Country music's standout duo, Thelma & James, reveal the intricacies of life in their deeply honest debut EP ‘Starting Over,’ creating a musical blend of country, pop, gospel, and indie sounds.
Stream: ‘Starting Over’ – Thelma & James
MacKenzie Porter (Thelma) and Jake Etheridge (James) infuse a sense of pure melancholy into the Americana genre with their band Thelma & James. Their music feels liberated from expectations and fears. Each track on Starting Over (via Big Loud) pays homage to the indie albums of the early 2000s while crafting a lush, melancholic soundscape perfect for losing oneself in. Etheridge references a popular meme stating, "me restarting my sad song because the part that hurts me the most didn’t hurt me enough," which encapsulates Starting Over perfectly. It encourages listeners to hit repeat until the music genuinely resonates with them.
“We are focused on simply writing songs. We intentionally avoid constraints or categorizing our music. We’re embracing this wild journey. While we have a country inclination, we’re not about limiting ourselves. It’s essential for us to express it. Embracing the madness!"
Porter released her debut album Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart in 2022, and Etheridge has been putting out EPs independently while also writing and touring with The Common Linnets. Their individual styles span country, indie, folk, and pop, contributing to Thelma & James’ diverse sound that defies genre limitations.
On first listen, I was amazed by how reminiscent the storytelling and sound of Starting Over is to the iconic early-2000s film soundtrack of Garden State, featuring artists like The Shins, Nick Drake, Remy Zero, and Iron & Wine.
This was one of the first things I expressed when meeting the duo in Nashville. “Oh my God. Thank you. Garden State was a significant influence for me,” Etheridge shared, revealing he listened to the soundtrack prior to watching the film, and mistakenly viewed ‘Elizabethtown’ instead.
For those unfamiliar with this remarkable piece of independent film, Garden State, both the film and soundtrack, was influential in 2004. Featuring Zach Braff (who also wrote and directed), Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, and the late Ian Holm, it tells the story of starting over through returning home. It was, and remains, a humorous, heartfelt, and genuinely honest narrative. Many films have attempted to replicate its essence but fell short.
Thelma & James’ MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge © Bree Marie Fish
For fans following Thelma & James, the EP opens with the song that started them on this journey, “Happy Ever After.” It stands the test of time.
A blend of folk, country, and Americana bursts with raw emotion, as they exchange verses that vividly illustrate memories of a relationship that fell apart even as they held onto the fragments. “I still hear your words ringing out, 'I love you babe, but it’s too late now.'” The verses are so vividly specific that you can envision each as if they were polaroids laid on a dusty coffee table.
I got a hole in my heart damn
near the size of Texas
and I think you left it
I got a picture of you and me circa 2019
Don’t know why I kept it
I got a story I tell myself
until my face is in the blue
But I got no happy ever after you
When I spoke to Thelma & James earlier this year, Porter mentioned her favorite lyric was from "Loser." I asked if that still holds true, to which she affirmed yes.
Loser, loser
I knew you’d lose her
Amid the cherished chaos of raising a daughter, acting in various TV roles, writing, performing, and touring, along with Porter receiving Female Artist of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA Awards), the duo sat down with Atwood Magazine at their kitchen table to discuss the record, why they believe sad music trumps upbeat tracks, and how magic often unfolds during their writing sessions.
Thelma & James’ MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge © Bree Marie Fish
On “Loser”
“Loser” is an emotive and powerful track about the immediate aftermath of a breakup. It’s primarily focused on the person who initiated the breakup, written from the perspective of someone too afraid to do it in person. “We co-wrote that song with Natalie Hemby,” said Porter. “It began with Jake in our music room and me in our bedroom, developing an idea. It was amusing because he came in saying, ‘I have this idea.’ He then performed what became the first verse of ‘Loser,' and I had the chorus.”
Etheridge added, “It was
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Thelma & James, the standout duo in country music, reveal the complexities of life in their deeply sincere debut EP 'Starting Over,' blending elements of country, pop, gospel, and indie music into a rich musical fabric.