Jesse Lynn Madera and Matt Rollings Release “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
NASHVILLE, October 22 – In celebration of the upcoming Christmas season, Jesse Lynn Madera has released a cover of the classic tune Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, produced by and featuring Grammy Award-winning piano virtuoso Matt Rollings. The single is now available across all digital platforms.
"I was inspired by the classic Christmas songs from my childhood and wanted to create something both timely and timeless,” Madera shares. “And nobody alive today on the planet plays a standard better than Matt Rollings.”
Recorded live at Rollings’ home studio, the friends hammered out something special after only a few takes.
“I've been wanting to work on something with Matt for years. His old soul musical sensibilities are beautifully in tune with songs from the era I wanted to emulate," Madera explains. "We didn't rehearse before the tracking day, so what you hear in the finished product, aside from the gorgeous string arrangement by Kristin Wilkinson, is truly a window into that particular day and time."
Rollings echoes Madera's sentiments, “All I had to do was press record, sit at the piano, and start playing, and out came this incredible music. She told the story of this classic song in a way I’ve never heard before. Intimate, nostalgic, sad, and beautiful…”
"Jesse is an amazing artist and person," he continues. "In the years we’ve known each other, I’ve seen her kindness, generosity, and fierce spirit, and these traits all come out in her music.”
The two artists hope their listeners find joy, comfort, hope in their new single. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” follows an incredible 2020 record from each artist, Madera’s Fortunes and Rollings’ Matt Rollings Mosaic.
Check out the pair's other holiday favorites on Matt and Jesse's Christmas List on Spotify.
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ABOUT JESSE LYNN MADERA
Jesse Lynn Madera creates songs with depth and thought-provoking lyrics, seamlessly blending country, soul, and jazz. “Madera’s lyrical and piano-driven songs are passionate and alluring, with a dramatic, ethereal, and almost otherworldly tone,” writes American Songwriter. “[She evokes] comparisons to the shapeshifting brilliance of Kate Bush and the confessional pop sensibilities of Tori Amos.” Ever-present in her songwriting, the piano became an integral part of her life thanks to family friend and mentor, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame pianist and songwriter, Johnnie ("B. Goode") Johnson. Jesse’s 2020 record, Fortunes, is a lyrical and piano-driven album that makes a strong impression in its genre-defying, well-crafted conviction. From its swelling string arrangements by Stevie Blacke (Pink, Rihanna, Chris Stapleton), to its Cohen-esque lyrics, the album has a mystical feel. Listeners are treated to duets with Australian-born, LA-based musician, Joel Taylor, as well as actor/musician John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone, Deadwood, The Sessions). Jesse's live performances have earned her a devoted following in Los Angeles and New York City venues. She now splits her time between New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.
ABOUT MATT ROLLINGS
Over the past four decades, GRAMMY-winning producer and piano virtuoso Matt Rollings has performed on thousands of recordings across a wide swath of genres, contributing to releases from Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Mavis Staples, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton, The Dixie Chicks, Metallica, and Sheryl Crow among others. On top of his astonishing resume as a session player and sideman, Rollings has also written, produced, and arranged for a whole slew of icons, from Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett to Keith Urban and Mary Chapin Carpenter, taken home the ACM Award for Pianist of the Year on ten separate occasions, and earned widespread acclaim for his 1990 solo debut, Balconies. With 2020’s Matt Rollings Mosaic, he steps into the spotlight while inviting some of his longtime bandmates, friends, and collaborators to lend their talents to his remarkable new record. Featuring guest vocals from an all-star cast including Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Molly Tuttle, Buddy Miller, Heidi Talbot, Charlie Greene, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Alison Krauss, and Vince Gill. The album mixes Rollings' originals with timeless classics and some of the more famous tunes he’s performed over the years.
Media Contact:
Kate Richardson