Los Angeles Times interviews songwriter Jensen McRae

In an interview published on June 18, the Los Angeles Times noted USC Thornton Popular Music alumna Jensen McRae (’19) as the city’s next great songwriter. L.A. Times music critic Mikael Wood traced her journey from studying at Harvard-Westlake to honing her songwriting skills at Thornton and ultimately gaining prominence as an alternative folk-pop artist.

Patrice Rushen, the former chair of Thornton’s Popular Music program, praised McRae’s songwriting skills, describing her as an extremely gifted individual.

“I adored her as a student,” Rushen said.

Of her own artistic evolution McRae said, “I was one of the few Black kids [at Harvard-Westlake], and I didn’t want to be underestimated. Now, I find being underestimated kind of funny because I have so much confidence in my own ability that when someone thinks I’m not gifted in whatever way, I’m like, ‘Oh, you’ll find out you’re wrong soon enough.’ ”

McRae released her sophomore album I Don’t Know How but They Found Me! in April. In 2024, she opened for Noah Kahan on his “We’ll All Be Here Forever” tour.

***

Photo courtesy of The OK Times.