Telling Tales and Listening to Nightingales

A chilling melody plays around you, haunting lyrics drawing you into a story, pulling emotions from you, creating a vivid image of a world you somehow know. You´ve just heard a Jennifer Grassman song. Her musical prowess is surpassed by none. A genius in her own right, Jennifer has an uncanny ability to beautifully blend genres and styles that create a unique jazzy, pop, rock sound that stands far above anything heard on the radio these days. This kind of musician comes along once every 100 years and it´s our extreme luck to have her. She recently released her third CD, "Serpent Tales & Nightingales," and is in preparations to begin planning her next CD.

Touring and recording albums since 2006, Jennifer has already won several major awards, including winning Dances With Films in 2008 for her Pretty Girls music video. Most recently Jennifer was nominated in the Houston Press 2010 Music Awards as Houston's Best Female Vocalist, Best Songwriter, Best Keyboards, and Best Twitter Personality!

In addition to her rich and lavish music, she is also an activist dedicating herself to many causes. Appreciated by the likes of Tori Amos for her charitable work on behalf of abuse victims, and President George W. Bush for dedicating a patriotic song to the overseas troops, her grace and countenance knows no bounds.

1. How would you characterize the style of music you perform?

It's a little difficult to peg. I'd probably say it's similar to that of Tori Amos, Loreena McKennitt, or Paul McCartney. It has strong classical and rock influences. My music is definitely rather quirky, dramatic and theatrical. If someone likes songs like Eleanor Rigby, Mad World, Diamonds & Rust, or Sounds of Silence they will likely enjoy my music too.

2. What is your whole creative process? How do you write and record the music you do?

When I'm inspired to write a song, it usually begins by a short melody with lyrics popping into my head completely at random. I start with that seed and build the rest of the song around it. I almost always write the melody and the lyrics simultaneously. When I record, we lay down the piano tracks first. This is what we base every other instrument (including my voice) off of. Then we record lead vocals, then vocal harmonies, then drums, then guitars, then more vocal harmonies, then various other instruments, then more vocal harmonies, and so on. For my next album, we'll likely be recording the piano at KUHF Houston NPR studios (which I am very excited about!). Then we'll record the rest at The Ivory Tower, which is where I also captured At The Back Of The North Wind and Serpent Tales & Nightingales.

3. What is it that drives you to this style of music? What inspires you?

My environment I suppose. I write two kinds of songs: There are Story Songs (which are based on personal experiences or the experiences of friends and characters in books and movies) and Philosophical Songs (which are usually inspired by issues I am confronted with, from loneliness, love and loss to ethical ponderings and relationships). For example, The Haunting is a story song about a woman who feels ignored by her husband, while Pretty Girls is a philosophical song expressing fear and anger about sexism.

4. What motivates you to do what you do every day? What helps you conquer your fears or failures?

The people who love my music! One time I was really depressed because a booking agent informed me that I wasn't going to perform at an event I was really counting on. One friendly tweet from a fan (who I'm sure had no idea what was going on) completely cheered me up again. To me my fans are everything. Every time I write a song I do it in the hope that it will inspire, comfort, entertain, or fascinate someone out there.

5. Is it hard where you live to promote your music or is Houston a great musical scene?

Houston is difficult in the sense that it is very big, which can be overwhelming for someone trying to create a buzz. You can't just focus on one demographic. You have to be proactively plugged into the many different communities within Houston in order to build pockets of listeners. It's not like a small town where you can head on over to the local cafe, play a few tunes, and 20% of the community instantly knows you can sing in key. You have to really get out there repeatedly and have a memorable image and sound or no one will ever notice you. On the positive side, because Houston is so culturally diverse, people tend to be more open minded toward out-of-the-box music like mine.

6. Tell us what others think about your music. What feedback do you get?

I get a lot of very kind emails from my listeners. They are usually die-hard and dedicated which I find to be very inspiring. I don´t have many fair-weather-fans! They´re all very encouraging, involved, and out there telling their friends about my songs. When I´m at concerts, the people who listen tend to buy CDs. To me that says that a lyric I sang or a melody I played moved them so much that they want to remember it forever. I suppose looking at it that way, buying a CD is the nicest thing a listener can do!

7. Is there a quote, song, film, etc that you have adopted as your personal moral booster?

I have several. In particular, there´s a line out of Tori Amos´ song, Jackie´s Strength, that says, "Virgins always get back-staged no matter what they´ve got to say."

It reminds me that oftentimes the world isn´t receptive to what a moral or innocent person has to offer. It reminds me not take it personally when my music gets passed over. The masses tend to react to shock value, sexuality, and scandal. That´s why gossip magazines are so popular!! But that´s not what I´m all about. If my music ever gets popular it won´t be because I´m a sexy, bone-skinny model who says and does outrageous things … and I´m proud of that! It may take me longer to get where I´m going, but once I am there, I will be there to stay.

8. How do you think art effects lives? Is there any artist or musician that has made a profound impact on you?

I tend to gravitate towards artists with passionate causes. Tori Amos speaks out against rape. Bono is pro-peace and humanitarianism. Joan Baez is pro-equality. Sarah McLachlan raises money for animal organizations. All these things inspire me. I firmly believe that God gives everyone a talent so that they can use it to the benefit of others. He gave me music, and I am very eager to use it in a way that makes Him happy.

9. Can you tell us about your activism? What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about emotionally supporting people. As a child abuse survivor I naturally relate to anyone who has suffered domestic violence, abuse, or oppression. I believe that God allowed me to experience certain things, so that I would be better equipped to reach out and relate with the people He plans for me to help. Don´t get me wrong – my music is not a ministry – but I am a witness. I know that there is joy after sorrow, freedom after oppression, and the potential for healthy relationships after unhealthy ones. I´m living proof, since I´m now married to a wonderful, gentle, patient man (who also doubles as my guitarist!). I view my past suffering as a gift that God gave me so that I might be inspired and enabled to comfort a reclusive and tragically all-too-large demographic.

10. You have a partnership with Carl Wunsche Sr. High School, what prompted you to do that? How do you think it helps the kids?

Yes, I had a partnership with them through the 2009/2010 school year. It was such an amazing experience! The opportunity arose because my friend, Candace Runaas, had some connections in our local ISD. The kids were beyond eager to jump in and help. They are all so smart and industrious. It was all I could do to keep up with them, and I think they got a lot out of it. We toured a TV station, a radio station and a recording studio. The kids also got on-the-job experience scouting for venues and radio stations. I wanted to give them both sides of the coin: the exciting and the mundane aspects of the music industry. So often the life of a musician or industry exec is idolized as luxurious and easy. I wanted to make sure the kids who were serious about working in the music business knew what they were getting into. I think we accomplished that! Some kids did loose interest when they realized there was grunt work to be done, but the ones who were serious stuck with us and were energized beyond anything I anticipated. I wish I had half their energy! I´d get so much more done!

Listening is believing. Please check her out at www.jennifergrassman.com to hear the beauty of her voice, her melodic tunes wrapping around her brilliant lyrics. And if you like what you hear, consider joining her street team to help promote her music: www.grassmanrecords.com.