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KGRL Exclusive Jenny O. Interview
ReadyMix Music - 01.18.10
LA-based singer/songwriter Jenny O. sat down with KGRL for a comprehensive interview right after her KGRL FPA Live Session held at ReadyMix Music - 01.18.10.
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KGRL: Can you give us a brief introduction as to who Jenny O. is?
Jenny O.: Jenny O. is...really mellow, I think, and a little spacey, but I have really good intentions.
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KGRL: What got you into music?
Jenny O.: My father is a musician. That’s pretty much where it all came from. It was in the house [while I was] growing up.
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KGRL: Did your father push you into doing music?
Jenny O.: You know, he didn’t push me at all. I guess I thought it was cool. There were all these instruments around the house. He was in a lot of cover bands and they would jam in my basement. The basement was set up like a jam space so it was always going on. I could just sit down at whatever instrument and play whatever I wanted, so I guess I got into it because it was there. I guess I was probably pretty good at it so I liked it and it was fun.
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KGRL: What was the first instrument you played?
Jenny O.: My first instrument was keyboards and then bass soon after.
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KGRL: You mentioned that you used to be in a cover band. Which bands did you cover?
Jenny O.: I was in a lot of cover bands, because where I came from it was the only kind of band there [was]. I don’t know how to explain that. I had a classic-rock cover band in high school with my friends. That was my first real band. I was in my father’s cover bands [while] growing up too. That was interesting. That was mostly ‘50s and ‘60s pop songs. With my friends we would cover Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin. We didn’t play any of our own songs. Those are originals, as they were called. Now they’re just called songs, but in that world it’s a different thing, I guess.
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KGRL: You used to be a wedding singer. What is it like being a wedding singer?
Jenny O.: Well, it was really good practice at being a lead singer. It’s pretty easy because you just sing a few songs and someone gets up to make a toast and you have to play a tarantella or some other weird thing. There’s a lot of waiting around and everyone’s usually in a really good mood. Then you play a couple more. It’s pretty easy as long as the family is cool and is not like [unintelligible]. That was a bad answer. I’m sorry.
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KGRL: Did you get to pick the songs you like to sing? Or did they give you a list of songs to sing?
Jenny O.: I never had anything to do with it. I was always just a hired singer. I just kind of showed up, did my job, sang what I was supposed to sing, and didn’t really want to get too involved.
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KGRL: Was there ever any songs that made you "cringe" at the prospect of singing that particular song?
Jenny O.: Oh my God. Yes. What’s that one from The Time Warp? Rocky Horror Picture Show Time Warp. The band’s laughing. I could go the rest of my life without hearing that, or anything from Greece. There are songs like I Will Survive or Hot Stuff, but at the end of the day those are actually good songs so it’s okay. There are some that are like “Why was that such a thing?” Then there [are] really good ones too that are always really fun, like Depeche Mode or Love Shack. Huge pop hits are really fun to sing.
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KGRL: We know that you were formally educated in music. What courses did you take and where?
Jenny O.: First I went to New Paltz. It’s like a SUNY (State University Of New York) school near Woodstock and I studied jazz and I took Jazz Theory and Jazz Improv, Jazz History and orchestration classes and stuff like that. Then I transferred to Purchase (College) for Studio Composition, which is basically like a song-writing and recording program. We had songwriting classes there. We had this one class that was like a song-writing-master class. Basically it was [in] an auditorium full of everybody and someone would play their new song and then everyone would talk about it. It was really weird. Then I took Models which was like a pop theory class which was totally abstract, and recording Pro-Tools lab and stuff.
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KGRL: There was a time when you got sick of jazz. Can you tell us all about it?
Jenny O.: I liked it when I was doing it, and then I overdosed. By the time I left jazz school to go to pop school, I ran away from it. I couldn’t deal with any kind of blue notes for years after that, but now it’s cool.
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KGRL: How much did your musical education affect your songwriting process?
Jenny O.: A lot. I think carefully about everything I’m doing, so it’s part of it.
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KGRL: What made you decide to take music as a career?
Jenny O.: Career is a...relative term. It’s like I think I’m a musician. Whether I have a career in it wasn’t really a choice. I’m still thinking about maybe being a mechanic. I think that might be a little more lucrative.
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KGRL: If you were to describe your music to those who have not heard you yet, how would you describe it?
Jenny O.: American pop songs. American— I don’t know why I’m saying “American.” It’s like art pop. Can I say that? Is that pretentious?
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KGRL: Can you tell us who influenced you the most in your songwriting style?
Jenny O.: Probably Brian Wilson, or The Beatles. I would say those guys...or Crosby Stills Nash & Young, specifically Nash and Young.
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KGRL: What was the first song you wrote? Did you ever get to record it?
Jenny O.: The first song I ever wrote was called Spring, and no. But I have a photocopy of the lyrics. I must have been eight, and I wrote the letters of the melody down so I know how it goes. The first song I ever recorded [was when] I was like fourteen. There [were] all these “Ah”s. It [had] way too many harmonies. I was ambitious.
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KGRL: From where do you usually draw inspirations for writing music?
Jenny O.: Everyday life. My personal interactions and relationships and fear and hope. Also love.
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KGRL: During your songwriting process, do you write lyrics or music first?
Jenny O.: Music. I write lyrics on their own but very rarely do they ever go to music.
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KGRL: How long does it usually take for you to finish writing a song?
Jenny O.: I usually write a song...either in two days or three days, or it won’t get finished for a year or two.
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KGRL: How long did it take for you to finish the album Love And Sleep?
Jenny O.: Love And Sleep took about two-and-a-half or three years to make. There was a lot of down time in the middle of it. There were periods of waiting on contracts and some sort of red-tape-related things, and there was a lot of growing involved in that process. It took a while, maybe two [to] two-and-a-half years.
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KGRL: Now that the album (Love And Sleep) is completed and ready for release, how do you feel about it? Is it an accurate representation of the musical direction you wanted to take?
Jenny O.: It’s the first thing that I’m proud of and ready to release into the world and say “Okay. This is something that I think I want to show that represents me.” But at the same time, a lot of the songs I wrote several years ago, and I’ve written all-new songs since then and I’m ready to make a couple of new records that I think are more in the direction that I want to move in. So it’s kind of where I’m coming from, but it’s all still relevant to me.
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KGRL: When do you plan to release Love And Sleep?
Jenny O.: Well, my plan is to release it this spring. I’m not entirely certain on all the details yet so I can’t really go into it.
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KGRL: Are you trying to release it independently or are you signing up with a label?
Jenny O.: No, I think it’s going to be independent. There’s been some label interaction but it’s kind of a weird time, so it’s unclear exactly what is the best thing to do. I think I’m going to end up going independent.
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KGRL: So if you are approached by a major record label, would you consider signing up?
Jenny O.: Yeah, if it’s the right deal. I think it depends on the terms and how much they care and what it actually entails. I wouldn’t want to board a sinking ship but if everything looks right, then sure.
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KGRL: For your live shows, you recently formed a trio. Care to introduce your band members?
Jenny O.: This is Jake Blanton. Mike Green. Drums. Bass. I’m Jenny O.
Mike Green: And vocals.
Jake Blanton: Vocals, now.
Jenny O.: We just started singing together.
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KGRL: How did you guys meet?
Jenny O.: I met Mike when I first came to LA. I came to LA to make my record, and I met Mike at a jam party three or four years ago.
Mike Green: That’s right.
Jenny O.: We just said “Hi” to each other several times a year for like two years until we finally hung out. Jake I met in a...backing band for this Linda Perhacs show. I should let you guys talk, but they’re bros.
Jake Blanton: Yeah. We met at the Linda Parrax show, and Mike told me that you had your own music, and I had just moved to LA and was looking for stuff to be involved in.
Mike Green: It’s so weird that he called me Mike. It’s the weirdest thing ever. Call me Foot-man if you want. I don’t give a shit.
Jake Blanton: So he told me about her music so I went to her Myspace page and I checked it out and I liked it.
Jenny O.: They cornered me at The Echo.
Jake Blanton: I sent you a Myspace message, I think, that said “I like your music. Do you have a band? Do you play shows?” And she was like, “No, not really.” I was like, “Well, do you want one?” So that was it. Pretty much from there we just booked a time to get together and jam some tunes and—
Mike Green: ...drink some beers and have some mulitas.
Jake Blanton: —the rest is history.
Jenny O.: I was totally not into the idea of asking people to play my music, and so for a long time I had trouble manifesting a band because I didn’t want it to be— I shouldn’t ask anyone to play my music. I wanted people to want to play my music.
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KGRL: How is the band set-up working out for you guys?
Mike Green: I’ve always wanted to play bass and Jake’s always wanted to play drums, but we’ve been fighting about this for years.
Jake Blanton: Yeah. We just always try to maintain a really serious atmosphere.
Mike Green: But it’s really strange sometimes. But it’s cool today. Today was just fine, I guess.
Jake Blanton: Yeah.
Jenny O.: It’s working great for me. I’m so excited to be playing music with these guys.
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KGRL: You guys already played live shows right?
Mike Green: One.
Jake Blanton: Oh no. More than one. No, one. That’s it.
Jenny O.: One. Yeah. We played one show.
Mike Green: One.
Jenny O.: But they’re like so good that they’re in eight bands each and busy. [That’s] really what happens. We’re playing one February 8th, which is in the past now if you’re watching this.
Mike Green: Are we?
Jenny O.: I think so.
Jake Blanton: So, thanks for coming. Thanks for coming to that. It was great to see you.
Jenny O.: Yeah. Thanks for coming February 8th. That was a really great show.
Jake Blanton: Really nice meeting you. That was really great.
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KGRL: Which amongst the songs you have written so far is the band's favorite?
Mike Green: I like Home. I really dig that one.
Jake Blanton: I would have to say Earth Has Won is kind of my favorite.
Mike Green: Yeah. I dig that one too.
Jake Blanton: Yeah.
Jenny O.: Cool. It’s one of my favorites. Earth Has Won for sure. It feels good. My favorite song is always the last one I wrote, usually, so probably one that I wrote last week that no one knows about yet and doesn’t have any lyrics. Earth Has Won. I’m going to say Earth Has Won.
Mike Green: Okay. Good. Let’s all agree on that. Earth Has Won. Do it now.
Jake Blanton: Okay. Ready. 1-2-3.
All: Earth Has Won.
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KGRL: Are you comfortable with co-writing songs?
Jenny O.: I’m comfortable co-writing songs. It’s never actually successfully happened though.
Jake Blanton: It’s because we haven’t co-written yet.
Jenny O.: Yeah. We haven’t co-written. It depends obviously on who you are writing with, and I’ve found myself in situations where we were writing together and...you have to deal with someone else’s choice and in your mind you’re like “That’s not a good choice” and then you have to be cool with some of their choices that you don’t agree with and it’s just tough.
Jake Blanton: I agree.
Jenny O.: I’m sure there [are] the right co-writers out there. I think it’s like finding a significant other in any other way.
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KGRL: Is there any artist that you wish to co-write with someday?
Mike Green: Prince, obviously.
Jake Blanton: Justin Timberlake.
Jenny O.: Justin Timberlake.
Mike Green: Coltrane.
Jake Blanton: I think he’s dead.
Jenny O.: Which?
Mike Green: Oh, right.
Jake Blanton: Yeah.
Mike Green: There [are] probably many.
Jenny O.: Yeah. There’s a ton. Everything I think of, I’m like “Can I say that?” because it’s like—
Jake Blanton: Yeah. You’ve got to say it so they see this, and then they go “Oh. She wants to write with me.”
Jenny O.: Leon Russell, do you want to write a tune with me?
Jake Blanton: There you go.
Mike Green: Yeah yeah.
Jenny O.: Yeah.
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KGRL: Are you planning to bring your music to TV and movies?
Jenny O.: Yeah. Bringing them to TV and movies sounds like—
Mike Green: They’re going to have to pay. The TV shows are going to have to pay.
Jenny O.: Yeah. I want them to be on the TV shows and in the movies. Bringing them to the movies sounds, I don’t know— Yes. Sorry. The answer is “Yes.”
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KGRL: Are there any new artists you listen to?
Jenny O.: New artists? Of course. I always return to the old stuff, for sure. We had a conversation about this the other day. No matter what new people we get into, it’s like okay, and then you end up just putting on your old guys.
Mike Green: Classics.
Jenny O.: We were listening to Elbow in the car. That is great. I love Elbow. I think Bon Iver is great. Amazing. Who is doing cool stuff? This guy Chad Van Gaalen. He’s Canadian. He’s doing really cool things. Yeah. I listen to new music but I do tend to go back.
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KGRL: You have not released Love And Sleep yet but you're already preparing for another album. Are you involving Jake and Mike in the process of creating that new album?
Jenny O.: I hope so, if you guys want to be a part of that. We haven’t really talked about it yet.
Jake Blanton: Sure.
Mike Green: Are you going to let us? That’s cool.
Jenny O.: Yeah. I think that the next record— Well, I have a couple of projects simultaneously happening in mind, but I think that the next full-length record is going to have more of a live vibe and a lot more of us playing and the songs evolving together and then tracking them together, hopefully.
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KGRL: Let's talk about your other gig, photography. Did you take classes in photography?
Jenny O.: No. [It’s] totally trial-and-error.
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KGRL: So, you use a moniker for your photography work...
Jenny O.: Anne Racz comes from my middle name [which] is Annie, and Racz is my mother’s maiden name. I kind of made the name a while ago. I wasn’t totally into the name. Jenny O. just kind of happened. It wasn’t like I decided that had a ring to it. It was just [that] my last name is wild and so it just was an abbreviation. Then at some point I was questioning whether that was what I wanted to be known as, and I kind of was toying with different names. When I created Anne Racz, it just suddenly clicked and felt totally natural and normal, and not like I was just making up some random name, but it didn’t really make sense for music so I kind of swapped and Anne Racz became my private-life name and my visual art has sort of a silent name. That’s the way I keep the two separate because...it’s a lot under one name.
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KGRL: Are you currently employed as a photographer?
Jenny O.: Yeah. I do a lot of press shots and musician stuff which is cool, just because I happen to hang out with a lot of musicians and so I photograph them. I do plenty of photography on my own for fun, but as far as for income it’s mostly press-related, or record covers or things like that for musicians, or stills at music videos. I know a lot of music video directors so I go to those.
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KGRL: You mentioned earlier that you're concurrently working on a lot of projects. Can you tell us any other projects you are working on?
Jenny O.: There’s the next full-length record I want to do, but there’s also— I’m attempting to make a quick sort of lo-fi EP on my own and get it up on the internet as soon as possible. I just got my own apartment for the first time and I think I’m going to try to pay for it by doing this stunt. It’s my hope.
Mike Green: Stunt?
Jenny O.: So there’s that. There’s that, which should be this little thing which will probably come out before Love And Sleep, and then the real record which I can take my time with, I think.
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KGRL: Are you going to release that Lo-Fi EP under the name Jenny O. as well?
Jenny O.: It’s all Jenny O. Love And Sleep took so long that during and after, I wrote all these little folk songs on the guitar so it was like this little other thing, and then I got into this other thing. So I”m just going to try to capture the little folk moment, but it’s all Jenny O. I think I’m a songwriter in general, and then whatever genre I’m feeling at the moment is just kind of where I’m at.
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KGRL: So you have pop with Love And Sleep and that Lo-Fi EP you're planning. How about jazz? Are you planning to go back to jazz?
Jenny O.: No.
Jake Blanton: No jazz record?
Mike Green: Liar.
Jenny O.: I mean, when I’m like 45 I might do a jazz record. You guys down?
Mike Green: Maybe.
Jake Blanton: Yeah.
Jenny O.: I don’t really see that happening.
Mike Green: Jake is dying to play some jazz guitar, aren’t you?
Jenny O.: The trouble with vocal jazz is vocal jazz. Maybe by the time I’m 45 and I’m going to do my jazz record I’ll be like way better at piano and I can just do a piano jazz record.
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KGRL: What should we expect from Jenny O. In 2010?
Mike Green: Amazing shit.
Jenny O.: Hopefully a record-and-a-half.
Mike Green: Incredible shit.
Jenny O.: Yeah.
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KGRL: Any last words for the KGRL listeners?
Jenny O.: Thank you for listening. Thank you for caring.
Mike Green: Thank you for buying Jenny’s record when it comes out.
Jenny O.: Yeah. Come see us play.
Mike Green: February 8th?
Jenny O.: That’s the past tense.
Mike Green: Oh. Is it that long ago?
Jake Blanton: This will be after that.
Jenny O.: This video is going to—
Mike Green: Oh, but we’re playing February 8th.
Jenny O.: Yeah but we will have played already when people watch it.
Mike Green: Oh, right. Understood. Is that a Monday?
Jenny O.: Yeah.
Mike Green: Because listeners might want to know for their past records. I believe that’s a Monday. Where is it at?
Jenny O.: The Bootleg.
Mike Green: No shit.
Jake Blanton: Yeah.
Mike Green: I’m playing there on the 6th, and the 4th.
Jake Blanton: I’m playing on the 2nd too, I think.
Mike Green: Are you serious? Oh shit.
Jake Blanton: I’m going to take that place over.
Mike Green: You’re going to take it by storm. Tangier all over again.
Jenny O.: You have five bands each.
Mike Green: Yeah. So we’re going to play some music in some other places with other people, but with Jenny is our favorite, obviously.
Jake Blanton: Clearly.
Mike Green: Duh.
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Our thanks goes out to Jenny O. and her wacky but extremely talented
musicians: Jake Blanton and Mike Green.
Photos by Jeff Koga.
Transcription was done by our good friend, Flour (E.S.).
Jenny O. Links:
Official Website: http://www.jennyo.com/
Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/jennyo
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