• New Music - Astronaut, by Maddie Witler

    Astronaut, by Maddie Witler

    PORTLAND, ME. — Maddie Witler has announced the release of her debut solo recording entitled Astronaut, a collection of original compositions, available for purchase from Bandcamp.

    On the project Maddie plays mandolin, guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle, and random percussion. Mike Robinson adds support on pedal steel and guitar on tracks 3 and 7, with Sean Trischka on percussion on tracks 3, 5, and 7.

    The album is the first presentation of her abilities as a songwriter, singer, and producer with a foray into a more progressive musical space.

    Known for her powerful mandolin playing in the bluegrass genre with bands like the Lonely Heartstring Band and Grammy nominated Della Mae (from which she recently parted with), most of the material was completed during the pandemic when many musicians were unable to tour or rehearse with others.

    A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, she joins several musical alumni (including Instructor of Mandolin, Joe K. Walsh) in a rich local acoustic music scene with many other musician who have chosen the idyllic coastal town of Portland as home.

    On the album she plays her 1982 Gilchrist Model 5 #82124, using BlueChip Picks and D'Addario XT custom medium gauge 11.5-40. Acoustic guitars are a 1937 Kalamazoo KG-22 arch top, and a 1947 Martin D-28. Banjo is a Pisgah Banjo Company, Rambler Dobson model.

    Listen

    From the recording, the track "Leave Me Alone."



    Track Listing

    • Brainsong (Without Me)
    • Leave Me Alone
    • Rose (the Sentient Cactus)
    • How To Live
    • Real
    • Dunbar
    • She's an Astronaut

    Additional Information

    Comments 4 Comments
    1. musicofanatic's Avatar
      musicofanatic -
      Quite possibly my current favorite mandolin player! I am seeing her with Tony Trischka and Michael Daves, Brittany Haas, and Jared Engel this week. She put together an ad hoc fill-in band at TPB in 2021 and it was one of my favorite acts of that weekend
    1. Drew Egerton's Avatar
      Drew Egerton -
      Enjoying it so far, nicely done Maddie! Also note that they are only asking $1 on Bandcamp, but you can put in a higher amount if you feel inclined.
    1. Lucindalin's Avatar
      Lucindalin -
      Loving this!
    1. Paul Statman's Avatar
      Paul Statman -
      Wicked good, that, Maddie! Congratulations on your bostin solo debut album. I'm headed over to purchase it right now.