Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond Jensen McRae
Oct 28, 2025
In this engaging conversation, singer-songwriter Jensen McRae dives into her artistic journey, discussing how her intimate songs reflect her mixed-race identity and coming-of-age experiences. She performs three live tracks, including the powerful "White Boy," inspired by a college incident. Jensen reveals her ambitious dreams of running for mayor in LA, enhancing public transit, and winning a Grammy. With warm humor, she shares her love for niche online communities like Reddit and reflects on the balance between social media and authentic life experiences.
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Haunted City Sparked A Song
- Jensen wrote "Savannah" a week after her first album came out after two exes invited her to Savannah and she researched the city's haunted history.
- She later visited Savannah for work and felt the song still rang true without rewrites.
Relief Follows Publishing Work
- Releasing an album brought relief for Jensen because she'd been carrying that work for years and had already changed since writing it.
- She felt relieved to hand the story to listeners and excited to tour and see the world with it.
Touring Revealed Cultural Contrasts
- Jensen only began touring meaningfully in 2022 after pandemic delays and college in LA kept her local for years.
- Touring exposed her to how different people carry themselves outside Los Angeles.
