After “Kiki” originally graced Rett’s widely acclaimed 2023 sophomore album, “One for Jackie,” Madison returns to the track. The original version, created in collaboration with Iron & Wine, featured expansive production. In contrast, “Kiki (Rett’s Take)” strips the track back to minimal production, featuring nothing more than an acoustic guitar and Madison’s plaintive, pensive, and powerful solo vocal performance. “Kiki (Rett’s Take)” is a hauntingly beautiful rendition characterized by its minimalist arrangement. The track features only an acoustic guitar and Madison’s raw, emotive vocals, creating an intimate listening experience. This stripped-down version emphasizes the song’s poignant lyrics and Rett’s expressive delivery, making it a moving tribute to her late mother.

At its heart, “Kiki” is a deeply personal song. Rett dives into the track’s name and inspiration, explaining, “When I was growing up, my mom nicknamed me “Kiki”. After she passed away unexpectedly, I didn’t have closure. I wrote “Kiki” from my mom’s perspective and imagined what she’d want to tell me if she could speak with me now.”

Listen to the track…

Hey Rett! You dropped “Kiki” back on your 2023 sophomore album. What inspired you to revisit and strip down this track with “Kiki (Rett’s Take)”?

“Kiki (Rett’s Take)” is the original demo of the song that I recorded at Sonic Ranch while I was making my album. While I was touring earlier this year, I began playing it solo at the end of my live shows and wanted that version of the song to exist too. It’s also fun to show folks where the song began in contrast to how it sounded in its final form with Iron & Wine as the lead vocalist on the album version.

What does the song “Kiki” mean to you and how has its meaning evolved over time?

I wrote “Kiki” from my late mother’s perspective a few years after she passed away. I needed closure and felt like I was having a conversation with my mom while I wrote it. It feels very close to what my mom would say to me now if we could talk. Whenever I sing it, it’s a reminder to myself that somewhere my mom is still cheering me on and I think I’ll continue to feel that way as I grow older.

How do you approach writing songs from different perspectives, like you did with “Kiki”?

I try my best to find points of connection in my own life to empathize with that person’s perspective that inspires the song. With “Kiki” it was a bit easier to write from my mom’s perspective, because I really saw my mom and I still feel connected to her spiritually.

Your music blends folk, rock, Americana, and soul. What artists from these genres do you take inspiration from?

There are so many artists that I look up to in these genres! A few musicians that I admire and draw inspiration from are Brandi Carlisle, Stevie Nicks, Hozier, Dolly Parton, Brittany Howard and Jason Isbell.

You recently performed on CBS Saturday Morning/Saturday Sessions. Can you share what that was like?

I felt so comfortable talking with Dana Jacobson of CBS and I think viewers will get a chance to hear me speak candidly about my grief, mental health, and my upbringing. For the performance, I played three songs from my sophomore album “Fortune Teller” , “One for Jackie, One for Crystal” and “Flea Market”.

Can you share any memorable moments or lessons from your headline tour throughout the Midwest?

I really had a blast being on the road in the Midwest earlier this year. The highlight of that tour was the last show in Columbus, Ohio. The audience in Columbus knew every word to every song in my set and sang along with me which is still a rare moment for me as a performer. I felt so supported by them & it felt incredibly cathartic to sing about grief together with a room of people. There was also a person who drove 8 hours to the show, but hit traffic along the way and just missed my set by a few minutes. The venue in Columbus was very kind and let me stay after my show to play a couple of acoustic songs for the person who travelled all that way. It was a night where I could feel community begin to bloom around my music and I’m so grateful for that.

What new music or projects are you currently working on, and what can fans look forward to in the near future?

I’m currently working on a cover of “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac because it was my mom’s and my favourite song. There’s also another song called “Head On” that I originally recorded as part of “One for Jackie” but it didn’t make the album. Other than that, I’m in the process of writing my third record.

How has your upbringing and personal experiences shaped your music and lyrics?

When I was growing up, songwriting was always a therapeutic outlet for me – like writing in a journal. Because of that, I feel like my songwriting style is often confessional. I also grew up in West Virginia so I’m very influenced by the tradition of Appalachian storytelling.