What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
It was just always a thing from secondary school onwards. My cousin played drums and I wanted to be like her so started to get lessons at school. Several years ago I broke up with my boyfriend and decided to start playing guitar and singing at open mic nights because I’d always wanted to and felt held back previously. Then being furloughed during covid gave me the push to start writing my own songs.
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
I’m Jen from the sunny coast of Teesside. I write indie pop tunes and rescue chickens.
I started playing drums when I was 11 and went on to do music at college and sound engineering at Uni. I dabbled in a bit of singing and started to teach myself guitar during this time but was predominantly a drummer. I loved drumming, played in Corey Bowen’s band and recorded at Abbey Road, played Green Man Festival, toured the UK. It was great.
But I wanted to be at the front and had struggled with stage fright since a young age. I asked a friend to go to open mics with me and after two years of singing covers with him I decided to take the plunge and start gigging myself… then covid. So when I was furloughed I bought a load of gear and decided to write my own tracks and finally put my sound engineering degree to good use. Then 3 years later and I’m here! Gigging, releasing and getting tracks remixed.
What was life like for you before music?
Less busy. I think I didn’t realise how much music can help be an outlet, it was really therapeutic to start putting thoughts and feelings to paper. So I guess life was maybe more frustrating? But then I’ve replaced it with other frustrations and pressure now…
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
Erm. I have no idea. My first concert was Steps, so I’m not sure that helped with my musical career. Tragedy.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I’m a tadpole in a massive pond. So many amazing artists trying to push through, I just hope I can be one of them. Is it weird to say one day I hope to be a frog?
What’s the biggest thing you have learned from someone else in the industry?
Don’t go on X Factor? A guy high up at Warner once told me that. So I’ll stick to it.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I’ve met Elton John
I’ve played football with Beth Mead
I have two degrees
If you could wish for one thing to aid your career what would it be?
I guess just somebody experienced and invaluable to the music industry to take me under their wing and help push me to be the best I can be. It can be really hard to push through the ceilings of the industry on your own.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture?
Discuss….
I think I did initially. You worry that if people don’t like your views/opinions then they won’t like your music and be a fan. But then I realised I AM my music and if people don’t like me that’s okay. I know I don’t have any radical views or have anything to say that would offend people greatly, I’m not a bad person I don’t think! I guess I’m quite vocal about animal welfare etc but if people have a problem with that then that’s their issue!
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories? If not why not?
Totally think the Titanic wasn’t actually the Titanic that sank! There’s a conspiracy that it was actually the Sister ship and the swapped the names over night… I mean it sounds farfetched but it also sounds like a proper insurance job! There’s a very good documentary about it.
What was the worst experience on stage?
Erm, in the early days I played a gig to just my parents. That wasn’t great. It was an outside gig too and my hands were so numb I couldn’t feel what I was playing – so probably good no one was there!
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about?
Everyone that meets me in person goes ‘you’re tall!’. Apparently I look smaller on social media? But I’m 5ft10… that’s a wild fact.
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
I’m me. I don’t dress to impress, I don’t cosy up to people for gigs, I don’t succumb to pressures of the industry. I just work hard and do me. And of course rescuing chickens seems to be my USP!
I hear you have a new music, what can you tell us about it.
Originally released in 2021, Save Me was well received, played on Radio X and BBC Intro. But I wanted it remixing since release! Two years later I hear a local producer Griffon release a dance track and it was fresh! We got talking and boom, the remix was out a month later. It’s got 90’s trance vibes, FFO’s of Calvin Harris, Jax Jones, Sigala.
What was the recording process like?
So the original track was recorded in my bedroom studio! Then the stems sent over to Griffon. I’m sure he will say there was a lot of hard work and technical/creative processes to get it to the track that it is now but I basically just say he did magic.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Letting go of control of my own track was hard. I’ve never had that before, just trusting someone and having no creative control was scary. It could have come back terribly and I would have been in a really awkward situation!
Would you change anything now its finished?
I think from my end I would maybe record some of the vocals again. I think my voice has gotten better since the first recording.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Other than chickens? I’ve got a couple of other collabs on the go, and a new single from me! Hopefully all to be released in the new year.
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