Thelma and James’ debut EP ‘Starting Over' is a striking first chapter for the married duo, whose transition from solo careers into a shared creative project feels both bold and deeply personal. As outlined in their backstory here, the pair—Jake Etheridge and Mackenzie Porter—are no strangers to the Nashville spotlight, but here they step into a space that is more raw, organic and grounded than much of their earlier mainstream country output. Across these seven tracks, they weave together folk, Americana, gospel and 90s indie-rock influences into a sound that is intimate yet expansive, melancholic yet hopeful.
Opening track ‘Happy Ever After You' sets the tone with a gentle, banjo-laced ballad that recalls the hushed intensity of The Civil Wars. Jake’s haunting opening verse gives way to Mackenzie’s aching counterpoint, as the two trade perspectives on heartbreak and loss, singing of a “hole in my heart the size of Texas.” Their harmonies, fragile but perfectly balanced, underline the shared pain of a breakup in which neither partner walks away unscathed. It’s a beautifully restrained song that establishes their chemistry and showcases the emotional depth they can achieve when their voices intertwine.
If ‘Happy Ever After You' is fragile and hushed, ‘Chainsmokin Memories' is its fiery opposite—a swampy, southern gothic fever dream full of heat and voodoo groove. “Good god, it’s bittersweet, it’s like cinnamon and nicotine,” they sing, tying the memory of a kiss to something intoxicating and destructive. Fierce fiddles, bluesy slide guitar and a pounding rhythm section build a sense of sultry menace, creating a track that drips with atmosphere. It’s a standout moment where the duo leans into darker textures: the result feels both timeless and yet thrillingly modern.
‘Loser' takes the EP in yet another direction, tapping into 90s indie-rock and alt-country influences. The play on words—singing both “loser” and “lose her”—anchors a song about drowning sorrows in drink and memory. Echo-laden vocals and a wall of guitars give the track a widescreen, almost cinematic feel. By its final third, the electric guitars run wild in a storm of distortion, evoking the spirit of The Jayhawks or Sister Hazel with a dash of Ryan Hurd’s Midwestern country-rock flair. It’s the loudest, most raucous moment on the EP, and it shows that Thelma and James are unafraid to push their sound beyond traditional boundaries.
The duo brings things back to a place of gospel-tinged reflection with ‘Parking Lot Prayers.' Here Jake takes the central role, voicing the exhaustion and despair of a man at the end of his tether: “Throw me a bone, could you send me a sign?” Mackenzie’s harmonies wrap around him like a plea for grace and the song’s slow build toward a gospel-infused crescendo feels cathartic and redemptive. It’s a reminder that hope and desperation often sit side by side and that faith—whether spiritual or in one another—can be a lifeline.
From there, the record leans into jangly, energetic Americana with ‘Nostalgic for Nothing' and the tender, fiddle-driven ‘First Love.' The former has shades of Shawn Mullins and The Thorns in its layered textures, banjo runs and harmonica breakdown, while the latter offers a poignant meditation on lasting devotion. The lyric “when we’re in our 80s I hope it takes me first, love” captures the EP’s balance of sentimentality and sincerity. By the time the title track arrives, Jake and Mackenzie are ready to pull the threads together—'Starting Over' reflects not only on fractured relationships (“Just because you closed the door doesn’t mean you are going to get yourself some closure”) but also on their own journey of reinvention. The track’s mournful tone is elevated by the unity of their voices in the chorus, a sonic metaphor for the strength they’ve found in each other.
In the end, ‘Starting Over' is aptly named. For Thelma and James, it marks both a creative rebirth and a brave step away from the safer confines of mainstream country. Rather than settling into the mould of a Civil Wars-inspired tribute act, the duo leans into their shared influences—gospel, Americana, indie rock and 90s folk-pop—to carve out a distinct identity. The result is an EP that feels grounded, authentic and emotionally resonant, signalling a fresh start that is as compelling for listeners as it clearly is for the artists themselves.
Track list: 1. Happy Ever After You 2. Chainsmokin Memories 3. Loser 4. Parking Lot Prayers 5. Canaries in a Coal Mine 6. Nostalgic for Nothing 7. First Love 8. Starting Over Record Label: Big Loud Release Date: September 19th Buy ‘Starting Over' right here
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