One of the first things I fell in love with when I first moved to Atlanta was the local music scene. At the center of this awesome music scene is Madlife Studios in downtown Woodstock, Georgia.
In addition to providing production services, this musical heaven hosts shows for artists at basically all stages of their careers. There’s a patio stage for the up-and-coming local artists and a bigger venue for concerts. It’s a great place to watch live music and rejuvenate your soul.
Everything we have going on is centered around what Greg Shaddix is building in his community. Greg is the Local Artist Relations and Development Manager at Madlife Studios and an avid promoter of local talent. His job involves guiding artists from the Madlife patio stage all the way up to a full venue show.
We hung out with Greg to talk about the Woodstock community and the joys of creating music. This is the edited interview:
So, how did you become the unofficial mayor of the northwest Atlanta music scene?
You know, it didn't happen overnight. I've been in Atlanta for 15 years, and I started just like everybody else. I started doing open mics and playing a little more as time went by. It really solidified when I started working at Madlife, which was officially about a year ago. But I've been here pretty much since they opened. I started off hosting some stuff like The Breaking Bands, which was called Battle of the Bands at the time. Then I started an open mic and it just snowballed from there.
What do you love about our local music scene?
I've been playing music for almost 30 years. The biggest thing that separates the North Georgia music scene from anything else I've witnessed is the sense of community. When I first started playing in Atlanta, it was a very “feast or famine” mentality. Artists wouldn’t share any information about gigs, but now it's the exact opposite.
We’re all here for each other. If I feel like my music may not be suitable for a certain venue, I can refer them to another artist who might be a better choice. And that's how the whole community is. Everybody is here to support each other, and it's not like that everywhere else.
What does music do for Greg?
From a songwriting standpoint, it's very therapeutic. It helps me get through and figure out the mundane parts of life. The same goes for listening to my friends when they write killer songs. There is a bit of friendly competition among artists. If I hear that somebody wrote a really great song, I'll try to write a better one. And it’s not because I'm trying to outdo him; it just becomes this community thing where a rising tide lifts all ships.
What has the community here done for you personally?
They've done a lot of things. First, they lifted me in more ways than I could ever count. Sometimes I doubt myself, and imposter syndrome gets the better of me. But I’ve always felt supported, both as a musician and on a personal level.
One of my most prized possessions is an electric guitar I got for my birthday. I saw the guitar at Atlanta Vintage Guitars down the street and mentioned it to a fellow musician. I'm an acoustic guitar guy, but I fell in love with that electric guitar. During a show we had with probably 100 local musicians, Roger Brainard tapped me on the shoulder. As I turned around, they walked on stage with the guitar. So, that electric guitar means way more to me than words can describe.
You can follow Greg on Instagram (@Searchingformetafors) or DM him with any questions you have about the local music scene in Atlanta. You can also listen to his podcast – Mockingbird Radio Hour – on Spotify. Do check out the Madlife website for upcoming shows in Woodstock.
