Today, artist and producer Madison McFerrin announced her debut album I Hope You Can Forgive Me, which is out May 12, with the new single "(Please Don't) Leave Me Now." The Andrew Lappin–produced song is accompanied by a video directed by Kemp Baldwin that was inspired by near-fatal events that McFerrin and her boyfriend survived.
"Being able to walk away from a near-death experience without physical harm is one of the greatest blessings I've received in this life," McFerrin shared. "It reaffirmed my purpose as an artist. Writing '(Please Don't) Leave Me Now' became an incredibly therapeutic and cathartic experience. Being able to express that kind of fear while still creating a fun environment was key to making this song."
McFerrin expands on these themes in the song's video, which was filmed in the wake of multiple family members of those involved in its production passing away unexpectedly. "We wanted to capture the feeling of not being prepared to die," she added. "I’m talking to myself both above and within the grave, grieving both who I was and who I could be. I didn’t expect being in a grave for multiple hours in a day would affect me, but it definitely contributed to my journey in processing a near-death experience. This song and video are a manifestation of my own personal growth as not only a musician, but as a human.”
Watch "(Please Don't) Leave Me Now" below, and pre-order I Hope You Can Forgive Me here.
