Brisbane, Australia-based ARCVDIA is the musical project of Madeleine Thompson, a self-taught producer, and a musician known for her folk vibes and many achievements. She won various talent competitions since the age of 15 and has been involved in many projects including RAW and ‘Indie 100’.
Madeline has left behind her acoustic roots and is now diving into the world of electronic pop as ARCVDIA. She takes her inspiration from Billie Eilish, King Princess, LORDE, and BANKS, captivating listeners with unforgettable stories through her sultry vocals, haunting melodies, and dreamy synths.
Her latest single Out of My Mind, written and produced by ARCVDIA, starts a new era for the singer-songwriter. Mixed by Gold Coast’s production dream team Soft Nylon for mixing and Paul Blakey for mastering, the delicate pop-ballad takes listeners on an emotional journey of a broken relationship.
I recently interviewed ARCVDIA about her new single, her new sound, production processes, the biggest challenge of her music career so far, her advice for aspiring self-taught producers, and more.
Congratulations on your new single Out of My Mind.
What would you hope listeners will take away from it?
I hope that this song can give people who have also experienced a similar situation some comfort, or even just make their day a little better. This song helped me heal and I hope it can do the same for others.
What is the meaning behind the name ARCVDIA and the story behind your new musical project?
I have always loved the name ‘Arcadia’ – it actually means ‘idyllic vision of unspoiled wilderness’ – a utopia, and I always thought that was pretty magical. When I chose the name ARCVDIA, I wanted it to mean something, but I also wanted it to be a name that I really liked – hence naming myself after Arcadia.
Why did you decide to delve into the world of electronic pop with your new single and leave behind the acoustic/folk sound you are known for?
I started experimenting with production and realised that I absolutely loved it. I feel like this was always my sound – I just had to find it. Having said that, I will always love playing the acoustic guitar and writing songs with it.
How specifically did the sounds of Billie Ellish and Banks inspire your new pop sound?
Both of these women are such incredible artists – they have created this awesome, edgy, bass heavy music that just oozes confidence, however they have also released these raw, real songs that just hit you deep – so that’s what I wanted to do with this song. Be raw, real, and honest with my feelings.
Explain your production process.
Every song is different, but usually I will start a song off with a basic chord progression and experiment with melody. Once I have a good foundation I start adding in elements and just keep building on the project until I feel as though it is complete. I also love getting feedback from any musicians I can – also collaboration is a massive part of my process too.
What is your favorite microphone to record with, in the studio, and why?
I only have the one – a Rode NT1. This is a great mic though – it picks up a clean sound and is easy to manipulate – great for recording in loud apartment buildings!
You’re a self-taught bedroom producer. How did you teach yourself to produce?
I took a course at uni which taught Pro Tools and Ableton, and I fell in love. I found a new love for writing music, and I feel like as soon as I started producing my own stuff I felt as though I had finally found my song. I just kept going after the course, getting advice, doing online tutorials, and a lot of trial and error.
What advice do you have for women who want to become producers?
Honestly just believe in yourself, and if you love it then work hard at it and don’t let anyone intimidate you into feeling like you aren’t good enough. Get advice from everyone you can and collaborate with other like-minded artists – I have learnt the most from just sitting in rooms and watching how people work.
Explain your involvement in the RAW and ‘Indie 100’ projects and what the experiences were like.
I did a lot of acoustic projects when I was writing acoustic/folk music which I think were a lot of fun, and I learnt a lot. They were really good for making me feel like I was good enough to be heard – I think that events like these are one of the reasons I decided to keep going and also what taught me how important it is to surround yourself with other musicians who you collaborate with and learn from.
Besides COVID-19, what has been the biggest challenge in your music career and how did you overcome it?
Honestly finding the confidence to finally release my music – that was a huge thing for me that I’d wanted to do for such a long time so when I finally believed in myself to release the first single as ARCVDIA that was a huge accomplishment for me.
In what ways do you think the indie music industry can better support women artists and musicians?
I think we can get more events and opportunities for us to play live, support other musicians, and ways to meet each other. Networking and meeting other musicians is so invaluable and probably one of the best things you can do for your own personal growth.
What projects do you have planned for this year?
I have a couple more singles that I am working on which I am so excited about!! These are songs that are very close to my heart, and I cannot wait to share them with the world. I have also been experimenting with my sound and production so am overall just so excited to get them out!
You can connect with ARCVDIA on her Spotify Artist Page | Instagram | Facebook