Fiona Apple(Tidal got me through HighSchool), Rainer Maria Rilke(Letters to a Young Poet pumps the blood in my veins),Coldplay,Keane,Rufus Wainwright, Billy Joel, Ben Folds, Elton John,(guys with pianos rock my world) Crystal Liechty, Baz Luhrmann,(Mouling Rouge made me pack my bags of the mediocre life.) Jason Mraz, Amy Winehouse, KT Tunstall,MIKA (Thank you for bringing Happy to the radio) RadioHead, THETHE (Matt Johnson has the BEST male voice I have EVER heard), The Smiths, Morrissey, Depeche Mode, James or in other words Jeremy Penrose, Sara Bareilles, Gnarls Barkley, Byron Katie, Mama Wendy, Wayne Penrose aka Superman, Joseph Smith, C.S. Lewis, Shel Silverstein, Julia Cameron, James Arthur Ray, Sarah McLachlan, Missy Higgins, Alanis Morrissette (1st crowd surfing experience Jagged Little Pill Tour 96')Ani Di Franco (oh the indie goodness) The Cranberries (Everyone else is doing it so why can't we-1st CD ever owned) Counting Crows (make me cry) Regina Spektor (she make me all "betto") Damien Rice, Mat Kearney (Undeniable is well....undeniable. I love the line "you were the only one that caught the other line"...), Sia, Toad the Wet Sprocket (please get back together)Beethoven, The Cure, Nick Drake (a new breed in an old world)The postal Service, Kate Bush, Three Dog Night, R.E.M., Nirvana (Courtney is most certainly responsible for Kurt's death), Hole (before said homicide)Mozart, Switchfoot (for the message) Silverchair (my "BoyBand" in Middle School-note: middle school=junior High in Utah)Imogen Heap (another new breed) StickFigure (goodtimes) Paula Cole, Joshua Radin (softy goodness) Lucinda Williams, Eminem(that boys got passion) Honorary Title, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitgerald, Billy Holiday (smoked 2 packs a day and could still sing like an angel) Books Books Books, Ryan Campbell for his unconditional nature, Kakers (the cuteness is awe-inspiring.)Ben Lee, Snowpatrol, Death Cab, Goldfrapp, Katie Melua, Shuk (my european twin-says me) Aimee Mann, Steve Clark (it's not a conspiracy theory, it's a conspiracy fact" The founding fathers (no this is not some obscure band--the real founding fathers) Jean Yves Thibaudet, Red House Painters,Reggie Ginn (the girl rocks live)Jesus Christ for everything most most of all the unconditional love, Satan also knows as Lucifer, Devil, The father of lies, the advosary etc (for the darkness with which I am able to experience contrast. In turn, creating gratitude, love and light. God for ALL of the above.
Sounds Like
More conversational than Tori, brighter than Fiona, indie like Ani, tamer than Kate, wilder than Sarah, tortured like Aimee, raw like Regina, honest like Carole, plugged in like Imogen, and with a voice that cuts to the core.
Jessica Penrose had her epiphany about being a performer at a very young age—and in the spirit of true indie tradition, did it “open mic” style.
“I was at a work party of my dad’s; they were doing a raffle and the emcee put down the mic,” she recalls. “I spotted it, climbed on stage and sang ‘Give, Said The Little Stream” to a very surprised—but adoring—crowd.”
Penrose loved the rush she got listening to the applause, and her path was set. But she says it wasn’t until her pre-teens, when she started songwriting, that her true evolution as an artist began.
Today, years away from grabbing an idle mic, the challenges are very different: “I'm the band, the artist, the songwriter, the tour manager, the designer, the roadie, the producer, the promoter,” she says. “I have a lot of different hats to wear as an indie artist, but as I grow and as the music spreads I hope to hand some of the responsibility to others.”
While the behind-the-scenes part of the business might present its challenges, the songwriting on her new album, Words Become Flesh (CakeCake Records), is the draw for thousands of new Penrose fans. She says her desire is to “capture experience” in her music; to “capture the feeling of taking a risk, and giving the world my falls.” Ask the up-and-coming songwriter if lyrics or melody lead, and you’ll get a decidedly thoughtful answer.
“Of course, both are important. That's kind of like having two children and asking which one is more important to you,” she says. “If I was to have a favorite of the two children, I most certainly tend to dote on lyrics.”
It’s that focus on her lyrics that gives her audiences such a unique experience—something on which Penrose focuses. “I want them to feel. Just feel. We are so numbed out,” she says. “Someone hurts us, we wall ourselves off; something painful happens, we cop out emotionally because we don't have faith in ourselves that we can make it through. Penrose says she strives to “get inside,” even if for just a moment to cause a “flicker or fire” in people. “I want people to be impressed to live their dreams, live life greater, better, and to allow themselves to be real, damn the consequences.”
Ask Jessica Penrose about the tension between artistic integrity and being commercially successful, and her answer is clear. “We are in a very unique situation right now, where indie artists are not only making more money than the majors but are also retaining most, if not all, artistic control,” she says. “It is the independent artist’s day and I plan on capitalizing on that; being able to make enough to do this and this alone as a career, as a life, is the plan. The more commercial success I have, the more people I can reach. That’s what it's really about for me.”
For now, she is focused on her promoting Words Become Flesh and thinking about her dream gig: opening for Switchfoot. “I love the lyrics of their songs and the intent behind them,” she says. “I would love to reach their audience, and I would love to have the opportunity to tour with a highly successful band like that and remain independent.”
Considering Penrose’s current career trajectory, very soon the question may be who is opening for her.
Hey Ya Jess...thanks for the ADD! Nice to Meet YOU! Had a great listen...very talented Young Lady! Really like your tune "Ice Queen"...very NICE! Much respect for you and your accomplishments! Stay COOL!
We have put together all of the necessary components to release a compilation with our "Just Look Up" theme. If you have any music that would fit please feel free to contact us and I would love to let you know our plans, all genres no limits one message we are truly blessed and it will be a beautiful project that needs to be heard Steve
Wowowowow! I've been away from Myspace for about 2 months... Have been praying and thinking about where the music is going. And just found out it's spreading in Asia now... and hopefully China soon.. wowow. i'll write a bulletin soon about it..
The Ming Dynasty has met.. and have come up with a brilliant plan to lower gas prices... it involves giving away free music, videos, as well as some other bizarre guerrila tactics... involving "yao-ming" and "ninjas" =) hehe
So... be a part of the brilliant plan! Get free award winning music now at my profile, and see what's coming! =) it's sure to knock your socks into a state of shock!
Oh, Also spent a whole month updating my myspace profile. It's MUCH better now =) But You be the judge! Oh, and put up new songs too!
Hey you!!! Shell Said that you needed to talk to me???? whats up??? you know you can call me! and im kinda mad at you i move to utah you move to cali i move to cali you move back to JEWTAH! what is that! :(
