Playing the Penticton Peach Festival is a sweet way for Canadian Country Music Association award winner Madeline Merlo to be introduced to Penticton audiences.
The Maple Ridge raised county singer has visited Penticton plenty of times, but this will mark her first time performing in Peach City.
“I’ve been to Penticton. I’ve been to Peachfest, but I’ve never played in Penticton at all. I love Penticton, it’s got the best energy. It’s so much and the beach there is amazing,” she said during a phone interview from her home in Nashville, Tenn.
Merlo’s newest single Neon Love is on track to become the hit party anthem of the summer since its release this spring.
Merlo co-wrote the song with Jason Blaine and Jeff Pardo and since it was released May 2 has been streamed over one million times and continues to rise in the rankings of Canadian country music charts.
The upbeat song describes a theme many can relate to — going out to a bar. It even includes what goes on in the women’s bathroom throughout the night — strangers becoming friends, tears and hair-holding.
“You never know how it’s going to be received. It’s very nerve-wracking hearing what people think. I think people are really resonating with this. The timing is right. People are looking for something fun to dance to,” she said.
Coming on the heels of the new hit song, the 24-year-old received word she was nominated female artist of the year and would compete against her idol international and Canadian country music star Shania Twain.
Related: B.C. singer up against Shania Twain for Canadian country music award
This is the third year Merlo has been nominated in the category, prior to that she earned the 2015 CCMA Rising Star Award after releasing her first singles Sinking Like a Stone, Alive and Honey Jack all included on her debut album Free Soul, which was released in 2016.
“My manager told me I was nominated with Shania Twain and I had a little moment. It was crazy to see my name beside hers,” she said. “She was my hero as a kid.”
Merlo moved down to Nashville from Toronto in November 2017. The move was to submerse herself in creating country music focusing heavily on writing.
She’s been working furiously on a variety of songs slated for her sophomore album.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s been nine months (since she moved). Definitely the first couple months was a bit of a culture shock but being in the south, it’s such a creative place. It’s such a great creative culture scene.”
The Peachfest audience will get a chance to hear at least one her new songs titled Unravelling. Merlo said the song has a bit of a Fleetwood Mac feel.
“It’s about a relationship that kind of slips through your fingers. There’s definitely a sadness to it. It’s just honest. It’s the genuine moments that are confusing, when you feel lost. It’s got some vintage soul vibes that are a huge part of my influences and I haven’t really had a chance to touch on that yet with my music,” she said.
Merlo plays the Penticton Peach Festival Aug. 12 at Okanagan Lake Park at 8:15 p.m.