Meet Madaí Chakell | Madaí Chakell — Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Entertainer & Creator of Emo R&B

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madaí Chakell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madaí, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I see risk as alignment, not fear. Every major step in my career has come from trusting my vision enough to leap before everything was guaranteed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art lives in the space between vulnerability and power. I call what I create “Emo R&B” because it gives language and melody to the emotions people are usually afraid to name. I grew up singing on big stages and in structured spaces, but as I got older, I realized my real voice came from being honest — not perfect. Emo R&B lets me blend soul, pop, emotion, edge, and storytelling in a way that feels completely my own.

Getting here definitely wasn’t easy. I’ve had to reinvent myself more than once, walk away from things that didn’t fit, and learn how to create even when life felt chaotic. But every challenge sharpened my purpose. It taught me discipline, authenticity, and how to trust my own vision even when others didn’t understand it yet.

What I’m most proud of is the freedom I’ve built. I get to make music, visuals, characters, and worlds that reflect every side of me — the entertainer, the actress, the songwriter, the storyteller. Emo R&B isn’t just a genre to me; it’s a space where people who feel deeply finally get to belong.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know about my brand, it’s that everything I do comes from a real place. I’m creating a universe where emotion isn’t weakness — it’s art, it’s identity, it’s power. And I want people to feel seen in what I make

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting, I’d start by taking them to Little Five Points — it’s one of my favorite corners of Atlanta. The energy there is creative, weird in the best way, and full of personality. It feels like the kind of place where artists can just be.

From there, we’d hit the BeltLine for a walk, some people-watching, and whatever live music or pop-up art happens to be there that day. The BeltLine always feels alive, like the whole city is breathing together.

And for brunch, I’m absolutely taking them to Copeland’s. It’s one of my go-to spots — great food, great vibe, the perfect place to slow down and just enjoy being in the city.

That little trio — Little 5 Points, the BeltLine, and Copeland’s — always shows people the real Atlanta I love.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out my Emo Baes and my Daí Ones — the people who’ve supported me through every era and pushed me to trust my voice. Their belief in me made it easier to step fully into Emo R&B and create from a real place.

And I have to mention my recent Lyft driver. He told me to go all the way with Emo R&B, no holding back. That moment stayed with me. Ever since that conversation, it feels like everything has been taking off. Sometimes the universe sends clarity through the most unexpected people

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madaichakell?igsh=Mm5keDhiOGVxaW00&utm_source=qr

Twitter: https://x.com/callmemadonica?s=21

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madaichakellmusic/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@madai.chakell?si=GYgQV83pNuIx-MZL

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@madaichakell?_r=1&_t=ZP-91yAwrwczBm

Image Credits
@bookthekodak
@forjvsh
@eyevisionphotos