‘Catch of the Day’ – Maddie Wilson – “Love Like Theirs” [VIDEO]

It's Thursday, and once again we proudly presenting the best unsigned or indy label recording artists that Nashville has to offer. Today we feature an artist from Utah who has a soulful country style, and a presence that belays her youth.

Born and raised in the country music hotbed of Provo, Utah, Maddie Wilson released her self-titled debut EP in 2012, with two tracks from the project climbing to #1 on the indy music charts, which helped to win the singer and songwriter the "Best Artist Under 18" award in 2014 at the Utah Music Awards, also garnering Wilson the "International Indie Artist" award from CMG Global Radio the same year.

Music wasn't always primary for the young singer and songwriter. When she was younger, sports, whether it was basketball, softball or gymnastics were here favorite thing. She would be up early every day to head to practice, and between that and her music, it finally came down to having to make a choice on what to do with her time. Faced with that difficult choice, Maddie chose the one thing she finally realized she couldn't do without. Her music.

At first her musical experience was limited to choir, but then her father introduced her to a new tool

musicians were beginning to explore...YouTube. She began regularly posting cover versions of other artists' songs, while also exploring her own songwriting. She learned two things very quickly, one that her guitar playing needed a lot of work, and the other that viewers on youtube can be very blunt. So she bought a better guitar, took lessons, and while admitting she is still no virtuoso, her improvement was definitely noticeable.

Her debut project in 2012 led to some great opportunities for the young artist. She opened for Chris Young, Lonestar and several other top-name artists, while landing performance opportunities at such Nashville haunts as the Opry Land Hotel, Basement East, Listening Room and the Bluebird Cafe. She has honed both her writing and performing styles, and while still performing primarily other artists' songs, putting her own county spin on them, but she has discovered her love of writing, putting her own words and feelings on the line for her audiences.

In 2015, Wilson released a second EP, titled Lightening Strikes, which featured the single "Echo", which landed a spot in the finals at the USA Songwriting competition and at the International Songwriting Competition. The song charted on the MusicRow country chart and caught the attention of many in Nashville. She has a new EP slated for release in the spring. We have the lead single for that project in our spotlight today. Maddie Wilson and a song she wrote for her parents, "Love Like Theirs" is today's Unsigned/Indy Artist Thursday Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.