Jensen McRae Found Middle Ground in 'Massachusetts'

The song had taken on a life of its own, continuing to make its way back into the algorithm and eventually leading to McRae signing with record label Dead Oceans (Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers) and releasing the full version with soothing production true to her ambitious girl-next-door sound. “I'm really happy that it's out,” she tells PAPER. “There's so much more coming.”

Fresh off tour and preparing for what’s to come, McRae sat down with PAPER and opened up about the memories that became “Massachusetts,” her Madison Beer era and finding middle ground after a heartbreak.

I've been following the "Massachusetts" lore since I first heard it on TikTok last year. How does it feel to finally have it out?

I feel great. The song’s been out for about a month, and I posted the clip eight months ago. I'm really happy that it's out; I feel like people are responding just as wonderfully as I'd hoped.

You weren't initially planning to release it, but fans got to hear you sing the unreleased version on tour with Noah Kahan. Now, it's your first release under your new record label. What's that been like?

It's been so great. Noah is incredible. I actually just got back from tour two days ago. Everyone he works with is amazing, the tour runs so smoothly. Everyone was so kind and welcoming and his audiences is incredible. It was great to tease the song on the first leg that I did with him in Canada before it was formally announced that it was coming out. To be able to translate that into a live audience setting was so special. As an opener, you never know how many people in the audience know who you are. But it was crazy singing "Massachusetts," because every time I did my very long intro into the song, once people realized what I was saying, everyone would scream. That's so crazy that the song that's not out was the one that's getting this response. So, it was a perfect environment to get the song ready to be released formally out into the world.

What was the turning point when you finally decided to release it? Was it on the creative side or because it had been received so well already?

There was a lot of external pressure, but I came to be really excited about it while making that decision. The last time I went really viral for a song was three and a half years ago on Twitter for a Phoebe Bridgers parody that I wrote. Because it was my first time going viral, I knew that I was going to put the song out immediately. In the time that's elapsed since then, I've been making my creative decisions much more based on the narrative that I'm trying to build with the songs. When I first wrote "Massachusetts," I had not formally started recording the second album. Then, when we were talking about the tracklist, it didn't feel like there was a place for it. I think one of the big things was Justin Bieber reposting it. I was like, “Oh, if I'm getting the cosign from one of the biggest pop stars in the world, I think I need to reconsider my position.”

Not your Madison Beer moment, getting discovered by Justin!

I know! I literally texted so many of my friends, and I was like, “Not me in my Madison era.”

Who are some of your songwriting influences?

I mean, Taylor Swift is a big one. In addition to her, I've been a Sara Bareilles fan since I was in elementary school and Phoebe Bridgers was obviously a big influence on me. I've always been a massive fan of Carole King and James Taylor, as well as Stevie Wonder. Right now, I'd say Justin Vernon is a massive one, of course. I mean, I name-dropped him in one of my songs. I think all of those people contributed in a myriad ways to the way that I like to tell my stories.

There was an ongoing conversation on TikTok about what to call the song. How did you land on "Massachusetts?"

“Massachusetts,” “Video Games” and “Christian Bale” were the three big ones in my mind. At first, it was called "Video Games," because that's the refrain. Then I was like, I think it's funnier if it's called Christian Bale. But then I was thinking, and I didn't want Christian Bale’s team to reach out to me at some point and be like “Huh? Girl.” So I was like, maybe not that. The thing that drops you into the world of the song is the first line, “When someone tells me they’re from Massachusetts, now, I always ask what part.” To me, that feels like such a perfect symbol of how it feels to engage with the memory of a person that you've lost. Maybe more than anything else, the place that they're from feels really significant. I never would have had an awareness of the town if not for him. That became the thing that so many people resonate with.

Are there other identifiers that didn't make the final cut? Is there a 10-minute “Massachusetts” version?

No! What's funny is I feel like I have written songs that are much more eviscerating. "Massachusetts" is a nice song and a happy song, and I got a lot of pushback on that online. The whole point is looking back on this thing that once was really painful for you, but now it's not as painful anymore. If there was ever going to be a 10-minute version of one of my songs, it would probably be some of the other ones that are not out yet. The reason I didn't think the song was gonna go viral was because I put so much specific detail about this man. I really gave all of the details. There is no ambiguity. I feel like if I extended it any further, I'd just be giving this man’s social security number.

Everyone wants to hear a relatable song, but even more than that, they want the tea!

Thank God I have songwriting because if I didn't, I fear I would be making storytime TikToks and I can't handle the amount of scrutiny that would come with that. So, I must divulge three crumbs of information at a time and then call it.

What is the lasting message that you've woven into "Massachusetts?" Would you say it’s a reminder for yourself, a lesson to share with your fans or a letter to who you wrote it about?

I definitely think it's all of those things. The main takeaway of the song is that time is the cure for all heartbreak. When enough time passes, you can always look back at a relationship and find joy and beauty and love in it. When I look back at it, I find my outsized heartbreak a little funny. I was a little dramatic. Yet, I can just see all of our happy memories, I can compartmentalize them, and I can acknowledge that it was a season of my life that was really valuable at the time, and it's just over now. I just hope that people who are in the real trenches of heartbreak can recognize that it's not a zero-sum game. You don't have to be madly in love with someone and marry them or hate their guts forever. There is really a middle ground.

Whoever you wrote it about is lucky that you wrote it!

I agree. I think he's very lucky.

What can people expect now that you've signed with Dead Oceans? Massachusetts was just the beginning!

I've recorded a lot of music; I don't know when it's going to come out. The next thing I'm doing is going to London to play some headline shows at the beginning of August, which are all sold out. I'm very grateful for that. We're polishing and perfecting the music that I recorded. I'm excited to be able to share it with people. There's so much more coming.

My last question is: If someone were to write a “Massachusetts” about you, what do you think it would be called?

The obvious answer is "California." I'm a California girl. One of the response videos that I duetted [on TikTok] with this guy wrote it from the male perspective version. He was like, “When someone tells me they're from California now, I always ask what side,” and I was like, okay, read me! In the same way that there are many things that I have associations with because of past exes, I feel like all of my exes probably have the same ones. They all associate the same stuff with me, like Taylor Swift and bookstores; it's all in there. Both men are haunted by those things.

I’m so excited to keep following along on your journey. Thanks for meeting with me today!

Of course, thank you so much for taking the time.

Photography: Caity Krone