Internet can't help but be drawn to Jensen McRae's genuine blend of folk and pop music.
Rewritten Article:
As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout began in early 2021, a playful tweet from California-based artist Jensen McRae predicted Phoebe Bridgers would pen a tune about hookups in cars at Dodger Stadium vaccine lines. Though Bridgers didn't follow suit, McRae went ahead and wrote "Immune," a song reminiscent of Bridgers' style. The tweet sparked a frenzy, with Bridgers herself personally endorsing McRae's rendition.
"Immune" paved the way for McRae's 2021 debut EP and 2022 album, which led to touring with Muna and Noah Kahan. Last year, she signed with Dead Oceans, the same label representing Bridgers. Her sophomore album, the folk-pop "I Don't Know How, But They Found Me!," drops on Friday.
The title is a reference to "Back to the Future," McRae's favorite movie, and symbolizes the resilience she's experienced in her twenties. The album delves into her past relationships and the events that felt like they should have derailed her but didn't.
Resilience is a recurring theme in McRae's lyrics. Her debut album tackled topics like sexual predators, racist microaggressions, and identity with poetic finesse. The album's most-streamed track, "My Ego Dies in the End," asks, "If I don't write about it, was it really worth it?"
McRae believes that a writer has experienced enough by the age of 25 to have material for the rest of their life. It's years of practice, reflection, and growth that have added depth to her experiences[3].
"I Don't Know How But They Found Me!" comprises songs McRae wrote throughout her early twenties, in the wake of one relationship and the aftermath of another. The album was recorded last spring in North Carolina with producer Brad Cook[4]. The collaboration, McRae said, was a master class in songwriting and production.
A snippet of the song "Massachusetts" earned millions of views on TikTok two years before its full release in July 2024. Despite concerns that the song felt disconnected from the album narrative, its popularity resulted in Bieber sharing it, forcing McRae's hand to release the song as the album conclusion[5].
"Massachusetts" describes the memories that persist after a relationship ends. Cook kept the production minimal, focusing on McRae's emotional vocals and acoustic guitar, emphasizing the song's poignant storytelling[4]. The song's authenticity has captured the hearts of fans, something Cook attributes to the power of honesty in music[5].
McRae has managed to stay grounded amidst the viral attention. Every creative decision is made with a focus on personal satisfaction and the potential impact on her career. The viral moment will eventually fade, but the enduring appeal of her relatable, heartfelt songs will continue to resonate.
Re-visiting her past songs now, McRae feels a new appreciation for their resonance with fans. "When you're going through something difficult, it feels like you're the first person to experience it. But time reveals that of course, others have gone through the same feelings," she says[6].
[1] https://www.tasteofcountry.com/jensen-mcrae-i-dont-know-how-but-they-found-me-track-by-track/[2] https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9481077/jensen-mcrae-massachusetts-motive[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/11/19/jensen-mcrae-interview-back-future-i-dont-know-how/[4] https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9496022/jensen-mcrae-i-dont-know-how-interview[5] https://www.insider.com/jensen-mcrae-talks-massachusetts-song-dziegan-march-2023-4[6] https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61892765
- The internet played a significant role in the viral popularity of Jensen McRae's music, with a tweet kick-starting her fame and her songs earning millions of views on platforms like TikTok.
- Social media has been instrumental in McRae's career, particularly when Justin Bieber shared a snippet of her song "Massachusetts," forcing her hand to release it as the album conclusion.
- In 2021, as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, McRae's debut EP and subsequent album were born out of the events of her twenties, including past relationships and experiences of resilience.
- AI might not have written McRae's songs, but her lyrics often touch on themes like identity, racism, and sexual predators, showing a keen awareness of the world around her.
- McRae's sophomore album, "I Don't Know How But They Found Me!," is a testament to her resilience and her ability to turn personal experiences into relatable, heartfelt music that resonates with listeners worldwide.
- Despite the attention and success, McRae remains grounded, focusing on personal satisfaction and the potential impact on her career, much like the characters in her favorite movie, "Back to the Future."
