Singer/songwriter Mae Estes today releases her first brand new music in two years, “What I Shoulda Done,” a fast-paced, trouble-making barnburner that finds the Hope, AR native ignoring her better judgement with reckless abandon to make for a wild night out. Available now digitally (via Big Machine Records) “What I Shoulda Done” is full of fiddle, steel guitar and fun storytelling that brings listeners along for the ride, reminiscent of ‘90s Country tunes like “Ain’t Going Down (‘til the Sun Comes Up),” “It’s A Little Too Late,” or “T-R-O-U-B-L-E.”
Written by Estes, Paul Sikes (producer) and Autumn McEntire, “What I Shoulda Done” is a runaway train (sonically and lyrically) that takes off the second Estes starts singing. The high-energy track keeps pace with the lightning-speed at which her bad decisions unfold and doesn’t dare give any room to pause and listen to the angel on her shoulder. With its “don’t tempt me with a good time” vibe, it’s clear that despite knowing drinking, dialing, smoking, fighting and heartbreaking ain’t what she “shoulda done,” it certainly won’t be the last time it happens.
“We pulled a lot from my first four years in Nashville when writing this song. I moved here from a sleepy small town in southwest Arkansas that’s still a dry county. I couldn’t believe the endless amount of honky tonks and opportunities to party when I got here—and I dove right on in. If there was a good time to be had, I was going to find it,” said Mae Estes. “It’s one of my favorites to perform live too—it’s got that 80s and 90s Country vibe and bringing in Joe Spivey to play fiddle on it makes my heart so happy. He played on so many of my heroes’ records like ‘Seminole Wind’ and some of Shania Twain’s early stuff. That electric guitar solo is also probably my favorite solo I’ve got to record so far, James Mitchell absolutely killed it.”
“What I Shoulda Done” is a prime example of how Estes blends classic Country music, storytelling and down-to-earth relatability to create honest yet entertaining music that is all her own. Recently named the AIMP’s 2024 Rising Songwriter-Artist of the Year and to CMT’s 2024 Class of Next Women in Country, Estes is surely “one to watch.”
Estes got her start at just seven years old, performing the national anthem at a rodeo (inspired by LeAnn Rimes’ performance) and subsequently every rodeo and sporting event she competed in after that. In 2015, she moved to Nashville to chase her Country music dream, taking temp jobs, waitressing and even managing a Victoria’s Secret as she continued to hone her craft, which led to her first publishing deal in 2020 and eventually her first record deal with Big Machine Records in 2024.
In addition to working hard on new music, she is out on the road with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gary Allan and Dierks Bentley. Mae also has a few performances in Nashville coming up at BMI’s Rooftop on the Row (alongside her recent Head Full Of Noise tourmate, Jackson Dean) on May 14, at the Grand Ole Opry on May 16 and at CMA Fest in June. For more information, visit maeestes.com
