Cummins releases second album

By Kevin McManus, Contributing Writer

A lot can happen in seven years—and that’s how long it’s been since we last heard a record from talented singer-songwriter Madison Cummins.

Since her 13-song debut “Odd Little Place,” recorded and released during her days at Ohio University, Cummins has kept busy writing and testing out new material on Northeast Ohio’s gigging circuit—while facing a handful of real-life revelations along the way—culminating with her latest effort she calls “Antidote.”

“They’re songs I’ve written since I’ve been out of college. I’ve written a lot and was trying to narrow it down to these six songs,” Cummins, 26, said.

“Antidote” was produced by Canton-area rockers Hey Monea, led by brothers Dan and Nate Monea, both of whom played on “Antidote.” It’s a bigger, more rocked-out sound than the stripped-back, jazzy setup of “Odd Little Place,” and is still anchored by Cummins’ smooth, yet soaring, vocals.

Cummins, who has a clever way of using characters in past lyrical works, drew from honest, personal experience this time around in a solid effort that is both poignant and uplifting.

“I wrote [the title track] after a relationship when things were kind of rocky for a while,” she said. “It’s a song to someone, letting them know that you’re there for them.”

Ever-relatable lyrics like “the path I’m on is a road of fire and ice” perfectly sum up lead single “I Feel Like Myself,” which Cummins described as a “motivational song to myself” following a bit of a dark period.

“I’ve dealt with some depression and anxiety and I wanted to write a song about that since everyone goes through those feelings,” she said. “One day, I woke up and I felt motivated and felt like myself, like I can do anything.”

Cummins, a native of Cuyahoga Falls, will celebrate the release of “Antidote” July 31 with a virtual show live from Musica in Akron beginning at 7 p.m. Songwriters Ray Flanagan and Cody J. Martin will open. The show will be aired on her Facebook page: @MadisonJCummins.