On The Row: Madeline Merlo Finds Her Sound On New EP

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Madeline Merlo. Photo: Robby Klein

BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records recording artist Madeline Merlo is gearing up for her major label debut, One House Down (From The Girl Next Door), due out Oct. 11. She recently stopped by the MusicRow office to share some tunes and talk about the making of the project.

Merlo hails from Maple Ridge in British Columbia, Canada, and has been in Nashville for seven years. She rode horses growing up, which is how she was introduced to country music that would play in the barn all day long. At six years old, she performed “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” at her school talent show, igniting her passion for singing. By age eight, Merlo singing along to songs like Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing.”

Soon enough, Merlo moved to Toronto to begin chasing her music dream. After two years in Canada’s it city, she packed up everything she had and drove down to Nashville. She signed her first publishing deal with Deluge Music and started finding her stride as a songwriter.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Liza Anderson & LB Cantrell, Madeline Merlo, MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson, Madison Hahnen & John Nix Arledge

In 2020, Merlo got a call that she was going to be on NBC’s Songland. On the show, she was paired with hitmaker Shane McAnally where they worked on Merlo’s “Champagne Night” for country trio Lady A. It was the first song on the show that was sent to radio where it went on to become a three-week No. 1. The now Platinum-certified single earned Merlo the 2021 Canadian Country Music Association Songwriter of the Year award, and also led her to sign her BBR record deal and publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing.

Now gearing up for the release of her Zach Crowell-produced EP, Merlo is excited to share more of her storytelling with the world.

Madeline Merlo & MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson

“I’ve never had a harder time picking what songs should be on a project,” Merlo shared of the new music. “I was in a state of turmoil and could not decide. I’ve never had that happen before but I’m so proud of each and every song on it and I feel like it all works together in a perfect way. I feel like I’ve really come into my own as a writer, in my sound and my voice.” 

The six-track project features her recently-released duet with Dustin Lynch “Broken Heart Thing,” which Merlo played for the team. The duet is a full-circle moment for Merlo, as she auditioned to be on Lynch’s “Thinkin’ Bout You,” but sadly did not get the feature. Though she admits that she was disappointed, everything works out in the end, as now Lynch is featured on her own song.

Merlo also played her vulnerable “Makeup” to the MusicRow team. Written with Crowell, Jerry Flowers and Josh Osborne, the tune shares the emotional story of how we don’t always have to accept everything that’s passed down from our parents.

One House Down (From The Girl Next Door) also features “Bar Fight,” “Middle Of The Bed” and more within its track list. Merlo explained that the order of the songs follow her story, starting with her going through a breakup to meeting her now-husband.

In addition to the EP, Merlo will soon make her Grand Ole Opry debut on Oct. 16.

Madison Hahnen
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