Madam Nightingale
Synth/Electro/Dance-pop artist Madam Nightingale (Phaedra Gunn) won first prize at the Sounds of St Kilda Battle of the Bands at TheatreWorks during the St Kilda Festival in February 2020 at their debut performance [ https://youtu.be/MiZ-ykU9BAo?si=GA2EKxNKiHv_Tn7M&t=35 ]. Madam Nightingale were then selected for the hillsceneLIVE arts revel [ https://youtu.be/RqhiIB7wCdo?si=7bwTYfereEezYsse&t=634 ], an Artist’s Development program in November 2020. Madam Nightingale is currently on the Australasian fringe arts & music festival circuit, having performed at numerous events, notably Newcastle (NSW - runner-up for the Artistic Merit award [ https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8132290/fringe-wraps-up-eighth-year/ ]) & Dubbo (nominated for Best Show).
The Madam Nightingale Debut single ‘Dance With Me’ [ https://open.spotify.com/track/6aBzWTwp2BvigtyMZhHIIR ] was released 7th May 2023 - sonically inspired by the horn section in ‘Sir Duke’ by Stevie Wonder from his masterpiece album ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’, ‘Dance With Me’ is a bassy clavinet-tinged funky dance number, picked up for selective dance club distribution in the US by Tropical Isle records & won in RSOM’s top 5 songs of that year [ https://fortemag.com.au/real-songwriters-of-melbourne-unveils-2023-award-winners-in-a-triumph-of-diversity-and-talent/ ]. This was followed by Sophomore single ‘Feelings’ [ https://open.spotify.com/track/4diGuxDKi48ZpcXxtlolKE ] released 29th July 2023 - A traditional pop ballad, ‘Feelings’ was recently picked up for selective lounge club distribution in the US & was also nominated for RSOM’s top 5 songs of 2023. Both singles charted on the Wettest 100 of 2023. The third Madam Nightingale single ‘Into The Dark’ [ https://open.spotify.com/track/6RhKfPiKJpo7XvXK4zaGDF ] - with sparse and moody sonics and melancholic Vox reminiscent of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ by Sinéad O'Connor - was released in June 2025.
Madam Nightingale also collaborates with various artists, notably Electropop producer/DJ Me From The Future (QLD – released 2024 single & EP ‘Supermodel’ & 2025 single ‘Kaotik Blonde’ [ https://open.spotify.com/album/3d9xYfvj3HdtCBZ23p7kZL?si=Lbk6lvjLQeSRqC8JzuMRLQ ] performed at at Anywhere Festival Brisbane 2025) & Queer Theatrical rapper Cloutie Will (Collaborative show ‘New Beginnings’ most recently performed at Midsumma 2025 [ https://youtu.be/LNCQ7Ug7km8?si=IoOu2dAwpuWhgWNM&t=1775 ]). Madam Nightingale is looking forward to continuing to tour festivals locally & overseas, notably as an invitational performer at Avignon Off festival 2027/8 in France. Their debut album is under development, managed by their producer/co-performer Aj’Zho & is planned for US release with a promotional tour in 2027/8.
See here [ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fvmmB8Q6T3aK8n5J-PVJW8qg5ZoJm-GS/view?usp=drive_link ] for Phaedra Gunn’s full CV (lyricist/vocalist, topliner/composer).