Nashville-based artist Jesse Lynn Madera reveals a timeless meshing of Americana, country, and folk on the compelling new album Speed of Sound. A couple album tracks already caught our ears in months prior with “Austin” and the stirring vocal duet “Last Call,” with Dan Navarro.

Quality continues to flow throughout the rest of Speed of Sound, Madera’s sophomore album. “This record marks a graduation and awakening for me,” she explains. “I learned so much making it and made lifelong friends in the process.” Collaborators include producers Navarro (Lowen & Navarro), seven-time Grammy winner Jim Scott (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Wilco), and Grammy-nominated producer Ryan Hadlock. These trio of talented producers lend their skills to a variety of successes across Speed of Sound.

Highlights are numerous. “Ten Miles Down” showcases Madera’s resonating vocal performance with lasting appeal — “I’m gonna love you anyway,” — alongside a moving arsenal of soulful piano and organs. “Waving” is further showcase in haunting balladry, with haunting vocals and string infusions interplaying gorgeously. While subdued successes like these and the acoustic “That House” shine, so do more exuberantly infectious showcases like “Austin” and “Sweet Pretender,” which touts a soaring “where did we go wrong?” chorus with replay-inducing effect. Speed of Sound is a stellar showing from Jesse Lynn Madera.

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We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.

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