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.
Talk To Me
Madi Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uncomplicated we made our love from desire
Thought that we were flying
Until we felt the pull of the wire
Oh, when you look at us both
Do you want it? Do you need it?
Wanting to show that we feel it
Ooh, talk to me
Can we go back where we started from
The house is quiet
We haven't been alone in awhile
Come on and hold me
You can tell me what's on your mind
Oh, when you look at us both
Do you want it? Do you need it?
Wanting to show that we feel it
Can you feel it?
Ooh, talk to me
Can we go back where we started from
See the sunrise over your shoulder
If we could stay this way forever
We'd stay young till the day we die
The lyrics to Madi Diaz's "Talk to Me" delve into the complexities of a romantic relationship, reflecting on the past and yearning for a return to a simpler time. The start of the relationship was filled with passion and excitement, as described in the first verse when the couple was "flying" and their love was "uncomplicated." However, as time passed, the relationship became more strained, and the couple has lost touch with each other.
The chorus of the song is a plea for the couple to talk and work together to mend their relationship- "Ooh, talk to me, can we go back where we started from?" The singer wants to know if their partner still wants and needs them, and they both want to show the love they feel for each other.
The second verse takes place in a quiet house where the couple hasn't been alone in a while, adding to the distance between them. The singer asks their partner to hold them and speak their mind, as they both struggle to bring back the thrill of their romance from the beginning.
Overall, "Talk to Me" is a song that touches on the ups and downs of a relationship, emphasizing the importance of communication and reminding us that love isn't always easy.
Line by Line Meaning
In the beginning we threw out hearts in the fire
At the start of our relationship, we were reckless and passionate, putting everything on the line without a second thought.
Uncomplicated we made our love from desire
We kept it simple, fueling our love with our own yearning and wanting for one another.
Thought that we were flying
We believed that our love was soaring high, and that nothing could bring us down.
Until we felt the pull of the wire
But eventually, reality set in, and we began to realize that we were being restrained by something that we couldn't see or control.
Oh, when you look at us both
When we're together, and you're staring into my eyes, I wonder if you're feeling the way I'm feeling, and if you want the same things as I do.
Do you want it? Do you need it?
Do you long for this relationship like I do? Do you feel like we need each other in order to be complete?
Wanting to show that we feel it
I want to prove to you how much I care about you, and how much our love means to me.
Can you feel it?
Do you sense the same level of love and connection between us that I do?
Ooh, talk to me
Please, open up to me and let me know what you're thinking and feeling. I want to understand you better and strengthen our bond.
Can we go back where we started from
Can we recapture the purity and simplicity of our earlier days, when we were free of the worries and tensions that are now clouding our relationship?
The house is quiet
We find ourselves alone in a still and peaceful moment, with only each other for company.
We haven't been alone in awhile
It's been a long time since we last had this kind of privacy together, with no outside distractions or interruptions.
Come on and hold me
Let's physically connect and embrace, so that we can feel each other's warmth and comfort.
You can tell me what's on your mind
I'm here to listen to you and support you, no matter what you're going through. You don't have to go through this on your own.
See the sunrise over your shoulder
Let's savor this moment and take in the beauty of the world around us, even if it's just watching the sun rise in the distance.
If we could stay this way forever
If we could freeze time and keep things the way they are right now, with our love and affection for each other still strong and vibrant.
We'd stay young till the day we die
Our love would be eternal and ageless, keeping us young and vibrant even as the years pass by.
Writer(s): Madi Diaz, Kyle Hurlbut Copyright: BMG Ruby Songs, Songs Of Madi Diaz Music, Happy The Kid
Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.