Her somewhat contentious relationship with Green himself would be captured for audiences to see in the 2005 documentary film Rock School. Even at that young age, Madi had forceful ideas about her music, an instinct that has served her well in avoiding lazy categorization.
Green's School of Rock led to a scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where Madi would spend the next three years. Beyond musical education, it was at Berklee that she met producer Frank Charlton and engineer Martin Cooke, with whom she would record her first solo album, Skin and Bone, in early 2007. Joining her for the sessions was another Berklee student, Kyle Ryan, her songwriting and performing collaborator ever since.
Skin and Bone is a sparkling debut, capturing a rootsy side of Diaz as singer-songwriter and drawing comparisons to the work of artists like Patty Griffin. But just as soon as Skin and Bone arrived, Diaz was already moving forward. She and Ryan began co-writing with others, and the pair, often joined by bass player Adam Popick, started to play regularly in and around Boston. A chance meeting at a show in New York City lead Madi to her manager Ty Stiklorius (part of John Legend's management team) and in turn to a publishing deal with Cherry Lane (Ryan, too, signed with Cherry Lane).
With support from her new management and publisher, doors began to open and interest in Madi grew, especially after people saw her perform at places like the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival, WXPN Phildelphia's XPoNential Music Festival and the Living Room in New York City's Lower East Side.
Diaz and Ryan began co-writing with folks like Sarah Siskind, Garrison Starr and David Mead, and recording demos with producers Gary Paczosa (Dixie Chicks, Alison Krauss), Marshall Altman (Matt Nathanson) and Jay Joyce (Patty Griffin). Those sessions eventually spurred Diaz and Ryan to uproot from Boston and move to Nashville, where they continued to write new material and ingratiate themselves into the local scene through local gigs at The Basement and Mercy Lounge. Nashville producers, Ian Fitchuck and Justin Loucks (Landon Pigg, Griffin House, De Novo Dahl) became friends and soon collaborators, the first byproduct of which is Diaz and Ryan's new EP, Ten Gun Salute.
The sound of Ten Gun Salute might surprise those who have heard Skin and Bone, as Madi and Kyle veer off into new sonic territories. Toy pianos plink. Fat basslines oomph. Americana overtones give way to imaginative pop structures. All the while there's that amazing voice weaving through. From the simple and sublime "Heavy Heart," to the instantly memorable "Nothing At All," the evocative storytelling of "Love You Now" to the damn-near-epic title track, Ten Gun Salute finds Diaz soaring.
Heavy Heart
Madi Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought that I could make it a day without
My heavy heart
Drawing a circle around a straight line
I want to choose one, I wanna make time
My heavy heart, heart
Down at the bottom all the things I forgot
My heavy heart, heart
An empty heart, giving up another flight
All the time it takes to hold it right
My heavy heart
I've seen you sitting broken with one lighter
Whatever it is I'll end up wrapping round
My heavy heart, heart
Heart, an empty heart, giving up another flight
All the time it takes to hold it right
My heavy heart
What in the world could it be this time now
I thought that I could make it a day without
My heavy heart
Drawing a circle around a straight line
I want to choose one, I wanna make time
My heavy heart, heart
Unpacking boxes lighter things went on top
Down at the bottom all the things I forgot
My heavy heart, heart
An empty heart, giving up another flight
All the time it takes to hold it right
My heavy heart
I've seen you sitting broken with one lighter
Whatever it is I'll end up wrapping round
My heavy heart, heart
Heart, an empty heart, giving up another flight
All the time it takes to hold it right
My heavy heart
Madi Diaz's song Heavy Heart explores the emotions of a person who is dealing with a heavy heart. The song begins with the person wondering what could be causing this feeling and how they thought they could make it through a day without feeling it. The use of "heavy heart" in the song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the weight of heavy emotions.
The lyrics also mention "drawing a circle around a straight line" and wanting to choose one and make time. This could suggest that the person is trying to find a way to balance their life and make decisions that will help them cope better with their emotions. The unpacking of boxes that the lyrics mention could also symbolize the process of unpacking one's feelings and memories, and how some things are easier to deal with than others.
The line "All the time it takes to hold it right" could suggest that the person is struggling with holding their emotions in or trying to hold themselves together. The mention of someone else sitting broken with one lighter could indicate the person's empathy for others who are also dealing with emotional struggles. The chorus repeats the phrase "My heavy heart" several times, emphasizing the weight and burden of the person's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
What in the world could it be this time now
I am wondering what negative event will happen next in my life.
I thought that I could make it a day without
I believed that I could go a day without feeling the weight of my emotions.
My heavy heart
I am burdened by my thoughts and emotions, and it weighs heavily on me.
Drawing a circle around a straight line
I am trying to make sense of a situation that is confusing or seemingly impossible to navigate.
I want to choose one, I wanna make time
I desire to make a decision and take control of my life.
Unpacking boxes lighter things went on top
I prioritized putting the less significant items on top while unpacking.
Down at the bottom all the things I forgot
The important things that I neglected or overlooked ended up at the bottom of the boxes.
An empty heart, giving up another flight
Feeling emotionally drained and defeated, I am unwilling or unable to take another chance or risk.
All the time it takes to hold it right
It takes effort and energy to maintain composure and handle my emotions effectively.
I've seen you sitting broken with one lighter
I have witnessed someone going through a tough time, possibly with a destructive coping mechanism.
Whatever it is I'll end up wrapping round
No matter what happens, I know my heavy heart will continue to weigh me down.
Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sulwen T.
here cause i love madi's voice. she's the definition of a true musician. you can tell from her latest music that she's had a lot of experience with song-writing and she makes good music. will support artists like her.
Michael Moricz
I just saw Madi perform in person last night for the first time in several years and she brought me to tears with this song and others. It’s been 10 years since this song appeared and Madi is still out there making music, moving us, generating joy and meaning through songs of sadness, surviving, thriving, still inspiring us. Thank you Madi! <3
Jack Mooring
Wow! Beautifully written song. And tracked at my favorite studio in the world!
Ein Han
This song really feels like heavy heart...Amazing artist, Madi Diaz
Hannah Read
One of my favorite songs, love it!
hayleyuni
I really love this song! 😭❤️
Lauren Sum
You have such incredible talent! I love this!
grapevinesteve
Such a beautiful song. I'm loving the EP and can't wait for the album in January. Fingers crossed I'll be able to get it through Amazon UK .
Shane Garcia
Amazing, as always, Madi!
Madelynn Elyse
Madi I just ran across this. You are so incredible talented. I hope I get to catch one of your shows at SXSW this year.