Jesse Lynn Madera - Silent Night

Jesse Lynn Madera continues her tradition of moving interpretations of holiday classics in 2024 with "Silent Night." Jesse says: "The song 'Silent Night' was written by a young priest in Austria following the Napoleonic Wars, and was even sung on the battlefield during World War 1 when a spontaneous Christmas Eve truce happened, making this a song of peace and dignity, or at least one full of hope for peace and dignity. As we are approaching the most significant election season of our time, I am feeling a renewed sense of hope for the peace and dignity of the USA, and I hope this version of 'Silent Night' will be a soothing addition to humanity’s already gorgeous, evergreen, and ever growing catalogue of classic holiday covers."

Appearing in early 2024, Speed of Sound, the second album released by Jesse Lynn Madera following her acclaimed debut, Fortunes, in 2020, proved an artful, eclectic, fun, emotional jaunt across eleven songs. It marks her first time working with producers Dan Navarro (also his production debut) and Grammy winners Jim Scott and Ryan Hadlock. It reached #21 on the Folk Alliance International Top Albums Chart for March 2024.

Madera creates songs with depth and thought-provoking lyrics, seamlessly blending country, folk, soul, and jazz. American Songwriter adds, “Madera's lyrical and piano-driven songs are passionate and alluring, with a dramatic, ethereal, and almost otherworldly tone. Evoking comparisons to the shapeshifting brilliance of Kate Bush and the confessional pop sensibilities of Tori Amos.” Music Connection featured her in its 2022 Hot 100 list of the Best Unsigned Artists, and she emerged as one of twelve finalists out of more than 6,000 entries in the Americana category in the Unsigned Only 2023 competition! Boasting a dedicated fan base cultivated through captivating live performances, Madera's touring history includes sold out shows at New York's Bitter End and Nashville's The Bluebird. She also had notable appearances at festivals such as Mile 0, 30A, Annapolis Songwriters, and Mile of Music and was featured as a headliner for WMOT's “Finally Friday.”

All lyrics clean 2:33

Producer/String and Choir Arranger: Stevie Blacke
Violin: Leah Zeger
Violin: Kerenza Peacock
Viola: Thomas Lea
Cello: Judy Kang
Choir Leader: Jessica Freedman
Choir: Leah Zeger, Katherine Eames, Charles McDonald, Fletcher Sheridan, Greg Whipple

Written by: Joseph Mohr