MADISON MCFERRIN'S 'SCORPIO'

An indie artist with a pedigree cuts through the digital noise

A few years before the pandemic I was surfing around music blogs when I found a link to a young singer using foot pedals to sample her own voice and create lovely harmonies. Not only was it cool trick but a smart showcase for her voice and her ear. Turned out the singer was Bobby McFerrin’s daughter Madison, who had her own take on both sound and love songs. Along with a music loving friend I went out to the Lodge Room in LA’s Highland Park, my favorite West Coast love venue, to catch a performance. She had a sensual, playful vocal style and a good amount of on stage charisma. I expected her to end up a major label.

Instead she’s stayed independent, building an audience through touring and on line drops. With the release of her album ‘Scorpio,’ it feels like Madison’s time has come. A provocative video with an S&M theme for the slinky love song, “Ain’t It Nice,” garnered wel deserved attention (see below.) Then a Tiny Desk performance introduced her to that music savvy viewership. Subsequently the album has made several best of 2025 list and is getting major label attention despite Madison going the indie route. There’s jazz and house and mash ups of various genres on the album, but the unifying thread is Madison’s use of her voice, playing her breathy leads against smoothly stacked harmonies.

I don’t listen to as much new music as I once did, so I don’t often get to champion young musical talent anymore. But, blooodlines aside, this is gifted vocalist with a interesting personal sonic point of view. Above is her Tiny Desk concert. Below are links to an recent interview and to purchase her album. If you’re a fan of fresh directions in R&B, I think you’ll be pleased.

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/05/nx-s1-5447480/madison-mcferrin-describes-the-power-of-finding-her-own-voice-and-sound

https://madisonmcferrin.bandcamp.com/music

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/madisonmcferrin/scorpio