Song premiere: 'Voice' star Jeffery Austin returns with ‘80s-style anthem 'Bulletproof'

The Voice top four finalist Jeffery Austin stood out on Season 9 for his plaintive balladry, but his new single, “Bulletproof,” is unexpectedly effervescent. The synth-driven track, mixed by Peter Mokran (Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, Prince, Flaming Lips) and co-written/produced by Sayers Club music director Nick Rosen (Bruno Mars, Macy Gray, Feist), still addresses Austin’s go-to topics of heartbreak and loss — but its uptempo chorus gives off an ‘80s vibe a la Bleachers or Carly Rae Jepsen, and the song showcases entirely new facets of the crooner’s vocals.

The anthemic track comes out this Friday, Sept. 22, but Yahoo Music’s Reality Rocks is thrilled to premiere “Bulletproof” today.

“This past year I’ve really focused on developing as a songwriter and deciding what I want to say both lyrically and sonically,” Austin tells Yahoo. “I could keep releasing ballad after sad ballad, but I think it would put everyone, including myself, to sleep. It’s the most ‘pop’ I’ve gone in terms of production and tempo, and way less of a downer. So while it’s still technically a breakup song, it’s less about the breakup and more about what happens after and the healing process we all go through.”

The Voice Season 12 returns next week; make sure to come back every Wednesday for Jeffery Austin’s commentary as the co-host of our Voice-analysis chat show, “The Day After,” starting Sept. 27.