www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 13-19, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 33 MUSIC When McKayla Maddox steps before a microphone, she becomes “Sabelle,” a shortened version of her middle name. “I’ve always admired artists that have a onename name,” Maddox explains. “I wanted it to be personal and meaningful to me.” The 25-year-old is a rising star on the singer-songwriter scene in Monterey County. She’s released four singles on Spotify and continues to write and perform songs on YouTube and other live platforms. Not dissimilar to Taylor Swift, her songs are poppy and draw on her personal experiences. Though inspiration for her songs come from love and connection with others, within her lyrics is a curiosity about people and the world. “I’m just a big feeler,” Maddox explains. “I’m always asking myself, ‘What are we doing here?’ or, ‘What is the purpose of this?’” She calls this inquisitive nature of hers a blessing, but there’s a caveat because complex emotions bubble up. Songwriting allows her to process them—a skill she discovered at age 6 while listening to her dad’s guitar. A dog named Ginger who died was Maddox’s inspiration for her first song, and as she grew up, she continued to write. “High school was when I really started depending on songwriting to process emotions,” she says. You can hear hormonal frustration in her latest single, “Party Boy,” about a friend who tends to fall for superficial young men while Maddox watches helplessly. Her earlier single “I’m Blushin’” gives a soft beat that you can bop your head to, while listening to a story of being smitten with someone. Maddox has been working with Idyllwild, California-based music producer Jon O’Brien, since meeting him at a songwriters’ retreat in March 2022. Together, the two have been able to produce clean visuals in the online music platform to give us a glimpse into her creative process. But Maddox wasn’t always drawn to the spotlight. “I always struggled to feel confident in my singing abilities and I’ve had a level of stage fright,” she says. “My family and boyfriend were very supportive about pushing me to get out there.” She’s pursuing a film degree at CSU Monterey Bay, gaining skills to direct her own music videos. Her dream includes becoming a full-time musician. Find Sabelle’s music at sabellesings.com. DANIEL DREIFUSS Ring the ’Belle Singer-songwriter McKayla Maddox, who goes by the stage name Sabelle, uses music to process her emotions. By Sloan Campi Sabelle is learning to enjoy the spotlight as she releases new songs and begins to play more live West Coast gigs. $3599 NEW FLAVOR! $ 999 Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open every Saturday 1:30pm-4:30pm. 101 W. LAUREL DR, SALINAS • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more NEW PRODUCTS! SAME GREAT PRICES! $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more EXPIRES 11-19-25. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS OR OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY, SHAVINGS, SERESTO, MAX BULLY, SPORTSTRAIL, OR ROUDYBUSH. MUST PRESENT ENTIRE PHYSICAL COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. COUPON MUST COME DIRECTLY FROM THE MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY. REPRINTS OR PHOTOCOPIES NOT VALID. SPORTSTRAIL BACON FLAVOR 50LB NUTRIVET SUPPLEMENT TREATS 16OZ HENNY PENNY BUGGY BUFFET 1.5LB $ 1299 SPORTSTRAIL BACON FLAVOR 50LB NUTRIVET SUPPLEMENT TREATS 16OZ HENNY PENNY Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open every Saturday 12:00PM to 3:00PM 101 W. LAUREL DR, SALINAS · (831)443-6161 Quality feed & pet supplies · DIY dog & cat vaccines · Premium hay at great prices Any purchase of Any purchase of Any purchase of EXPIRES 12-16-25. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS OR OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY, SHAVINGS, SERESTO, MAX BULLY, SPORTSTRAIL, OR ROUDYBUSH. MUST PRESENT ENTIRE PHYSICAL COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. COUPON MUST COME DIRECTLY FROM THE MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY. REPRINTS OR PHOTOCOPIES NOT VALID. nov 14th-16th carmel-by-the-sea holiday trunk show shirts sport coats jackets jeans sneakers boots 34 heritage barakett
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