Madison McFerrin | photo by Kylah Benes-Trapp | courtesy of the artist

Singer-songwriter Madison McFerrin just announced that she will release a new EP, You + I, on November 5. After releasing a two-volume a cappella EP series Finding Foundations over the last few years, the Philly-area native has switched up her style to include full production, while still keeping her soulful vocals at the forefront. The lead single “TRY” is out now, and its self-directed video shows how McFerrin has moved on from the criticism she faced after a performance of the national anthem at a Hillary Clinton campaign rally in 2016, sharing how social media mentions can either disparage or uplift.

“I have moments of fear and doubt that can be so demotivating, and just the simple act of trying, of starting, can feel like the toughest task,” McFerrin says of the new song and video. “I wrote this song not just to remind myself that I can do whatever I set my mind to, but to remind everyone else. Sometimes we just need an extra push. You get to decide how your story ends. I’m incredibly grateful for the community that has joined me on my journey.”

For McFerrin, music runs in the family — Her grandfather, Robert McFerrin Sr., was the first black man to sing with the Metropolitan Opera, and her father Bobby McFerrin is the Grammy-winning jazz vocalist behind the 1988 hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Listen to “TRY” below. Madison McFerrin brings her upcoming headlining tour to MilkBoy on December 6. Find tickets and more information on the XPN Concert Calendar.