About Madde
Madde knew this is what she was born to do the first time she stood in front of an audience with a guitar in her hands.
Madde has been releasing music since 2014, recording everything in her bedroom and teaching herself how to produce her own music.
Photo by Travis Murphy (2022)
Maddi Gruber (Madde) is from Chico, California. She has been writing music since she was 9 years old and started recording at the age of 14. She released her debut album, Q.E.D., in December 2016, while still in high school. After she graduated, she released her second album, One More Hour in 2018. Since then she has released numerous singles while in the works of her third album, The Salt To Walk On, released April 8th, 2022.
She moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to start working on her degree in songwriting at Los Angeles College of Music. While going to school, she formed a band with other classmates and began playing around Southern California as much as they could. Madde dropped out of college in 2019 and moved back up north with her drummer and friend, Justin Almazan. That following year was full of both of them touring and playing shows as a two-piece who then changed their name to The Viles. That touring streak died down once COVID hit the world and Madde continued working on The Salt To Walk On.
Now, Madde is working with multiple musicians, such as her dear friend Chloe Denson on bass and, across the pond, Josh Nimmo (from Eastcote). Writing together and touring as well.
About The Music
ALBUMS
THE SALT TO WALK ON
‘The Salt To Walk On’ was released on April 8, 2022, followed by a 6-week US tour. Madde wrote and recorded this album in Liverpool, UK with Josh Nimmo. This album talks about grief, healing, and growth.
“This was the most therapeutic album I have ever written, talking about the 2 hardest years I have ever had to go through. I am so lucky to have been able to put this out and share it with people who have the similar struggles.” - Madde Gruber
One More Hour
‘One More Hour’ was released on July 2, 2018 was written over the course of 2 years then released while Madde was studying at LACM. This album is about moving forward and not listing to anyone who has doubts about you and your abilities. This was therapeutic for Madde to write and release after so many people told her she couldn’t be a musician, so she wrote an album about it.
“The record is a huge step forward in both Gruber’s songwriting/performance and in production for a Madd release. One More Hour was recorded over the last year all around California—Chico, Folsom, Hollywood, Pasadena—and it’s a super-fun slice of fuzzy garage/pop rock. The catchy fist-pumping opening song, “Worth It All,” is particularly impressive in all its hyper, overdriven guitar bluster.”
It was released with a music video of the third song on the album, ‘I Got Somethin’ For Ya Babe’ - Watch it here
Q.E.D.
‘Q.E.D.’ was released on December 6, 2016, while Madde was a senior in high school. This album tells stories that have hidden meaning, each song has a different story to it. The 11th song on the album, ‘I’m Doing Fine’, is the first song Madde ever recorded in her bedroom and learned how to produced by herself. This album is unmastered and made for those who just want raw rock n’ roll. Highly inspired by artists such as The White Stripes, Little Richard, The Clash, and Prince.
SINGLES
CALVARY
‘CALVARY’ is Madde’s 2nd single from The Salt To Walk On, released in May 2021. This song is close to Madde’s heart, writing about the struggles of recovery.
“i try to be as transparent as i can when i write because it's my job to speak truths.this song is about my recovery process and my struggles with anorexia and OCD. i never realized how much it has taken away from me over the past 11 years until i hit rock bottom. i wrote this song over the course of eight months at my lowest points as i was in and out of rehab and the hospital. i had to understand that if i wanted to live, i had to face the truth and fight. i was scared shitless. i had to put my entire life on pause during this time and focus on my health. looking back at where i was compared to where i am now and how much work i had to do to get here is something i am very proud of and i am very lucky to have met the people and resources i have during this time. i am happy to share this song with you all and to give it to anyone who needs it. i want anyone who struggles with an ED (or any kind of addiction) to know you are not alone. its scary as hell reaching out for help and being vulnerable but the lessons i have learned from doing so are now tools i am very fortunate to have for the rest of my life and on the rest of my recovery journey to now be able to do things i could not do before and live my life how i’ve always wanted to. every day is a struggle but it gets a little easier every week as i keep working toward where i want to be. somedays it's one step forward then three steps back, days where all my body will let me do is sleep, and learning that i have to accept the truth that i have an eating disorder, i don't want to live in denial any more. i have to remind myself of these things every single day as recovery does not feel like a natural path and it is scary. along with all this, i know there is nothing linear about the process of recovery and that is completely okay.don’t be afraid to reach out for help, pain is universal and it doesn’t last forever.”
- Madde Gruber (2021)