Jenna Raine, a 19-year-old rising singer-songwriter, soared to fame in 2021 with her viral hit “see you later (10 years).” Her newest single, “It Is What It Is,” has achieved similar popularity, applauded for its upbeat lyrics, captivating melody, and accompanying viral TikTok dance. Leading her highly anticipated EP, Big Dumb Heart, Chapter 2, the track radiates Jenna’s optimism and positivity. Set to release on August 25th, Big Dumb Heart, Chapter 2 takes listeners through a musical journey, sharing her evolution as an artist. With infectious songs and a notable online presence, Jenna Raine earns status as a budding star in the industry, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide with her unwavering talent and high-spirited personality.
Payton: First off, congratulations on your new EP! When you were writing Big Dumb Heart, Chapter 1, did you know what Chapter 2 was going to sound like?
Jenna: Oh my gosh, I had zero clue. We had a meeting with Warner and my management and we played them the whole entire first EP and all I said about Chapter 2 was that I wanted it to be lighter, more hopeful, and just more me because I’m a very happy person. But I had zero songs to play off of Chapter 2, which is so funny because I just cannot believe that these songs did not exist when that meeting happened.
P: When did you write “It Is What It Is”?
J: I had just gotten back from opening for Joshua Bassett in London, and I was super jet lagged and I had a bunch of dirty clothes from that trip. And so I went to wash all of them and I shrunk both of my favorite pairs of jeans. I cried and then I went to my session, so jet lagged and so exhausted and so we wrote “It Is What It Is.” I had the title, but I was planning on making it like a heartbreak [song], but then when I walked into the studio, I was like, “guys, life is just kicking me in the butt.” So that’s what we wrote.
P: Did you know immediately that it was going to be a hit single?
J: Oh, 100%. Normally a lot of writers will start with the chorus, but for this song we wrote top to bottom, which is very rare. Once we finished the verse through the first chorus, I was like, “y’all, this song is really good.” Sometimes in sessions I just have to be the one to be like, “guys, we need to step back and just listen because this is insane.” We were all super hyped. We knew that it was a great song, but I hadn’t worked with [those writers and producers] before, so I don’t think they really, truly understood that. This song is my favorite song I’ve written within the past few months by far, so it was definitely obvious to me.
P: Who did you write “It Is What It Is” with and how did you decide who was going to be in the studio that day?
J: I was new to co-writing a little bit, so [my A&R] was getting me in a room with different people every single day. I wrote it with Adam Yaron, Alna Hofmeyr, and German, and they were literally the coolest crew. It was insane how quickly we wrote the song after, the idea just sparked. Now we’re like all at a writing camp together. And so it’s so sweet because now we’re just doing everything together. One song made such a huge difference.
P: “It Is What It Is” is your best launch since “see you later (10 years).” How has the fan reaction been different this time, especially since those two songs are very different from one another?
J: I think it’s been a very positive reaction. When I first posted “see you later (10 years)” I made it a little more of a sadder route, but other people took it to a really sad route and that was really hard. I would watch videos made to my own song and just bawl my eyes out. I was so, so sad watching them. And for this song, it’s been like a breath of fresh air because I’ve always told my team that my whole point being a musician and being an artist is that I want to spread light in a dark world and just like be a light to people and spread happiness. With “see you later (10 years)” I think it provided a lot of healing, but “It Is What It Is” provided a lot of joy. I think it’s kind of what my listeners needed, which is super sweet that I was able to provide that. I’m very happy with the reaction and I think it’s a great flip from sad to happy.
P: How do you feel on release days and how has that changed from when you first started putting out music a few years ago?
J: I hate release days, actually. They’re super nerve wracking. “It Is What It Is” was the first release I’d ever had where I had had a group of friends around me. They all came to my place and we played games and watched like old YouTube videos of all of us. We were just having a really fun time and so I think it was the first time that I had people around me to almost distract me from the fact it was a release day, but also celebrate it at the same time. It was really sweet. I felt celebrated and it was really nice to have the anxiety lower due to my friends.
P: Do you have plans for the EP release yet?
J: Oh gosh, I don’t think so. But I know a lot of my friends will be in town, so I’ll definitely have people over. There’s something about a single release that just is so much worse than an EP release because some people are going to listen to certain songs more and it’s more of an over time type of thing whereas a single, you’re hoping, crossing your fingers, praying that it turns out great. I’m planning on hanging [with friends] for sure.
P: Big Dumb Heart, Chapter 2 has a different vibe than Chapter 1. Was there a theme or emotion that you wanted to capture in Big Dumb, Heart Chapter 2, and how did that differ from your intention with Chapter 1?
J: The first EP is realizing you’re being treated badly and just being open about that rather than keeping those emotions in, and the second EP I think is about finding better people and just growing [in a way] that you could have never imagined. Like for me, I was just a people pleaser and everybody’s therapist in the first EP and in high school and now, since I’ve moved out and moved into a different city, I’ve just grown so much and found a crew that’s supported me in every single way. And the first EP is sad and about heartbreak, whereas the second EP is about growth and friendship. So it’s been a cool transition to watch through the lyrics.
P: How did you narrow it down to these songs?
J: It was very hard, but also I trust my team in that, which is kind of funny. I feel like a lot of artists have a different take on that. I was writing a song like every single day, five sessions a week, and it was very hard to tell because a lot of songs were good, but I didn’t know which songs were great. So for my team to be like, “whoa, whoa, this one’s really good.” I would already feel great about songs. If there was a song that I didn’t like, they’ll be like, “okay.” But if there’s a song that I liked and they’re like, “this is amazing.” I was like, “Yay!” because I really couldn’t tell the difference. So my team really helped me with that. We had a meeting two days after “It Is What It Is” was written and we literally all were thinking the same thing. “Nights Like These” was 100% me just trying to talk my A&R into [finishing the song]. “What Are Friends For” was written right before “It Is What It Is” and my team was like, “This song is really great.” I loved it, but I didn’t know if it was amazing. And cruise control, same with that one. So really trusting my team in their opinion, but also just like feeling great about whatever I’m writing, and if I don’t like it, I just tell them.
P: All of these songs can kind of evoke a specific emotion. What’s your headspace like when you are going into the studio? Do you usually already have ideas in your mind?
J: Honestly, I’ve been taking advantage of the fact that I’ve been co-writing, especially since I’ve been in a session like five, four, three, two, five times a week. But during this time period when I was writing these songs, it was like five times a week and I only had so many ideas and only had so much of a creative mind at that point. I really did have to lean on other people’s inspiration to inspire me a little bit because I was running dry out of ideas. It was really cool because as soon as somebody would start playing an instrument that weren’t chords that I would immediately go to, like inspiration would immediately spark. I’d almost have to trust the process of just walking in and coming up with an idea on the spot, which is not normal. If I had two sessions a week, I could come prepared and have ideas that I’ve been thinking about for a few days, but that was not the case. So a lot of the inspiration did come from my notes app and looking back in between like titles I’ve had for like years and be like, Oh my gosh, I never did that. And then we would end up revisiting it. But also the other writers just were so helpful and like inspiring me and just flipping that inspiration switch on as soon as I walked in the room.
P: What are friends for is about friendship and you’ve mentioned writing songs about your close friend Maggie and her experiences. Is writing about someone else’s experiences something that you do frequently?
J: Definitely what I do frequently. I do that like every other session. It feels like this week specifically, I’ve been trying to dive into my own thoughts and my own head, but when you’re writing that much, there’s only so much you can take from your own experiences, and I can fully admit that I’m in love and not heartbroken. So if I want to write a heartbreak song, I definitely have to take from other people’s experiences. My friends love it. I always try to do it in a loving, caring way that’s not like hating on them or hating on their breakup or relationship. I’ve definitely taken a lot of inspiration from my friends and their experiences and they love it. They brag on the fact that they have a song that is as if they had written it. So I love that I can even write something that accurately because I know my friends so well.
P: You toured with Joshua Bassett in May and got to play some of your songs live for the first time or for the first time in a while. What was that experience like and do you plan to tour anytime soon?
J: Oh my gosh, that experience was insane. Shout out to Joshua’s fans. They are crazy cool. They were so excited to see me even though every single show was like a surprise show. I had a couple planned, but a lot of them weren’t and the fact that the crowd reaction was like the same no matter what was so sweet and they were so genuine and just listening sometimes being an opener is really scary. That tour really made me want to go back on the road, so I’m definitely planning on it. Hearing those songs like being sung back to me was the most surreal thing in the whole entire world, especially with “see you later (ten years)”. I’d never sung it in front of a crowd that knew it. I only sang the song live before I released it so it was really cool to have that feedback live. It brought me to tears like every other night. I’d have to pull it together. So it was really cool, such a wholesome experience and just really inspired me to want to see more faces right in front of me singing with me. So definitely will be back on the road.
P: What was the biggest lesson you learned while creating this EP and what do you hope your fans take away from it?
J: I think my biggest lesson was that I don’t have to be sad all the time for people to want to listen to my music. I think our world needs a little piece of happiness and a song that’s going to make them smile once in a while. So I’m really hoping that I can provide that for my generation. And also, just like anybody of any age, I want to make my music connect to whoever. My nieces love my current music because it just makes them happy and makes them smile. So to bring that aspect into other people’s lives and make them dance around like a little kid again is huge. And I want to do that for people.
Listen to Big Dumb Heart, Chapter 2 by Jenna Raine here and check out the “It Is What It Is” (Official Music Video).”
