Jensen McRae

Jensen Paige McRae (born September 10, 1997 ) is an American singer-songwriter. She gained prominence for her debut singles "White Boy" and "Wolves" (2020). Her music has been recommended by Rolling Stone, Vulture, Nylon, NPR, and The Fader. Her debut EP Who Hurt You? was released on June 25, 2021, followed by her debut studio album Are You Happy Now?, which was released on March 22, 2022.

Early life and education McRae was born in Santa Monica, California, and raised in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. She is of Black and Jewish descent.

Career

2017–2018: Early EPs McRae released her first two EPs online during college, Lighter (2017) and Milkshakes (2018).

2019–2021: Debut Singles Her debut single "White Boy" was released after her college graduation in 2019, followed by "Wolves" in 2020.

In January 2021, McRae tweeted "in 2023 Phoebe Bridgers is gonna drop her third album & the opening track will be about hooking up in the car while waiting in line to get vaccinated at dodger stadium and it’s gonna make me cry." The Tweet went viral, and Bridgers also retweeted it. That month she also collaborated with fellow Black folk artist Joy Oladokun on the track "Wish You the Best".

Her debut extended play Who Hurt You? was released on June 22, 2021. On February 22, 2022 McRae announced her debut studio album Are You Happy Now?. It was released on March 22, 2022 and features all of the songs from Who Hurt You? except "Immune".

2023–2024: It Wasn't Supposed To Be Like This... and "Massachusetts" On September 20, 2023, McRae released the visual EP It Wasn't Supposed To Be Like This... on her Youtube channel. In November 2023, she uploaded the first verse and chorus of an unnamed song that garnered popularity on TikTok. She released the song under the name "Massachusetts" on June 11, 2024. This was her first release after signing with record label Dead Oceans.

2025–present McRae's second album, I Don't Know How but They Found Me! was released on 25 April 2025 with record label Dead Oceans, featuring the singles "Praying For Your Downfall," "Massachusetts," and "Savannah." The album features writing credits from Jake Wesley Rodgers, Joe London and Grant Averill.

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Jensen was featured on a national broadcast of the CBS News Mornings show.

On 6 August 2025, Jensen announced on her Instagram that she will have a role in and song on the soundtrack of an upcoming Spike Lee film, this being her debut acting performance. She sang the song "King David" in Lee's 2025 film Highest 2 Lowest.

McRae will perform as an opening act for Gracie Abrams' The Look at My Life Tour for two nights in March 2027.

Artistry McRae has been compared to folk artists like Tracy Chapman and describes her music as "folk-alternative-pop". 2020 - KCRW, 10 Best Songs of the Year (for "Wolves") 2021 - NPR, Slingshot's 2021 Artists To Watch 2021 - #YOUTUBEBLACK Voices Artist, Class of 2021

Tours Openers

MUNA - North American Tour (2022) Maude Latour (2022) Noah Kahan - The Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) Tour (2024) Dermot Kennedy - Weight of the Woods tour (2026) opened in Birmingham and London on the UK leg of the tour. Gracie Abrams - The Look at My Life Tour (2027)