Madison McFerrin can tell a story with her voice alone.
The rising soul singer first caught everyone's attention in early 2018 with her acapella arrangements. McFerrin would post covers recorded in one take online, constructing the entire song with only a microphone and her voice, allowing her emotions to drive the performances.
She's precisely crafted her vocal agility, a skill her father, GRAMMY-winning singer Bobby McFerrin, also possesses.
In this episode of Press Play, McFerrin debuts her newest single, "(Please Don't) Leave Me Now," a jazz-tinged ode to resilience in the face of trauma.
Though accompanied by a live band, McFerrin's soft, buttery vocals command the room. Her voice grows more powerful and demanding as she cheekily requests her lover to stay around for a little longer. She finishes the performance with a set of acrobatic runs, chanting out the song's title.
"(Please Don't) Leave Me Now" acts as the successor to McFerrin's 2022 single, ironically titled "Stay Away (From Me)." McFerrin will also appear at the upcoming San Jose Jazz Winter Fest and open for the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo this coming March.
Watch the video above to view Madison McFerrin's seamless performance of "(Please Don't) Leave Me Now," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.
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