them apart. You can feel the passion in everything they do. Austin shines as a bright star on the map thanks to their dedication and love for our beautiful community.
EG: You took a significant break to focus on family and health. How did this period affect your music and career?
Madison: Music remained my constant companion through it all. After my son was 4 years old and I had gone through various health challenges – which I fortunately caught early – I felt drawn to explore music production. Learning to produce was like learning a new language, but I had an incredible teacher in Keith Snow. The studio became my sanctuary. I could lose myself in every beat, rhythm, and melody. That flow state is truly magical – it washes everything else away. When worries set in, it’s a place I can go and reset myself. Music has been profoundly healing for me, and I’m grateful to be able to create again and connect with artists and music lovers worldwide.
In some ways I had to start over with my music career, but I took it as a chance for rebirth and expanding my toolbox as an artist. Now I can take all these experiences and inspiration into my music.
EG: Tell us about your collaborations and the relationships you’ve built in the industry.
Madison: I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing producers and remixers like; Zy Khan (UK), Forty Cats, Amir Telem, 08 Orbit (Sweden), Will Konitzer, Shemsu, Elle Jae, and recently started a project with Paul Sawyer of Krafted Underground. Krafted actually signed my first track ‘Present Moment,’ which received incredible remixes from Paul Sawyer and Danny Stubbs. Speaking of Danny, his recent passing was a tremendous loss to our community. He was such a special person – kind-hearted, funny, and eternally positive. His work with vocals was masterful. I was blessed to have four stunning remixes from Danny, and each time completely amazed with his beautiful gift. His encouragement meant everything when I was feeling frustrated. He lifted up so many others in the same way, and my heart goes out to his wife and family.
EG: You’ve built a strong following with over 50,000 subscribers across platforms. What’s your approach to engaging with your audience?
Madison: For me, it’s about consistency and understanding what resonates with people. I try to be creative with content across different platforms while staying true to my artistic vision, but it’s not always easy. Every piece of feedback is valuable, and I make note of what people respond to. My goal is to create personal connections through music – to share experiences and ideas that people can connect with and escape into. Also, just trying to learn from my mistakes and break out of my shell.
“Music has been profoundly healing for me, and I’m grateful to be able to create again and connect with artists and music lovers worldwide”
EG: Can you tell us about your monthly residency on [DI.FM]?
Madison: I do a monthly show on DI.FM’s Progressive channel called PURRGRESSIVE. At the beginning of 2024, I started to feature a guest mix in the second hour of the show. It’s always been a dream to have a show where I can showcase up-and-coming artists and producers that I love. And it’s not just the progressive sound but what progressive means.
In my show, you will find music from other genres from Progressive House and Melodic Techno to Indie Dance and Tech House, and Deep Trance while giving a progressive flow and vibe! I feel honored to have past guests like; Forty Cats, P.O.U., Nihil Young, Into the Ether, Zy Khan, Paul Sawyer and Ava Alika to name a few.
EG: Thank you for your time and insights, Madison. Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?
Madison: Thank you so much for having me. I’m truly honored and grateful for this opportunity to share my story with the Electronic Groove community.
Madison Palmer’s ‘Torn Apart’ is set to be released on Of Us Records. Pre-order here.
Follow Madison Palmer: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Website
