We had the opportunity to connect with Sister Madds following their dynamic performance on the BBC Introducing stage. In an engaging conversation, our host, Karen, sat down with band members Maddie and MacKenzie to discuss their musical journey, inspirations, and experiences performing at this prestigious event.
Karen SMN:
Good afternoon. My name is Karen, and I’m here representing Scottish Music Network. Today, I have the pleasure of sitting down for a chat with Sister Madds. Your name is quite intriguing, so I’d like to start with that – where did it originate?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
That’s actually been a bit of a debate within the band over the years! Originally, when I started out solo as Madds, I was searching for a new stage name. For my first gig, I bought a dress from the brand Sister Jane and thought, “Well, if we’ve got the brothers, I can be the sister.” That’s how the name was born – at least, that’s my version. What’s yours, Mackenzie?
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
My take – and it’s definitely been a point of contention among us – is that we played a Halloween show in Glasgow where Maddie was dressed as a nun. Someone made a joke about “Chester Mads”, or something along those lines, and the name just stuck. But I’ll admit, I’m starting to question my memory of it!
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
There you have it.
Karen SMN:
So perhaps a bit of wishful thinking regarding the name’s origin! It’s always fascinating to hear how bands come up with their names. Often, it’s more spontaneous than people might expect, and that uniqueness is a real asset.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
You’d think so! But if you search thoroughly on Instagram – though perhaps don’t include this in the official write-up – you might find a band with a somewhat similar name.
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
We’ve since managed to distinguish ourselves.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
It’s odd how these things happen, but I’m not one to throw shade.
Karen SMN:
And I suppose the question then is: who had the name first?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
Definitely the dress for me.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Ultimately, the name has developed its own identity – Maddie is the “sister”, and we’ve got our “brotherly” dynamic. As a band, we feel like a family.
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
That’s an important aspect for us.
Karen SMN:
Welcome, then, to this beautiful day! Earlier, you performed on stage – how did you feel before your set? Were there nerves and excitement?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
Honestly, a bit of both. Performing at TRNSMT is a major milestone for any Scottish band. Being here, especially supported by BBC Introducing (who have championed us since our earliest “Madds” days), is incredible. We were thrilled to see people turn out early even with the football last night, and we’re looking forward to enjoying the rest of the festival.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
My overriding feeling was pleasant surprise. There were tough scheduling clashes with other great bands, but luckily the timings shifted, and the crowd really showed up. The audience was enthusiastic, and the set went smoothly. Shout out to Chris, our stand-in drummer, since our regular drummer Ciaran is in America following Scotland at the World Cup. Chris really rose to the occasion. Everything aligned in our favour today – we’re delighted.
Karen SMN:
So you’re feeling good post-gig?
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Absolutely – the pressure’s off now.
Karen SMN:
That’s great to hear. Have you managed to explore the festival a bit?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
Yes! We’ve definitely been getting our steps in today. We caught some of Madra Salach and Lacuna and are planning to see Tina Sandwich.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
We’re excited for Tanzana as well, and I’m a big fan of Radio Free Alice, who are headlining our stage. I’ll be catching Madra Salach again at King Tut’s later tonight.
Karen SMN:
Sounds like a busy day! Did you debut any new material during your set?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
We focused on tracks from our recent EP, “Are You Hungry?”, which we released at the start of the year.
Karen SMN:
That’s the one! “Are You Hungry?”
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
That’s us – always hungry! Very much so.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Today was about giving those songs their moment on a big stage. In particular, “No Longer Leaving” is special – it’s about Glasgow and everything we love about it, so it felt right to perform it here.
Karen SMN:
What inspired the EP’s title, “Are You Hungry?” Is it a nod to your ambition – your hunger for success and more opportunities?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
Exactly. The first line of the opening track, “Table Manners”, is “Are you hungry?” It just encapsulates where we are as a band – this is our first cohesive body of work after years of releasing singles.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
It’s a title with layers – double, triple, maybe quadruple entendre! It’s a mission statement reflecting our drive. We don’t have the privileges some musicians do, so we’re determined to break barriers and achieve as much as possible with what we’ve got. Standing here at TRNSMT is proof that hard work pays off.
Karen SMN:
Absolutely – you can only keep growing. It’s a continual learning process.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Without a doubt.
Karen SMN:
Are there more festival appearances planned for the year?
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Yes, we’re playing Kelburn Garden Party in a couple weeks. We recently performed at Flying Fest as well. It’s been a busy start to the year with our EP release and some big headline shows at King Tut’s, and now we’re building towards more in the autumn – plus, we need to carve out time to write and record new material.
Karen SMN:
That leads nicely into my next question – is writing new music an ongoing process for you?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
Definitely. We’ve got a new body of work in progress, aiming for release towards the end of the year – and maybe something out before then to keep things fresh. We’re more confident in our sound now, and this next phase will really capture the essence of our artistic vision.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Working with Jamie Holmes on our EP was fantastic – he helped us harness our pop sensibilities within our indie rock/punk sound. We’re hoping to team up with him again to keep evolving and deliver something that stands out. I seem to be full of layered meanings today!
Karen SMN:
Let’s talk influences – what shapes your sound, and how do the band members’ tastes come together?
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
A lot of my songwriting is inspired by 2000s artists like Lily Allen and Kate Nash – strong, cheeky female voices writing about more than just love. We need that edge. The rest of the band brings in punk and modern rock influences, so it’s quite a mix.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
What makes our sound unique and took time to refine is the blend of our individual styles. Ciaran, our drummer, is a prog enthusiast; Fraser, our rhythm guitarist, brings post-punk eccentricity; Adam, our bassist, is heavily influenced by new wave punk, especially Bruce Foxton of The Jam; and I’m rooted in a Celtic fusion of classic rock and new wave. It all clicks together now.
Karen SMN:
That certainly adds intrigue to your music.
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
That’s the goal!
Karen SMN:
It’s been a real pleasure speaking with you today.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Thank you so much for having us.
Karen SMN:
We’ll be following your journey and look forward to seeing what’s next – perhaps even catching up again next year.
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
Looking forward to it!
Karen SMN:
We’ll check in to see all that you’ve achieved.
Mackenzie Burns (Sister Madds):
Thank you, truly.
Karen SMN:
Have a fantastic rest of your day.
Maddie Cassidy (Sister Madds):
Thank you! Bye-bye.
Interview by Karen Edmond
