Premiere: Mackenzie Shrieve Shares New Single “Didn't I Tell Ya” Feat. Jane Bruce

Premiere: Mackenzie Shrieve Shares New Single “Didn't Tell Ya” Feat. Jane Bruce

Listen to the track below

April 26, 2024

By Caleb Campbell

Last year, Brooklyn-based folk singer/songwriter Mackenzie Shreve is back with her new EP, In the After. She describes the EP as the third part of a trilogy that began with her 2020 single, “in the before,” followed by her full-length album, In While, released in 2021. This year, he's sharing new versions of tracks from the trilogy with select artists. The first of these collaborations, 'Didn't Tell Ya, featuring Jane Bruce, is out today, premiering with Under the Radar.

On the surface, the new version of “Didn't Tell Ya” is quite similar to the original, with Shrieve's vocals once again wrapped around a swirling guitar and gentle orchestration. However, Shrieve's vocals also feel more confident, and the production brings an even greater intimacy to the track, letting the instrumentals swell and expand as they dance with Shrieve and Bruce's vocal melodies. Meanwhile, Bruce and Shrieve blend beautifully into each other's worlds, creating flawless folk harmonies in the track's climactic moments.

Shrieve says of the track, “This song represents a really pivotal moment in my life. It was written during my senior year of college, after the last summer I worked at camp, in a relationship that lasted four years. I made a decision that deeply hurt some of the people I care about the most. It's been a really crazy but beautiful year. I wrote it in about 15 minutes. “Didn't Tell Ya” is such a treasure and symbol of growth for me and will probably be a song I play in my set for the rest of the year. It never gets old and even though my mind changes often, I think it's ultimately my favorite.

When I saw Jane perform for the first time, I was immediately captivated by her composition and vocal performance. She is one of my favorite folk singers of all time. I knew I wanted to re-release this song and I knew whatever Jane decided to do with it would be breathtaking – and I was right!”

Bruce continues, saying of the piece, “Mackenzie is an incredible writer and one of the hardest working artists I know. I heard “Didn't Tell Ya” for the first time while we were on the same bill at Arlene's Grocery and it stopped me. It's a perfect song! Simple, true, concrete, and yet absolutely relevant. We've been fans of each other ever since, and I was over the moon when she asked me to play on one of her songs. When I found out it was, my heart swelled.

Being in the studio with David, Nat and Mackenzie was so special. She dropped her lead vocal in one take — it was amazing. They were all so patient and cooperative while I tried to demonstrate something as spectacular as her miracle. I look forward to continuing the collaboration.”

Check out the song below, out everywhere now.