WOKE UP IN…LONDON? JESSE LYNN MADERA CHATS NEW SINGLE, COLIN BLUNSTONE AND HITTING THE UK

INTERVIEW | JESSE LYNN MADERA by Anne Kelly

In the world of Americana and soulful storytelling, Jesse Lynn Madera has always been an artist who wears her heart on her sleeve. On Wednesday night, that vulnerability was on full display as she performed an intimate showcase at Camden’s Green Note, dazzling the crowd with her ethereal vocal tones and charismatic poise. It was a perfect opening gambit for her first-ever UK tour – a 16-date run supporting the legendary Colin Blunstone of The Zombies.

The tour will see Madera hitting every corner of the country, from Manchester and Glasgow to Bristol and Cardiff, before a grand finale at London’s magical Union Chapel on Thursday, May 28th.

Despite the current momentum, Madera’s journey hasn’t always been a straight line. Her latest single, ‘Woke Up In LA‘, has been on the burner for over a decade, capturing a pivitol transition shift in her life.

In the quiet before the storm, Jesse took some time out of her very hectic scheduled to discuss the evolution of her new music, the difference between writing on subways versus in cars, and how she plans to find a sense of “home” whilst in the UK.

Let’s dive straight into your new single, Woke Up In LA. You mention that this one has been on the burner for over 10 years, can you tell us the story behind this one and why you have kept it unreleased for so long?

I wrote Woke Up In LA during a time I was really struggling with my identity. I’d just moved from New York, where I’d begun to find my footing as an artist, and become a mother to my beautiful son as well as a lucky wife to my husband. It all happened so fast, and I didn’t know any musicians in Los Angeles. It was hard to bond with anyone not being able to go out and hang into the late hours as we musicians tend to do. I went through a period of isolation driven by fear that I would not have the internal strength to start over. That probably made me not a fun person to live with, and on some days caused some tension.

Looking back at the lyrics then to finishing the song now, did the “truth” of the song change for you as you gained more distance from those early LA days?

Absolutely. I don’t know when, but Los Angeles grew on me, and I have a homey little community of wonderful friends. I wish I would have known then how happy I’d become.

Moving from New York to LA must have been a massive culture shock. Beyond the physical distance, how did that move shift the way you approached songwriting? How do you feel the different music scenes shaped your growth as an artist?

Well, there was no more writing or reading in the subways or going to little cafes by myself, and there was no more walking around through busy streets or sitting in parks with my coffee. All of that took some getting used to. I used to love to have a glass of something and sit at a bar, eves dropping. My writing became more of living room or car humming process. I still feel most creative, like I’m getting the most creative downloads in New York, but there is also more potential for peaceful productivity in Los Angeles if I can catch a creative wave.

The music industry is constantly shifting, with more and more emphasis on content creating and being online. Is it harder to be vulnerable and connect with fans when you’re connecting through a screen? How do you manage to keep that sense of authenticity?

Social media is not my strong suit, but I do enjoy scrolling through Instagram, for better or for worse. I prefer a more classic way of connecting. I’m still figuring out how to have a truly authentic online presence, posting a lot about everything going on in my life is just not me. I’m more of an introvert. I’m not sure that I’m good at it or will ever be very good at it. But I’ll try!

This month you will be making your UK debut supporting the legendary Colin Blunstone. In what ways has Colin/The Zombies music influenced or inspired your own artistry?

Colin’s voice and how well he has maintained it is a huge inspiration to me, as are a lot of the rhythms and chord changes. I borrowed the idea of a percussive breath on my song Waving.

In terms of coming to the UK, are there any places you are particularly excited to visit? Do you have any plans to be a tourist between shows?

I plan to visit Windsor Castle of course if there is time, and to go for High Tea and great Indian food. I have done a lot of the tourist stuff in the past, so this will be more like restaurant tourism!

Since Woke Up In LA is a song about waking up in a new city and feeling out of place, how do you plan to make yourself feel “at home” while travelling across the UK for a month?

I have my teas and my vitamins with me. I plan to buy a fan in case I get hot at night. I’ll be FaceTiming my boys at home every day.

Once the tour wraps up, what does Jesse Lynn Madera have planned for the rest of 2026? Can we expect more new music? An album perhaps?

There will probably be another single and I’ll be actively planning my next album. I also have tour dates already lining up for fall that have yet to be announced.

Finally, if you could only listen to 3 albums for the rest of your life, what would make the cut…?

Willie Nelson Redheaded Stranger, Joni Mitchell Blue, Joni Mitchell Hejira. But this is really an impossible question! Too many to choose from!

Jesse Lynn Madera‘s latest single ‘Woke Up In LA’ is out now and you can catch her live supporting Colin Blunstone across the UK this month – tickets are on sale now.