Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Lucas
Hi Madison, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am from a very small town in South Carolina called Great Falls. That’s where my love of music began. I played trumpet in my high school marching and concert bands with a focus on classical music. I taught myself guitar in college and starting writing songs very quietly in my closet so my roommates wouldn’t hear. I’ve always been a really shy person and it took me awhile to start performing in front of others alone. Eventually I worked my way up open mics and put out my first solo album in 2011. Around 2019 I formed an indie rock band based in Charlotte called Modern Moxie with my husband and bass player Harry Kollm. We’ve released three albums to date and have been so fortunate to open for huge bands like Echo & the Bunnymen, The Dollyrots, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers and The Aces. It’s been a slow build to get where we are but we’re so proud of how far we’ve come with our music. We just booked our first national level festival in Charlotte (Lovin’ Life Fest) and we could not be more excited. We’ve had more success as an independent band than I ever thought was possible and we hope to keep growing every year.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think any work in the arts is ever smooth. It’s a windy road with so many challenges. Financially it’s nearly impossible so you must be creative. I had been battling with the balance between a corporate job and managing my band and finally I realized it wasn’t possible. I left my full time job and began teaching music part time. Teaching music to kids has been life changing for me and it makes me so much happier. I have less funding for my band obviously but the change in how I feel has allowed me to write music more freely. Being in a band is hard. It’s manual labor loading gear into venues, it’s making pennies from Spotify while you have millions of plays, it’s getting constant emails that look promising but then you realize they’re scams. The music industry will try to beat you down and take advantage of you. I’ve dealt with this by focusing on building our own community one person at a time and bringing them quality music. We send hand written thank you letters to any soul that’s ever purchased our music or merch. We’re so grateful that we have our community and we hope to keep building our support system and growing as musicians through every road block.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Modern Moxie is a Charlotte-based indie rock band led by Madison Lucas, whose journey from a shy, small-town girl in Great Falls, S.C., to a fiery lead singer is at the heart of the band’s story. Lucas’ deeply personal songwriting, inspired by feelings of being trapped and the determination to break free from anxieties, fuels their music. This theme shines in Claw Your Way Out (2019), a debut album that includes the single “Flowers in Your Hair” that has over 4.4 million Spotify streams. The album also won Queen City Nerve’s Best Album award.Lucas first explored music through trumpet in her one-stoplight town and taught herself guitar during college at Coastal Carolina. Her path to the stage began with open mics at Charlotte’s Evening Muse, where she honed her craft despite intense stage fright. A chance meeting at Jack Beagle’s in NoDa introduced her to bassist, and now husband, Harry Kollm, setting the foundation for Modern Moxie. Lead guitarist Phil Pucci and drummer Charlie Weeks later joined, completing the lineup and sound. Recorded in South Carolina with producer Kenny McWilliams, Claw Your Way Out blends jangly pop melodies with raw alternative rock energy, channeling influences from ’80s and ’90s icons like Tanya Donelly to modern acts like Snail Mail and Metric. Tracks like “Believers in Sound” and “Til I’m a Ghost” explore themes of resilience, addiction, politics, and artistic passion while leaving space for personal interpretation. Modern Moxie followed up with the Gutter Honey EP (2022) and released Tripping the Light Fantastic in August 2024 which won Queen City Nerve’s Reader’s Choice for Best Album. In 2024, Christopher Slezak joined the band on drums along with Taylor Newell to meet the live show and studio demands needed to keep the project moving after Charlie Weeks’ departure. With a unique, grungy sound and an unshakable determination, Modern Moxie continues to captivate fans with their heartfelt, empowering music.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The music industry is headed towards a big ole dumpster fire is the nicest way I can put it. Giant corporations are profiting off of the backs of creatives that receive almost nothing. I am personally strongly supporting organizations like UMAW (United Musicians and Allied Workers) that fight for a more just music industry. Things must change so that independent artists can thrive and not be taken advantage of. Legislation must be made to protect our work against AI use as well. It’s a scary time for musicians but we must keep going and have hope.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.modernmoxieband.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmoxieband/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernmoxiemusic/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@modernmoxieband?si=nHGZViCcI1MqK91L
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ejPoj7wPhQBi2R24JqcZk?si=Y9tbE9oVSQGA9wk0xFFUng
