Madison McFerrin - “No Room”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 8

Pairs Well With…Imogen Heap, SZA, Bobby McFerrin

While Madison McFerrin built her early singles and EPs Finding Foundations Vol. 1 and 2 on experimental, a cappella layering, the Brooklyn-based artist has grown to introduce some electronic instrumentation into her sound for 2019 EP You + I. Vocal soundscapes still lead a track like “Fallin’”, but McFerrin’s exploration of jazz balladry (“Know You Better”), downtempo trip hop (“Unwise”), and psychedelic synth pop/R&B (“No Room”) is where she sounds freshest and expertly smooth. (Kevin McStravick) 

2019 Review: A cappella experimenter Madison McFerrin has filtered her father’s signature style into something wholly unique, spinning spaced out R&B tracks over looped hums, lines and melodies. McFerrin recently released her second EP, Finding Foundations: Vol II, a three-song collection including the entrancing, tension-building “Insane”. A love song internalized and leaning on obsessions, “Insane” is cool and refreshing especially with a mic and a voice as her sole weapons.