West Virginia-born and Houston-raised, Jesse Lynn Madera is celebrated for crafting musical tales with profound and relatable lyrics while effortlessly blending diverse genres. American Songwriter praised her saying, “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.”

“I love so many genres,” says Madera. “When I sit down at the piano to write, it’s a mixed bag. To me, music is music, and I go with how I’m feeling in that moment. The simple truth of human emotion and experience creates an endless palette. I listen to all kinds of different music and my influences are equally diverse. Inspiration is everywhere!”

Music industry tastemakers are taking notice of Madera’s distinctive talent. She was recognized by Music Connection Magazine as one of their Hot 100 Best Unsigned Artists. Last year she emerged as a top 12 finalist (out of 6,000 entries) in the Americana category of the Unsigned Only competition due to her compelling performance of "Unchained." Madera’s dedicated fan base is a testament to her captivating live performances, which include sold-out shows at renowned venues like New York’s Bitter End and Nashville’s The Bluebird (where she shared the stage with Dan Navarro, Pete Mroz & Jim Photoglo).

She has had a significant festival presence appearing at Mile 0, 30A, Annapolis Songwriters, and Mile of Music. Madera was selected as a headliner for WMOT’s Finally Friday live concert series in Nashville, further solidifying her musical prowess. A dynamic performer, she has provided show support for acclaimed artists like The Zombies, Navarro, Maddie Poppe, and Mary Fahl.

Madera’s childhood years were rooted in music. She lived near her grandparents, self-taught musicians whose 'stage' was either the back porch or the living room, and began playing her grandmother’s upright piano around the time she started walking. Due to a series of job transfers offered to her mother, her family embarked upon numerous cross-country moves over a seven-year period that began when she was just four years old. In part, she credits these moves as helping her develop a rich interior world that led to songwriting at an early age. “Music kept me company. It became my passion and best friend.”

By the time she was 11 years old, her family moved to Houston where she would remain until she graduated from the famed High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Following graduation, she studied classical theater for a year in a conservatory program led by renowned director Gerald Freedman at North Carolina School of the Arts before enrolling in New York University’s acclaimed Tisch School of the Arts to study acting. Before graduating in 2004, she was accepted into an experimental theater program in Amsterdam. After graduation, the budding songstress remained in New York and turned her full attention to music. Holding down a number of jobs so she could hone her craft, she was eventually booking venues like The Bitter End, Living Room, Rockwood Music Hall, Cutting Room, Highline Ballroom and was in the cast of a musical that was reviewed by The New York Times.

Meeting her future husband, actor Hemky Madera (Weeds, Queen of the South, Alcapoco), in 2010 was the catalyst for her move to Los Angeles. While Madera focused on raising her two sons, George and Jack, she continued to write, and in 2020, released her debut record, Fortunes. The album was widely acclaimed and had a strong impact on fans and critics alike. From the captivating string arrangements by one-man orchestra Stevie Blacke (Olivia Rodrigo, Pink, Rihanna, Chris Stapleton), to Madera’s compelling lyrical storytelling (labeled “Cohen-esque” by one writer), Fortunes, cemented her place in the music industry as an up-and-coming artist to watch.

As Madera’s journey in the music scene continues to unfold, she recently released a new single, "Austin'' from her forthcoming album, Speed of Sound. The project was produced by the esteemed Dan Navarro (Lowen & Navarro), seven-time Grammy winner Jim Scott (Tedeschi Trucks Band and Wilco) and Grammy-winner Ryan Hadlock (Lumineers, Zach Bryan), promising a new chapter in her evolving artistry.