If you live in the Swansea area and haven’t heard the name Madlen Forwood already you are missing a treat.
At just 22, Madlen, who recently graduated from the Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts (WAVDA), has recently toured Belgium and Paris as a member of the brilliant Mumbles A Cappella Choir appearing at St Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent as well as at Saint-Sulpice and La Madeleine in Paris.
Madlen’s bubbly infectious personality stands her out as much as her solo soprano efforts, and it is no surprise she continues to be Swansea Royal Air Force Association’s official “Sweetheart”.
In 2022 Madlen’s budding career blossomed further as she sang, as part of the UWTSD Academy Voices Choir, alongside Katherine Jenkins, for Queen Elizabeth Il at the Royal Windsor Horse Show as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
From a musical family, Madlen follows her mother and sister who are both teachers, and credits them for inspiring her into singing.
“My family have always been very musical, explains Madlen.
“Me, my sister, and my mum are all in the same choir together. For me, my older sister Megan who is a music and drama teacher in Bishopston has done so many things that growing up – I wanted to be like her and I have learned so much from her.
“I have sung my whole life. Through school, I performed in concerts and shows and then just before the COVID period I studied GCSE and A-Level music.
“I wanted to do more, so I got in with Phil Orrin in Mumbles music tuition and he started teaching me. He asked whether I had done any classical singing, and I explained I hadn’t, and he thought I should try it – I absolutely fell in love with it.
“He asked if I would like to study it, and I jumped at the chance. I then went off to University and whilst I was studying, I was a choral scholar at St Peter’s Church which kept me up with having to read music and information.
“It is not something many people talk about when you are younger, but I find it really interesting.”
Madlen regularly performs as part of Phil Orrin’s choir Mumbles A Cappella and often takes a starring solo role. Her own version of Billy Eilish’s James Bond hit ‘No Time to Die’ (above) leaves you with goosebumps and can only be described as spinetingling and full of emotion.
“I was so lucky I was given opportunities by Mumbles A Cappella to do solos,” continued Madlen.
If you see videos of me years ago, I was very nervous and shy and didn’t really know what I was doing. The more you do it though, the more you love it, and enjoy meeting people who enjoy it too. They ask you to perform and it has picked up from there really.
“In St Peters Church we tried to do so many different events to get the church known more. Every year there is a themed evening, and on one occasion it was a James Bond night.
“I got asked to solo in that and I did ‘No Time to Die’ by Billie Eilish who I think is brilliant. I wanted to sing like her but also make it my own by putting a different spin on the song.
“It is quite nice because when I sing with Mumbles A Cappella, it is not all just one genre it is all different types. I sang that song on my own, which was so much fun to do, plus you get to dress up too – which is great!
“I have also performed ‘Cum Dederit’ by Vivaldi as well, so that is two very different things going on. Doing the classical thing is interesting because it is something that most people don’t tend to do.
“For me, in this day and age, and wanting to be involved in music, you have to be versatile if you want to make a living out of it. You are then always on your toes; everything stays fun and nothing is the same.
“It challenges you to sing in certain ways and incorporate your own voice as much as someone else. It also gives the composer or artist the respect they deserve if you are performing a cover but still be yourself.
“I think the more you sing and the more you meet people, and get advice, the more able you are to be yourself as a musician – it’s a process.”
Madlen’s progress has not gone unnoticed with no less than the High Sherriff of West Glamorgan Melanie James amongst her fans – Melanie would ask her to perform at her inauguration ceremony.
“I have sung with a few different choirs – Mumbles A Cappella, Valley Rock Voices Choir, and Dunvant Male Voice Choir. That is nice because there are so many people behind you that it doesn’t feel as nerve-racking.
“It went from there to me doing things on my own, when Melanie James asked me to sing in her inauguration it was incredible.
“She is amazing, and to be able to do events with her is fantastic. From there I ended up doing things with the Royal Air Force and British Legion.
“It all just kind of snowballs and that is what is so nice about Swansea. It’s a lovely community-based place to be where everyone knows each other and is very supportive.
“I’m so chuffed [to be the RAF Swansea sweetheart]. I went for a coffee and was asked how do you feel about doing that and I was so happy. From that, I have been able to go to so many amazing events.
Like any youngster, Madlen enjoys spending time with her friends and in her spare time can be seen singing with local Funk and Jazz band ‘Full Fat’ or ‘Semi Skimmed’, all dependant on the number of members available.
“We have so much fun as a band,” says Madlen.
“When everyone is together, they are called Full Fat, but because, at this age, everyone’s kind of everywhere they made a smaller one Semi Skimmed. It’s great, and such a laugh.
“It’s an interesting name. It’s because the boys that I sing with, who are an incredible group play everything, literally everything.
“We played in Gin and Juice on New Year’s Eve, it’s very upbeat and a bit of everything. I just like to do all different things.”
Madlen is also keen to give back and inspire the next generation of singers. Like her family, she now spends time teaching music where she encourages all genres of music.
“I teach on a Tuesday in St Peters – that’s fun and then I’ll go around and learn new repertoire and listen to new music.
“It’s another way for people younger around here to have so many more experiences with music. I think that music is not taken seriously enough when it is in our lives day-to-day.
“Every time you listen, if you’re in the car, watching a film, or just brushing your teeth, there is music. It’s so underrated as a subject.
“So, it needs to be taught, and I think when I went to school at Bishopston, I was so lucky. They really cared about music there, but there are so many schools that don’t and places around that don’t hype it up enough.
“If it wasn’t for places like Mumbles music tuition I wouldn’t be where I am now.
“It’s nice to be able to work with them and hopefully inspire people younger to venture out and learn about different genres of music that you potentially wouldn’t normally.”
If you’re looking to see Madlen perform you won’t have long to wait as she can be seen performing with the Mumbles A Cappella in St Peter’s Church in Newton on the 9th of April.
They will be performing Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor and Mass in G minor which the Madlen will be soloing in.
[Lead image: Madlen Forwood]
