The Magic of Music Creation
I love creating emotionally elevating theme songs and sharing them with others. It's a process that involves a lot of invisible work, but when you get a good story and a good song going, there's a magic about it. The hours and days start to blend together as you work through the tracks and bridge the gap between what you bring to the project and the project's desire to become what it wants. Yes, there's a lifetime of songwriting theory, tips, tricks, and rules you use, but at the core of creation, an idea has to be relatable and it has to be good, or no amount of theory or tricks can help it. When a song is good, it develops its own weight, its own gravity. At some point you have to get out of the way, take off the training wheels, and watch the project take its first steps into the world. At that point, all you can do is polish any rough edges, cut the cord, and step back. The process of creating music is utter alchemy and when you finally do leave the studio, you have something that hasn't ever existed before. Tell me that's not magic. I'll wait.
Working With Clients
My approach to client work is a steeping process. It's both playful and deeply informed by brand-specific research and time spent with the client. I imagine myself in the headspace of the audience. For me the best client relationships are ones where there is an almost profound sense of belonging and purpose that comes through in the music.
From Touring to Tech Startups to Theme Parks: Jennifer's Unique Background
The Welcome House at "my" Santa's Village after the park had closed.
I'm a singer and a lyricist who also has an extensive high-level PR and marketing career. In my twenties I performed with a group and went on tour and that was a blast! I got a taste of being on the road and on stage, while delivering a vocal experience that made audiences feel something. It was such a rush. In college, if it was creative, I probably studied it. Classical vocal performance, writing, story development, improv, art, cinema, experimental media, I loved it all. Eventually, I earned a Master's degree in Broadcast Communication Arts, with a minor in Cinema.
After college I started working with tech startups and found my knack for storytelling was a magnet for developing headlines for clients that brought in major media coverage. I started replacing global PR firms for my clients, as one person! That was also a blast! I could could help get interesting stories into the world that would change how the public thought about things (I coined the phrase social media addiction when it was still considered a "controversial" topic). I also started working with writers, entertainment brands and nonprofits, and special causes. If it had a good story that needed to be told, I was interested.
I am also an avid theme park enthusiast, especially independent theme parks. I grew up near one of the abandoned Santa's Village theme parks and I don't think anyone has ever wished harder for a shuddered park to come back. As a kid, I never got a chance to believe in Santa, but there was his house, every time my family drove home. There was even a 30 foot candy cane, in front of a Swiss chalet log cabin, topped with fake snow. Who can argue with that logic? I spent years studying the park, its history, and even writing to the city to get it re-opened. (They declined). But, when one of the three original Santa's Village parks re-opened after decades of closure, in another town, you bet I wrote to them and offered to do their PR. The full story is here.
I've practiced PR and Marketing for twenty-plus years, and today I consider my journey to be uniquely tailored to what I love doing; creating songs and stories that move people.
After college I started working with tech startups and found my knack for storytelling was a magnet for developing headlines for clients that brought in major media coverage. I started replacing global PR firms for my clients, as one person! That was also a blast! I could could help get interesting stories into the world that would change how the public thought about things (I coined the phrase social media addiction when it was still considered a "controversial" topic). I also started working with writers, entertainment brands and nonprofits, and special causes. If it had a good story that needed to be told, I was interested.
I am also an avid theme park enthusiast, especially independent theme parks. I grew up near one of the abandoned Santa's Village theme parks and I don't think anyone has ever wished harder for a shuddered park to come back. As a kid, I never got a chance to believe in Santa, but there was his house, every time my family drove home. There was even a 30 foot candy cane, in front of a Swiss chalet log cabin, topped with fake snow. Who can argue with that logic? I spent years studying the park, its history, and even writing to the city to get it re-opened. (They declined). But, when one of the three original Santa's Village parks re-opened after decades of closure, in another town, you bet I wrote to them and offered to do their PR. The full story is here.
I've practiced PR and Marketing for twenty-plus years, and today I consider my journey to be uniquely tailored to what I love doing; creating songs and stories that move people.
From Music Appreciation to Creation: Jennifer's Relationship with Music
Jennifer's portable composing setup with a vintage 1980's Casio MT-210
I was about seven when I sat down at the upright piano in my classroom and "found" the basic notes to play the theme song from An American Tail. Realizing I could play songs I loved brought me a new happiness.
From that moment on I loved hunting for notes and finding my way through tunes in the piano, often to the chagrin of any friend who had a piano or keyboard in the house. There's nothing like hearing a child blunder their way through a song you already know on an otherwise peaceful Saturday morning.
I wrote my first song when I was about ten while my family was camping. I was sitting by the Merced River, drawing in my sketchbook. I was struck by the presence of the place. A symphony of flutes and violins began to play in my mind, complete with lyrics. Over the decades, I've learned to give that creative spirit a home, because it often sings quietly, and if it isn't listened to, it fades away.
The beginnings of songs, or the chorus of songs regularly come to me fully formed, like a gift from the future. It's often when I've been through something especially meaningful. When I'm alone, I'll hear these sections of music that fade quickly, like ghosts, running by laughing. In this way these pieces of songs entice me to see where they go, to follow their stories into the forest of feelings and ideas.
I've woken up from dreams with a song in my mind more than once. In these dreams, often someone was singing it to me, or future me was singing it to me. It's a profound experience. Not all songs come to me this clearly, but I honor the voice when she shows up. I am grateful that I can witness the complexities of existence in this special way.
I like composing outside when I can. If you sit somewhere long enough, you start to hear the songs of that place, and the songs within you. These days I travel with a vintage Casio MT-210, which is, first of all adorable, and second of all, more than enough to develop the idea of a song. Later I'll take the song idea to my iPad, or, if I'm back in the studio, over to my DAW, into Logic and from there I build out the song.
I'm a firm believer that the gear one uses when composing matters. There are ghosts in the machine, even in the environment you write in, even in your inner being when you sit to compose. It all comes together and you have to be ready for it. You have to prepare. It's not always about having the latest tech or gear. Maybe it is for the final mix, but not for the composing. You'll write a different song on a vintage keyboard than you would on an iPad, or in the studio with a new keyboard. The song you write on a Mele ukulele will have its own ways, as will a song with a beat built out of found sounds recorded on a vintage audio recorder.
From that moment on I loved hunting for notes and finding my way through tunes in the piano, often to the chagrin of any friend who had a piano or keyboard in the house. There's nothing like hearing a child blunder their way through a song you already know on an otherwise peaceful Saturday morning.
I wrote my first song when I was about ten while my family was camping. I was sitting by the Merced River, drawing in my sketchbook. I was struck by the presence of the place. A symphony of flutes and violins began to play in my mind, complete with lyrics. Over the decades, I've learned to give that creative spirit a home, because it often sings quietly, and if it isn't listened to, it fades away.
The beginnings of songs, or the chorus of songs regularly come to me fully formed, like a gift from the future. It's often when I've been through something especially meaningful. When I'm alone, I'll hear these sections of music that fade quickly, like ghosts, running by laughing. In this way these pieces of songs entice me to see where they go, to follow their stories into the forest of feelings and ideas.
I've woken up from dreams with a song in my mind more than once. In these dreams, often someone was singing it to me, or future me was singing it to me. It's a profound experience. Not all songs come to me this clearly, but I honor the voice when she shows up. I am grateful that I can witness the complexities of existence in this special way.
I like composing outside when I can. If you sit somewhere long enough, you start to hear the songs of that place, and the songs within you. These days I travel with a vintage Casio MT-210, which is, first of all adorable, and second of all, more than enough to develop the idea of a song. Later I'll take the song idea to my iPad, or, if I'm back in the studio, over to my DAW, into Logic and from there I build out the song.
I'm a firm believer that the gear one uses when composing matters. There are ghosts in the machine, even in the environment you write in, even in your inner being when you sit to compose. It all comes together and you have to be ready for it. You have to prepare. It's not always about having the latest tech or gear. Maybe it is for the final mix, but not for the composing. You'll write a different song on a vintage keyboard than you would on an iPad, or in the studio with a new keyboard. The song you write on a Mele ukulele will have its own ways, as will a song with a beat built out of found sounds recorded on a vintage audio recorder.
Early Beginnings
I grew up surrounded by music. My mom played violin and piano. She also sang and would help/require me to stay on pitch whenever I'd sing. My dad loved some of the old "hippie" music by bands like The Animals or Creedence Clearwater Revival. When my mom's mom was growing up, every kid in her large family played at least two instruments with great proficiency. My grandfather on my dad's side was a self-taught classical guitarist who toured the west coast and was one of the founding members of the Sacramento Guitar Society where, I'm sure he taught many of those "hippie musicians" that my dad liked, how to actually play guitar. I remember him recording multiple guitar parts on a reel-to-reel recorder. His dedication to the music left an impression on me.
I Failed Music Theory So You Don't Have To!
I love music, but actually reading sheet music it is my kryptonite. Despite flash cards, playing violin, and noodling on the piano and cello, I never got the hang of it well enough to site read. If you've ever struggled with dyslexia, maybe you understand this frustration. Sure, I know the basics, but anything more advanced never sticks with me for very long despite having taken violin and piano. The bass clef is still a mystery to me, despite loving the cello.
I was a music major in college for an entire year! I failed music theory, twice!
But that never stopped me from building a good song. Music comes to me. Lyrics come to me. Beat structures come to me. They find me on the wind and when they do I pull out my phone and take notes. Later those notes come with me to the studio where I produce them into songs. It's a wonderful process, and modern midi instruments and DAWs help make music more accessible to people like me. I think the process is similar to being a good poet or novelist; You don't have to know the definition of every word in the dictionary or have a masterful understanding of syntax or AP style to create; you just need to know how to connect with your audience, and that's my goal with songwriting.
I was a music major in college for an entire year! I failed music theory, twice!
But that never stopped me from building a good song. Music comes to me. Lyrics come to me. Beat structures come to me. They find me on the wind and when they do I pull out my phone and take notes. Later those notes come with me to the studio where I produce them into songs. It's a wonderful process, and modern midi instruments and DAWs help make music more accessible to people like me. I think the process is similar to being a good poet or novelist; You don't have to know the definition of every word in the dictionary or have a masterful understanding of syntax or AP style to create; you just need to know how to connect with your audience, and that's my goal with songwriting.