No Fool For Trying

Biography

Madison Violet is a Canadian music duo composed of singer-songwriters Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac. The group has been notable for various folk and pop award nominations and wins, including being nominated for a Juno award. Their album, The Good in Goodbye, was born from their growth, both together and apart. It is like an open diary of their personal and professional experiences together as friends and musicians, two very unique relationships that affect each other in profound ways. S...

Madison Violet is a Canadian music duo composed of singer-songwriters Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac. The group has been notable for various folk and pop award nominations and wins, including being nominated for a Juno award.

Their album, The Good in Goodbye, was born from their growth, both together and apart. It is like an open diary of their personal and professional experiences together as friends and musicians, two very unique relationships that affect each other in profound ways.

Since releasing their last album, No Fool for Trying (2009), Madison Violet won the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for their track “The Ransom,” took home the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year, and were nominated for multiple East Coast Music Awards and a 2010 JUNO Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year (Group).

As a follow-up to their breakthrough successes in 2010, The Good in Goodbye captures the duo’s growth and musical maturity. Their distinct take on iconic Americana-inspired up-tempo melodies beautifully contrasts with their breathtakingly sweeping and personal lyrics, creating songs that blend nods to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch with radio-friendly flecks of The Court-Yard Hounds.

To capture the intimacy of The Good in Goodbye, Madison Violet returned to the studio with trusted friend and producer Les Cooper (Jill Barber) while bringing a collective of remarkable musicians into the fold, including Joel Stouffer (Dragonette) on drums, Adrian Lawryshyn (Andy Stochansky) on bass, and vocals from Ruth Moody (The Wailin’ Jennys) and singer/songwriter Blair Packham.

Though Madison Violet seemingly made their mark in the last year or so, success was hard earned, spending up to eight months a year on the road, winning fans and champions the old-fashioned way, one song at a time, one gig at a time.

Their first disc, Worry the Jury (2004), was an introduction to the lush arrangements and radio-friendly harmonies that would become a Madison Violet hallmark, with their sophomore album Caravan (2006) further exploring and incorporating country-infused, toe-tapping melodies.

Their breakthrough album, No Fool for Trying (2009) enlisted, for the first time, the help of producer Les Cooper. The record showcased Madison Violet’s heartfelt (and often heartbreaking) lyrics in brilliant contrast to their uplifting arrangements, pushing their graceful harmonies to the surface.

Receiving a mass of acclaim from outlets including the BBC, the CBC, Maverick Magazine, NPR, and Penguin Eggs Magazine, No Fool for Trying made dedicated fans of even the most hard-to-crack critics. Ultimately, Madison Violet captured the attention of Mojo Magazine, landing “Small Of My Heart” on the publication’s distinguished playlist, “Mojo’s Top 10,” in December 2009. Madison Violet also have the unique distinction of being the only Canadians to win The John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

The duo has sold-out venues across North America and Europe, had the prestigious distinction of touring with Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe, and has shared stages with contemporaries such as Chantal Kreviazuk, Ron Sexsmith and The Indigo Girls. With their newest effort, Madison Violet prove on they’re among Canada’s brightest singer/songwriters.

MADISON VIOLET CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Awards
- 2005 ECMA nomination (Best New Artist)
- 2005 ECMA nomination (Pop Recording of the Year / Worry The Jury)
- 2007 ECMA nomination (Group Recording of the Year / Caravan)
- 2008 ECMA nomination (Folk Recording of the Year / Caravan)
- 2008 Canadian Folk Music Award nomination (Best Vocal Group)
- 2009 Canadian Folk Award - (Best Vocal Group)
- 2009 Winners of the “Maxell Song of the Year Award” from the John Lennon Songwriting Competition - “The Ransom”
- 2010 ECMA nomination (Group Recording of the Year / No Fool for Trying)
- 2010 ECMA nomination (SOCAN Songwriter of the Year/ “Small of my Heart”)
- 2010 JUNO Award Nominees - Roots & Traditional Album of the Year, Group
- 2011 Independent Music Awards Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song of the Year for "The Ransom” Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.