‘Pissed off’ Boise singer unleashes Roe v. Wade song. ‘Every penny’ goes to abortion fund

When singer McKenna Esteb headed to an abortion-rights rally outside the Idaho State Capitol, she wasn’t thinking about writing a song.

Roe v. Wade had been overturned that day. Like millions of Americans, Esteb was reeling. Along with bassist Darren Henry and his girlfriend, Destiny Begin, she walked away afterward feeling helpless.

Seething.

“We really didn’t say much that day, because what is there to say? But then we had the idea,” she says. “We’re all musicians. The only thing we know how to do is make music. How can we contribute to this with what we know how to do? It’s like, let’s put out a song with all the proceeds to go to the Northwest Abortion Access Fund.”

Brainstorming at Garden City’s Den Studios that night, they blew off steam with friend, owner and audio engineer Kyler Daron. “Mad Gxrls,” a collaborative effort, came together in about four hours, Esteb says.

“We were so mad,” she remembers. “So we just went back to the studio, and we were just like drinkin’ whiskey and pissed off. Honestly, it was like the first time that we actually were able to laugh and enjoy something that day.”

Available through multiple music services, “Mad Gxrls” is a garage-rock anthem fueled by indignation. A 92-second rally cry.

“I’m so tired of my body, your choice,” Esteb, 24, declares midsong, before Begin helps her roar, “Can you hear when I raise my voice?”

“Mad Gxrls” is sold at Amazon and iTunes. Fans also can buy it for $1 from Bandcamp, which allows the option to give more. “Every penny,” Esteb says, will be given to the Northwest Abortion Access Fund, a network for reproductive options. That means streaming revenue, digital purchases and any extra donations.

Normally a melodic pop-rocker, Esteb was raised in Snoqualmie, Washington. She grew up performing in talent shows, then gigging at Seattle-area restaurants and bars. Esteb moved to Idaho in 2016 to attend Boise State. After graduating in 2018, she moved to Austin, Texas, the following year. In May, Esteb returned to Boise, where she fronts a band.

No matter how much cash “Mad Gxrls” generates, it helped the musicians cope, she says. Just having the ability and opportunity to create the protest song was priceless.

“That’s the beauty of music, honestly,” Esteb says. “Even though the conditions were really serious. Music is a cathartic outlet, and you need that. Everyone needs something like that.”

Does that mean she’ll encourage audience members to wave their fists during her next show? Will she crank up the hard-driving “Mad Gxrls” during an otherwise pop-oriented set at Flipside Fest in Garden City?

“That’s a good question,” she muses. “Yeah. I think we would love to play it at Flipside. Absolutely.”