When the rush of lust meets the thrill of the road and the radio’s at full blast, you get the first original single from Jesse Lynn Madera’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Speed of Sound, which follows the success of her haunting and acclaimed cover of “Unchained.” John “JT” Thomas (Bruce Hornsby) brought the energy to the keys despite it being his first session out of heart surgery. Brian Whelan (Dwight Yoakum) sings harmony and plays electric guitar, including the solo.
Jesse penned this song while reflecting on a time when she was a teenager in Texas, sneaking out on weekends to go hang with a Texas A&M vet student who had captured her heart. The producers said they set out to capture that energy of the teenage Jesse running wild. Serving as a tantalizing glimpse into Madera’s diversity and evolving artistry, “Austin” showcases her ability to craft a vast array of genres and concepts with a unique blend of Americana, folk, country and a bit of avant pop. With Austin, produced by Dan Navarro (Lowen & Navarro) and Jim Scott (Tedeschi Trucks Band and Wilco) pays homage to Southern Rock but still with her own unique twist.
In its 2022 wrap-up, Music Connection featured her in its Hot 100 list of the Best Unsigned Artists, and she emerged as one of twelve finalists out of more than 6,000 entries in the Americana category in the Unsigned Only 2023 competition! Madera’s touring history includes sold out shows at New York’s Bitter End and notable appearances at festivals such as Mile 0, 30A, Annapolis Songwriters and Mile of Music. She has been a supporting act for acclaimed artists like The Zombies, Navarro, Maddie Poppe, and Mary Fahl.
