As she gears up for the release of her debut, self-titled album on Friday (Jan. 23), Contemporary Christian Music newcomer Jamie MacDonald is already piling up milestones. Her debut radio single “Desperate” spent seven weeks atop Billboard’s Christian AC Airplay chart. Her follow up song, “Left It in the River,” is in its eighth non-consecutive week at the pinnacle of that same chart. (Billboard reports)
MacDonald’s soulful voice and unfiltered style of songwriting have led to a whirlwind of touring, awards nominations and radio hits since she signed her label deal with Capitol CMG in 2024.
But then, nothing about MacDonald’s journey has been typical. It was singing that caused MacDonald’s stepfather to kick her out of their home when she was 15.
“When my mom remarried, we moved into his house and he really loved our mom, but never really wanted kids,” she says. “So it was like he’d put up with us to have my mom and it was a time where we all had to become invisible.
Growing up in Michigan, MacDonald soaked in the sounds of mega-voiced pop queens like Mariah Carey, and was drawn to older, soulful sounds.
“I remember getting a Walkman for Christmas one year and getting the Mariah Carey Christmas album,” she says. “I remember hearing her do that first vocal run on ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You,” and I was like, ‘I have to learn how to sing like that.’ I just studied her voice and the choir arrangements. I’ve always loved the choir sound and it’s infused in a lot of the record. I love stacking harmonies. I got into Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding. I think just going through a lot of heartache in my life kind of cultivated a deeper, soulful sound.”
MacDonald dropped out of school, began hanging with friends who loved hip-hop and started singing the female vocal parts on friends’ rap songs. She eventually moved to Los Angeles, but was already spiraling into a battle with drug addiction and being homeless for a time.
