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.
Trust Fall
Madi Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My eyes get cloudy everytime you come near
I need you here
If you move too far then i will know
Down we go
I don′t know how to move
I don't know how to move
I cant explain
All that i wanna do
Oh will you stay
Or will you walk away?
I trust you
To draw the line
But then I′ll look in your way
Your stumbling over to my side
Can't take more of the same tonight
Not this time
I don't know how to move
I don′t know how to move
I cant explain
Wasting my time with you
All that i wanna do
Oh will you stay
Or will you walk away?
In Madi Diaz's song Trust Fall, the lyrics depict the overwhelming feeling of trust that the singer has in another person, even though they feel unsure of their own ability to navigate the situation. The singer expresses a desire for this person to stay near them as their vision gets cloudy whenever they come near. The imagery of "down we go" suggests that the singer is aware of the potential risks that come with trusting someone else. However, they still feel drawn to this person and can't explain why they are "wasting their time" being with them. The repetition of "I don't know how to move" conveys a feeling of being stuck, tied to this person and unable to break away from them. The singer even pleads with the other person directly, asking if they will stay or walk away.
The lyrics also showcase a sense of vulnerability, with the singer placing their faith in the other person to "draw the line" or establish boundaries in the relationship. However, the other person seems to stumble or falter, suggesting that they may not be as reliable as the singer initially believed. The line "can't take more of the same tonight" implies that this is a pattern that has been repeated, leaving the singer feeling emotionally drained and uncertain about their future with this person.
Overall, Trust Fall captures the uneasy yet all-consuming sensation of trusting another person, even when it seems like a risky move. It highlights the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which trust can be simultaneously rewarding and challenging.
Line by Line Meaning
You see things so crystal clear
You have a clear perspective on things
My eyes get cloudy everytime you come near
I get confused around you
I need you here
I want you to be with me
If you move too far then i will know
I will feel it if you distance yourself from me
Down we go
Our relationship is in trouble
I don't know how to move
I'm uncertain of how to act
I can't explain
I can't find the words to describe it
Wasting my time with you
I feel like I'm not progressing with you
All that i wanna do
All I want is to be with you
Oh will you stay
I'm unsure if you will remain with me
Or will you walk away?
I fear you will leave me
I trust you
I rely on you
To draw the line
To set boundaries
But then I'll look in your way
I will still be drawn to you
Your stumbling over to my side
You are making mistakes that involve me
Can't take more of the same tonight
I can't handle repeating the same things
Not this time
This time is different
Contributed by Jack F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.