Transcript
12 y/o Paige Keber premieres new song and performs Live from the Madcity on Max Ink Radio
Max Ink Radio · Sat Dec 13, 2025
you found Wisconsin's local music authority. This is MagSync Radio. We are local music.
Paige Kleber. She's a 12-year-old Verona middle schooler and Paige just released an original song
last month give up and cry. After success from her debut album Blinded, which was released last October,
Kleber has had a year of excitement being named Whammy, a Wisconsinary music industry rising star
of the year and best-new artist at the Mama's Manicenary Music Association. She is the youngest
ever to win both awards in her original song. Playing hard to get also won her country song
of the year for 2025 at the Mama Awards tonight. Paige has brought her brand new single
and her guitar to play us a few of her throwback songs as well. Paige, welcome back to MagSync Radio.
Hi. Paige, last summer you played Atwood Fest and you played the star-spangled banner in front of
I mean probably five or six thousand people. Tell us about that experience. It was so fun watching
you play. That was a very good experience to shout out to you rocker for introducing me to
some folks that you knew there. Yeah, that was a very exciting experience. I'm so glad that I had
that opportunity to perform my very own songs and the star-spangled banner. That's right. That
was opening up for Vio5. Yeah. What a memorable experience. Paige, tell us a little bit about yourself.
I mean, how did you get started in music? What's your backstory? Well, I always kind of knew that I
wanted a career somewhere in music. It took me a while to really know that I really wanted to be
a singer-songwriter and write songs. But I'm here now and so yeah, so I'm a seventh grader.
I'm just kind of I'm getting to know people in the music industry. It's been a great year for me.
It's been a great time in the music industry so far. How old were you when you started playing
guitar? I was about nine years old. I think yeah, I was either eight or nine years old. When I got
my first guitar, I kind of just I started looking up some YouTube tutorials and then I kind of just
I kind of found my way from there. I think Girls Rock Camp helped a lot where I first met Beth
Kelly and then that led me to record some of my own music in her home studio studio,
which was an amazing experience which led to making of blinded my first debut album.
Now, what role did your parents have in starting out in music? I mean, how did you start
kind of playing guitar? What drove you to think about that? Well, I think my parents definitely
played a vital role because they were the ones who bought a guitar for me. They always kind of
inspired me to saying they were the ones who paid for all of those voice lessons,
piano lessons, guitar lessons. So thanks mom, thanks dad. What's your favorite record in your parents
record collection? Well, I just got my first record player not too long ago. So I've been just
kind of looking through. Yay! I was probably the age you were when I got my first record player.
Nice. I've also been really into CDs. I go very old school with with my CDs.
Well, who's the favorite that's in your parents collection? Well, there's many to choose from.
I'm going to have to think about that. Well, we'll move on because you know right right now
tonight you have a momager and a dadager. Her name is Rachel and how important is it to have the
support of your parents as you pursue opportunities in the music scene? They're pretty much like my
dad has created my entire website. That's that like he's the reason why I have a website. My mom
is probably the reason why I get half of the gigs that I do because she's the one making
connections and I just I love them both so. Wow. Thanks mom. That is so resourceful. You're very
lucky in that aspect. You just put out a new single give up and cry and we have a copy of it
right here before we listen because this is going to be the premiere I think I'm Maxing Gradio. Tell
us about this song. So this song as you'll probably hear as you listen is probably it's different
from any of the other songs that I that I have ever released. So we use many different percussion
sounds in this song. So you'll hear like little hand clap in the background. We also use a jump
rope and a little toy piano one that like little babies play. What inspired you to use these sounds?
Well. Well. They've been listening to too many Beatles albums or folk sad songs or something.
No. So the song kind of derived from the feeling of like loneliness you know being left out. So
I kind of took that as like everyone has their own hand clap you know everyone plays jump
rope at recess but then you know like the feeling of being left out from those experiences. Also
another thing that I want to talk about is the amount of of women that were incorporated into this.
So my Audrey and Stephanie from audio from the arts also really helped with the making of this song.
My music video where you can find on YouTube. The director Aubrey Connett at 3.3 cent films.
She also really helped with the song and Jenna Jonas who played bass and drums on the song.
Excellent. Well you know what? Let's take a listen. This is the premiere of Page Cleaver's brand new
song. Give up in cry. You're listening to Manxing Radio. We are local music.
You're too worried about middle school fables. You're too worried about him or that other girl's hair.
Cause they have friends so why not me and no really friendly if you'd only be just a little kind
swear I'll be fine. I thought you called me your friend but I guess it's just another lie.
And every day it's just another reason why give up in cry. Give up in cry.
Give up in cry. Give up in cry. You make fun of the ones who get the job done.
Do you really think you're better than the person sitting next to you?
Too busy trying to look like every one.
You wear your smile so big when everyone's a deep, deep blue.
Oh oh oh.
Cause they have friends so why not me and no really friendly if you'd only be just a little kind
swear I'll be fine. I thought you called me your friend but I guess it's just another lie.
And every day it's just another reason why I give up in cry. Give up in cry.
Give up in cry. Give up in cry.
Cause they have friends so why not me and no really friendly if you'd only be
just a little kind swear I'll be fine. I thought you called me your friend but I guess it's just a cold hearted lie.
Oh oh oh. And every day it's just another reason why I give up in cry. Give up in cry. Give up in cry.
I have a lot to bring to the table.
Page clear. That is brand new. Give up in cry. That has a great song page.
Where was that recorded?
That was recorded in audio for the arts in Madison.
Yes by Audrey right. Yes.
That was really good and you were talking about the music video. That's for this song.
And tell us about the music video your experience and whether or not we can find this right now on YouTube.
Oh yeah if you watch it if you watch it you'll realize you'll see a lot of paint used in this video.
Paint is really bad for your skin. I did not know that. I don't know because it was filmed a lot during the summer.
It was sunny out. I don't know if that was sunburn or if it was paint but my skin was very dry after that.
After those filming sessions of that video.
The things you do for film right? Right.
Well that's pretty cool so can we find that on YouTube right now?
Yes you can. It's called Give Up in Cry.
By Page Cleaver. Tonight you brought your guitar along.
Are you going to play us a song live here? You bet.
What song are you going to do and tell us a little bit about it before you play?
So I think Give Up in Cry was kind of the summary of 2025 and this song is called 2025.
I think this was kind of hoping for a good year ahead because I wrote it on new years.
I was like yay it's 2025 everyone get excited.
2024 has been a great year. We have all worked so hard.
So now I think Give Up in Cry has kind of been the summary of 2025.
Alright let's hear 2025. This is Page Cleaver live right here. I'm Maxing Gradio.
It's 2020.
I'm going to bring the party on.
And it's time to bring the sunshine.
It's 2025.
I'm going to bring the party on.
I know what you think it is.
It's hard to keep the live band posted.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
We're not going back.
We're not going back.
We're not going back.
We're not going back.
We're not going back.
It's 2025.
I'm going to bring the party on.
I know what you think it is.
It's hard to keep the live band.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Harris.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
What was that song called again?
That song was called 2025.
How old is that?
Has it been released?
Um, no, that song has not been released.
Oh.
I think I wrote that.
I think I pretty much wrote that a year ago.
I think I wrote that about this time last year.
Wow.
That is pretty cool.
A page you performed in rock musicals, uh, School of Rock, and recently you were the
character of Killer Queen, and we will rock you based on the music of Queen.
Tell us about this experience.
Um, that role was really fun to play.
Does she not like music?
No, she hates music, because she just wants it to be more in, she just wants to evolve
into like futuristic, everybody's the same, there's no diversity in the world.
So that was, that was kind of fun to scream at people, because she's very angry, she's
very angry all the time, because nothing's going her way.
But it's just, I think it's been a rough year for her.
Is that one of the star characters of that play?
Um, yeah.
It was, yeah.
It was kind of a supporting.
It sounds like that's a pretty key figure, the villain, the villain of the show.
Who wrote that?
Where did they come from?
Um, most of the music, uh, no, all of the music is, yeah, clean.
So, um, I mean, who wrote the, the script, I guess, the play?
I'm not actually, I'm not actually sure.
I think someone just said, hey, if, if you align all of these pieces of queen songs together,
they create a storyline.
Wow.
It sounds really interesting.
There's a video of this online, is there?
I guess there is.
Really?
Where can we find it?
Um, you can, uh, I know that you can see me, um, singing another one bites the dust on
my Instagram page.
Page Cleaver.
Wow, that's pretty cool.
Uh, page you have been donating to mental health resources.
Um, talk about why you're passionate about that cause.
I'm passionate about that cause because I feel like it's important for everyone to understand,
you know, because one in five people struggle with some kind of mental health illness.
And I think that that's just really important.
So that's why I'm doing all of the proceeds from Give Up and Cry to Nami and the Trevor
Project, which help, um, with mental health and with mental illnesses by the end of the
year.
Well, I guess you have maybe another song for us to play.
You bet I do.
Well, on the topic of Christmas music, I thought I, you know, this, this, this item has been
on my Christmas list for a very long time.
And I figured if I wrote a song about it, maybe that would just remind people about the
12th string guitar on my Christmas list.
Perfect.
Uh, let's hear it.
You're listening to Maxing, Radio, uh, page Cleaver live right in our studio.
And she gets her guitar on and gets prepared for another song here.
I want a 12 string guitar for Christmas.
Only a 12 string guitar will do.
I don't want a keyboard, no tambourine toy.
I want a 12 string guitar to play with them.
Enjoy it.
I can see a gift on Christmas morning wrapped with lots of care.
I thought it was a pair of socks and I opened up the box to see 12 string guitar standing
there.
I want a 12 string guitar for Christmas.
Only a 12 string guitar will do.
I know it's all the phones, the six string guitars.
I only like 12 string guitars and 12 string guitars like me too.
Mom says if we bought it, we would have plenty to eat but there's a little black Friday
tea left the guitar through down the street.
I want a 12 string guitar for Christmas.
Only a 12 string guitar will do.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
Ha ha.
Page Cleaver.
And, uh, do you have a 12 string guitar?
Not yet.
Well, Christmas is coming right around the corner.
Maybe those, uh, monitors and datagers have one for you.
Oh, look at that, you guys.
Oh, boy.
I don't know.
The face ain't saying it.
Ha ha ha.
I've been asking.
Oh, Page, uh, tell us about, um, your fans.
They're, they're called glue sticks, right?
Yes, they are.
Um, tell us about your glue stick fans.
So, as you might be wondering from that introduction, why are they called glue sticks?
I'm wondering.
Um, yeah.
Um, I, it's, the answer is quite simple.
My last name, Cleaver, it rhymes with Justin Bieber.
Ha ha ha.
It means in German glue or, and for sticky adhesive, you know, anything, anything adhesive-wise.
Right.
So, I figured why not just call my supporters glue sticks, like they all, they all stick together
through all of my, my musical journeys and, you know, glue sticks.
And you have bracelets, right?
I do have bracelets.
I think Jane is wearing one right now.
Yeah.
Oh, I got mine.
There's come in all kinds of colors.
I got this, uh, blue and orange one that matches my sweater really nicely.
You can actually join the official glue sticks, uh, fan club on my website, pagekleber.com,
where you can get updates on any upcoming shows.
Yeah, I just googled a Cleaver glue and this one that can glue wood, glass, metal, plastic,
ceramic, stone, concrete, drywall, and carpet.
So, what do you know?
So, I guess you're a pretty versatile.
I guess I am.
I did not know that that existed.
You learn something new every day, don't you?
Yeah.
Well, that's true.
Now, I heard, uh, you guys were watching the Taylor Swift documentary, The Behind the
Scenes, which, you know, I mean, you, she was very young when she came out.
And I imagine you guys were kind of watching it, you know, gleaning in, looking for tips, finding
what was going on.
Tell me about your experience.
And, and I think that your mom may rival Taylor Swift's mom here in the local market.
Um, to add on that subject, I have watched it three times, um, so far since it came out
yesterday.
Uh, well, sometimes since yesterday, yes, while I was eating pancakes on my couch this
morning, as I was enjoying some good advice from Taylor on all of her behind the scenes on
the tour.
It's a great show.
I think I think you should watch it.
Oh, Happy Birthday, Taylor.
It's her birthday today.
Give it up for, give it up for her.
December 13th.
Oh, no, I had no idea.
1989.
Yeah, I've been hearing so much about Dick Van Dyke.
I totally forgot, uh, Taylor Swift.
Ouch.
Oh, that, that is, that's pretty good.
But what did you really like take away from it, though?
Like what, what did you think?
How did you relate to it yourself being kind of a young artist and watching her and knowing
she started somewhere around your age as well?
Well, I'm kind of hoping that she kind of more talks about like her beginning years and
how she like started out.
Um, she talks about, um, like all of the different steps that she took to, um, generate
ideas for the tour, like all of her, all of her dancers had a little bit of a back story.
Um, so I'm, I'm very looking forward to the next few episodes so that I can get some
more hints on her, um, earlier stages in her musical career, but yeah.
That is so cool.
Uh, do you have another song you want to play?
Um, no.
What?
Don't you have a throwback?
I promise people some throwbacks.
Oh, yes, I do.
I do.
Hold on.
Hold on.
She's going to grab her guitar.
We're going to hear, we got time for like one more song here.
Um, and then Madison Uphoff is actually coming up at 8 p.m. and Ethical Trade Co. James
Farrick co-founder will be in here just after the seven o'clock hour and Paige has her
guitar.
What, what could you play for us?
I am going to play playing her to get, which is on my debut album Blinded, which also
won country song of the year for the Mama Awards of 2024.
Wow.
I forgot.
I forgot.
No, five.
I totally forgot what year it was.
Anyway, I have a song called 2025.
I don't even know what year it is.
Well, in 2026, you know, a little birdie talked in my ear, a little chirp, and said that
the whammies are coming to Madison this year.
I don't even know if we can release that yet, but if you're a max ink, you know, radio
listener, you deserve it, right?
Let's check this out.
This is...
Playing hard to get.
Playing hard to get.
You're listening to Maxing Radio.
This is live.
Where everybody screams and shouts,
You act so cool, because you're on the team.
But really you're just plain me.
Let's face it, have you ever talked to me?
Great no, babe.
You know what I want from you.
But do you know what you want from me?
I just you on the side of the road.
But really I brought you closer.
Are you playing hard to get with me?
Sure I'll do the same thing, baby.
Would you like to have a talk while you can't even talk
when you're around me?
I need you right here right now.
I also want to make you say wow.
Do you think you know who you are?
You can go and drive away into your car.
Let's face it, have you ever looked at someone the same way?
Great no, babe.
You know what I want from you.
But do you know what you want from me?
I just you on the side of the road.
But really I brought you closer.
Are you playing hard to get with me?
Sure I'll do the same thing, baby.
Would you like to have a talk while you can't even talk
when you're around me?
Did you know weird but true?
Fun facts I'm in love with you.
Did you know weird but true?
Fun facts I just want to be with you.
Yeah.
Are you playing hard to get with me?
Sure I'll do the same thing, baby.
Would you like to have a talk while you can't even talk
when you're around me?
Yeah.
You're playing hard to get.
Playing hard to get, that is Paige Kleber.
That was a special treat live right here on Maxing Gradyo.
Paige you aren't going to be playing December 20th at Inverona
at the Festival Foods Festive.
Yes I am.
Tell us about that, what is that?
So I'm going to be playing all holiday fun favorites
at Festival Foods while shoppers shop around
for their holiday treats.
Do you have a little stage in there or what?
I'm not actually sure I have never played at Festival Foods before.
It's going to be fun, new experience.
Wow that sounds like a lot of fun.
Cargo Coffee East is coming up in March but there's not a whole lot
of other shows besides that right now on the books.
No but I have been writing some more music.
Really?
Are we going to see a new album coming from you or some new releases?
This coming year?
Who can tell?
That's all we get.
We're trying to milk out the last 45 seconds to find out
what's going to happen in the future with Paige Kleber.
All we get is you'll maybe find out some other time.
All right Paige.
Well thank you so much for coming in and playing for us tonight
and we get to hear your new song.
Give up and cry.
That's the new song.
It's on release.
Where can we find that?
Spotify.
You can find that on all streaming platforms.
YouTube you can find the music video
or you can look at my website for more.
All right.
That was Paige Kleber.
We'll be playing her plenty in the future.
Right now we're going to take a little break
and we'll be right back on Max Ink Radio.
Shop local, eat local, listen local.
This is Max Ink Radio.
We are local music.
