I first heard of Madison McFerrin the way a lot of music discoveries happen these days—by accident on social media. It was in the middle of the now-infamous Drake vs. Kendrick battle, which had the internet on fire. In the chaos, Metro Boomin dropped a playful track called “BBL Drizzy” (what’s BBL Drizzy?) and invited artists to do their own version, with the winner promised a free Metro beat. Madison’s take stood out immediately it was witty, melodic, and unmistakably her. It went modestly viral, but more importantly, it put her on my radar.
If the name McFerrin sounds familiar, it should. She’s the daughter of legendary jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin. Yes, that Bobby McFerrin—the one behind “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” But Madison is carving her own lane. Her sound is what I personally call NeoSoul, though that label never fully captures the range. She fuses jazz into R&B, sprinkles in funk, and layers it all with deeply textured vocals that are as introspective as they are experimental.
For this Tiny Desk session, she brought reinforcements—Chicago-based bandleader Kameron Lowe and his crew, including The Lovely Lowe Sisters on background vocals. The performance was a celebration of her upcoming album SCORPIO, but it also felt like a reflection on her journey so far.
In classic McFerrin fashion, she shared some personal moments between songs, including a cheeky aside about her siblings and their collective love lives. “My mother is seemingly the only one with any sense because she’s the only one out of the five of us who hasn’t been engaged more than once,” she joked, giving the set a warm, familial energy.
But let’s be clear—the music was the moment. Madison kicked things off with “No Time To Lose,” a gem from her Finding Foundations: Vol. I EP. It was the perfect intro—just her and the loop pedal, layering harmonies like brushstrokes on a canvas. You could literally watch the song build in real time, a reminder of how her voice alone is often all she needs.
From there, the band joined in and added just the right amount of groove as she transitioned into “OMW” from her debut album I Hope You Forgive Me. The vibe kept rising with two standout cuts from her upcoming album SCORPIO: the ultra-smooth “Ain’t It Nice” and the more introspective “I Don’t.” Both tracks felt even more alive in a live setting—polished but free enough to breathe, with little moments of improvisation that made them feel personal.
Then came “TRY,” which was reimagined with a jazz-forward twist, showing how fluid her sound can be. But the real highlight? A brand new, unreleased track called “Run It Back.” She teased the crowd, asking if they were ready to take it to church—and she meant it. From the gospel-tinged piano to the hand claps and soulful call-and-response, it felt like a full-on R&B revival. Lyrically, though, it was grown-folk business—revisiting a late-night moment with an ex, minus the emotional baggage. It was a bold closer, and a perfect taste of what’s to come.
If her Tiny Desk is anything to go by, SCORPIO is about to be one of the standout releases of the year. Her album SCORPIO drops June 24th and I for one can’t wait!
