Featuring Powerhouse Duet “Broken Heart Thing” with 10x #1 Country Superstar Dustin Lynch
Multi-PLATINUM, #1 hit songwriter Madeline Merlo today releases her latest project, ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door). Divulging her most authentic self, exposing her own vulnerabilities and imperfections, the project is a profound exploration of the brutal healing cycle after a breakup – moving on from a once-promising relationship, the poignant melancholy of adjusting to new realities to triumphantly keeping the past in the past and looking forward.
Listen to ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door) here.
“‘ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door)’ is finally out today, and I am so excited that this little project I’ve held close to my chest for quite some time is finally yours too,” shares Merlo. “My hope is that you heal, relate and feel encouraged to find your voice in the pursuit of love. I am so proud of these songs and grateful to all the songwriters, musicians and my producer, Zach Crowell, for helping me create it. And to all my friends who also feel like they’re one house down from the girl next door – I hope it helps you embrace who you are.”
ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door) tracklisting:
- Broken Heart Thing (feat. Dustin Lynch) (Madeline Merlo, James McNair, Michael Tyler, Lalo Guzman, Zach Crowell)
- Bar Fight (Madeline Merlo, Seth Mosley, Claire Douglas)
- Same Car (Madeline Merlo, Sara Haze, Jason Saenz, Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne)
- Middle of the Bed (Madeline Merlo, Sam Ellis, Kyle Sturrock)
- Good Grief (Madeline Merlo, Jimmy Robbins, Anna Vaus, Micah Carpenter)
- One House Down (from the girl next door) (Madeline Merlo, Seth Mosley, Emily Weisband, James McNair)
Known for her discography packed with “powerful female stories” (E! News), the “rising star” (People) co-wrote all six tracks on the project, which were produced by Zach Crowell. Teaming up with 10x #1 hitmaker Dustin Lynch, the powerhouse duet “Broken Heart Thing” brings to life both sides of a recent break-up. Revealing how each feels in the aftermath, the beautifully tender track is brought to life by Lynch’s deep, recognisable vocal and Merlo’s standout, soulful voice and brilliantly relatable lyrics. The captivating song has already made an impact, earning top placements on both Spotify and Apple Music Country playlists, quickly gaining even more traction and on-demand streams amongst fans each day.
Praised by E! News as “emotionally charged,” “Same Car” delivers the all-too-familiar story of a steamy, budding romance ending in angst. While “Middle Of The Bed” grapples with lingering memories of someone no longer in your life, especially when accidentally reaching for them in the bed you used to share and instead touching an empty space. “Bar Fight” is a clever twist on the typical fists flying, alcohol-induced bar fight, but Merlo flips this notion, as the emotively creative song tells of the excruciating battle of logic versus loneliness. The driving and uplifting “Good Grief” is an anthem for anyone looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, and finally, the enticing title track depicts a girl who is firmly confident in who she is, and despite her past, knows she’s still as worthy of love as “the girl next door.”
This year alone, she was named to CMT’s 2024 Next Women of Country, been out on the road with Jelly Roll, Dustin Lynch, Jordan Davis, Riley Green, Scotty McCreery and Dylan Scott as well as expanded her creative horizons, having just released her exclusive jewellery collection with Sunday Club that perfectly showcases her unique style.
Continuing to capture those pivotal moments in life, from budding romances, to growing up and the lessons learned in-between, the 2x CCMA winner and 2024 CCMA Female Artist of the Year nominee has “long made a career by telling big emotional stories in the span of 3 minute or so songs” (American Songwriter). Having “already proven her songwriting chops” (Billboard), ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door) follows her label-debut EP, Slide, that scored her critical acclaim from Billboard, E! News, PopCulture, Music Row and more.
ABOUT MADELINE MERLO:
With a crystalline Country vocal and an international rep for writing vivid scenes of emotional insight, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville recording artist Madeline Merlo is a rising star with an old soul and a new school style. Already a Platinum-certified No. 1 songwriter poised to be a breakout artist, Merlo’s new project ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door) finds a self-described deep-feeler offering a message of encouragement to her younger self – and to all those who feel “a little different.” A small town native helming from the blueberry fields of British Columbia, Merlo recalls countless holiday family sing-alongs soaked in a musical mix of classic soul and R&B – plus ’90s country and the powerhouse vocals of everyone from Aretha Franklin to Dolly Parton, Martina McBride and Faith Hill.
After attending a Shania Twain concert as her first show, she proclaimed her intention to be a singer on a second-grade school project – and her songwriting habit began early, too. Merlo started visiting Nashville on songwriting trips at just 16, signed a record deal at 18, and found fast success at Canadian country radio, earning the CCMA Rising Star award in 2015. By 2020 she was competing on Season 2 of NBC songwriting reality series Songland – and with the dressed-down anthem of easy confidence, “Champagne Night,” she came out a winner. The track went on to become a Platinum-certified three-week No. 1 for Lady A, opening the door for Merlo’s artistic dreams. The sassy country/funk and soul single “It Didn’t” has racked up more than 10 million Spotify streams to date, and Merlo followed with the gravel-road pop of her Slide EP in 2022. Now, after being named to CMT Next Women of Country class of 2024, she calls ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door) her most emotionally insightful project yet – a six-song message of self-worth that comes with a superstar boost and plays to her creative strength. The first peek into her forthcoming project arrived August 9th with the melodic “Broken Heart Thing (feat. Dustin Lynch),” and the full project will be available October 11th. Merlo can be found on the road throughout the U.S. and Canada this summer. For more information, visit her website.
