Acclaimed New Zealand Songstress Jamie McDell Releases Reflective Easy Listener In New Single ‘Poor Boy’

Meet Jamie McDell: a 26-year-old Americana songstress that has had commercial success far beyond her years.

McDell is known for her unique Americana style, drawing inspiration from her idols like Jimmy Buffet, John Denver, and James Taylor to name a few. She combines an endearing folk-roots sound with modern Americana flair, and her vocals often float effortlessly over her songs.

McDell was signed to EMI at the young age of 16, and went on to release her first LP, Six Strings and a Sailboat, which received Gold album sales and won Best Pop Album of 2013 at the NZ Music Awards. Her second album, Ask Me Anything, received global recognition, with her deep-cut track “Moon Shines Red” appearing in the teen drama series Pretty Little Liars.

And in her third studio album, Extraordinary Girl, McDell returned to her country roots and created an LP that earned her a nomination for New Zealand Country Artist of the Year in 2019, which received a rave review in Rolling Stone, stating “Ringing guitar chords are backed by atmospheric layers of keyboards, but the true stunner is McDell’s unforced voice, which has already led the Americana artist to gold certifications and award nominations in her native New Zealand.”

In her most recent release, “Poor Boy”, McDell partners with fellow musician and collaborator Tom Busby to create a bittersweet, coming-of-age single that discusses the importance of growing up, valuing time, and a commitment to working hard.

The song’s instrumentation is filled to the brim in rich harmonies and guitar progressions which shows her growth as an artist after returning to the country and Americana genres. With Busby’s full and folksy harmonies and McDell’s strong vocals and lyricism, “Poor Boy” delivers a delightfully magnetic easy listen.

“Poor Boy” was released on January 7th, and is the second single released from her upcoming self-titled LP that is set to debut May 22nd of this year.