Mystery Loves Company is a chamber rock band from Houston. The band formed when Carlos Machado met Maddy Herdeman by chance or serendipity at an open mic night held at Houston’s Mucky Duck. Carlos approached Maddy because she was a cellist. He had just written a song specifically for a cello and was surprised to spot one at an open-mic event.

Maddie was looking for a chance to do something more expressive with her music, so she agreed to a jam session with Carlos. The two got on well, and the band grew out of that connection.

On tour, the band has expanded to include Alauna Rubin on clarinet, Jeremy Dudman on bass, and Danny Patterson on drums, but Carlos and Maddy remain the driving force behind Mystery Loves Company. However they came together, Carlos and Maddie—both singer-songwriters—have produced a number of songs that marvel at the possibilities of vulnerable human connections.

I had the chance to meet the band when attending the Cutting Edge Music Conference in New Orleans. I was captivated by the sense of wonder in their songs but also by the personable way they interacted with me. It was unlike anything else I had experienced from other bands that weren’t already friends of mine.

In this contemporary landscape where everyone and everything is competing for our attention, the ability to connect with others in sincere and personable ways is such a differentiating skill, not just for musicians, but also for filmmakers, artists, and entrepreneurs. Or anyone really.

The music industry, in particular, is chalk-full of hype and posturing, so real human connection is all the more memorable when it happens. It’s what turned Mystery Loves Company’s set at the House of Blues into an unforgettable experience for me.

…whatever it is that we wanted to do, we couldn’t do it alone.”  – Carlos Machado

I brought Carlos and Maddy on the show to learn more about their collaborative process and how they go about engaging their fans. Some of the things we discuss include

• How to practice vulnerability
• Ways to build a connection with an audience
• What makes a successful tour beyond money
• The importance of having a place where you can establish a routine and experiment
• How to maintain a sense of wonder in the midst of mundane or disheartening things

Listen to the Episode