Jen Janet is someone you need to know.
Her latest tracks, “Possession” and “I Don’t Belong”, showcase just a small portion of her creative talents. From writing solo tracks and fronting a band, to editing and directing her own music video, her hands-on approach with everything she creates is what makes her stand out.
We had the opportunity to chat with her about how she went about writing her latest singles, what she’s been up to during quarantine, and what we can expect from her in the future. Check it out!
What was it like to write and record “Possession” and “I Don’t Belong”?
“I wrote both songs a few years ago, so most of the lyrics and music were already done. I originally wrote both of them starting on piano, and then added in other things later. I began working with Greg Almeida (Secret Gardens) on production. His previous work was really cool and emotional, and I knew he’d be perfect for this project. He helped me tweak the guitar parts and give the songs more of a rock edge. We passed files back and forth for a while until we came up with the final result, and I’m very happy with them. For the ‘Possession’ video I worked with King Wolf Creative, and I’m stoked at how the video came out. I storyboarded the video and came up with the storyline. For the ‘I Don’t Belong’ video, I directed that one and edited it myself, with some filming help from Goreblaster. That was the first video I edited and directed myself for my original music, so I was really proud of it. I’m always trying to improve though!”
What do you do to put yourself into the zone to write or record?
“For me, I really like being alone when I’m writing. I have a keyboard in my bedroom and I basically lock myself in there for a few hours, and let whatever comes out, come out. Sometimes I sit in bed and write poetry, and it becomes lyrics later. Occasionally if I’m having writer’s block, taking a walk or being in nature can be really helpful for me.”
How are you keeping yourself busy during quarantine?
“I’m actually keeping myself very busy. I’ve been reading a lot of books, and trying to do more yoga and taking care of my physical body. I’ve definitely been writing more than I ever have. I felt inspired and nostalgic about my childhood, due to the social impact the coronavirus had, and I ended up writing a song about it. That song will be released within the next few months.”
Has your creative process during quarantine differed from your regular creative process?
“It hasn’t differed very much. I’ve worked with lots of different groups of people on songwriting and production, and this has usually been remote work, to some extent. So when the quarantine happened, I was already used to recording things remotely and sending files back and forth to collaborators. Therefore the only thing that changed is I now have more time to write and focus on music. I feel quite lucky that I was already ‘prepared’ in the sense that I already spent a lot of time alone and working remotely on music.”
How has your journey into creating solo music differed from your other creative endeavors?
“There are pros and cons. The nice thing about having my solo project is that I have full control over the project, and all decisions. Therefore, everything happens faster. I don’t need to ask anyone’s permission on whether or not a song is ready, or done, and I can create my own art to go with the song right at home. If I like it, I release it. When you’re in a band, it’s wonderful to create with others. It’s also very helpful for learning new things as you will be exposed to different styles of music that way. But in the past it has also been frustrating for me to release music that way, because the release may be held up with people not agreeing on certain things, meeting deadlines, or having other questions before something is done. There’s nothing wrong with that of course – but it’s definitely nice to be able to release anything when I want to.”
If you could have your listeners take one message from your music, what would you want it to be?
“A lot of the songs I’m writing now, have more of a message to them. Some of the issues I will explore with future releases involve authoritarianism and control in society, women in society, and loneliness. I do feel that I have a lot to say and I really want to express myself, and hopefully resonate with others who may feel the same. In general, until those songs are released, I just hope to give people music that they enjoy, and something to look forward to. I think a lot of people feel somewhat hopeless with the current state of the world right now, and I hope that my music videos can be entertaining and pull someone out of their reality, even just for a few minutes.”
Do you have anything coming up that we should keep an eye out for?
“I have four new singles on the way! They will all have music videos paired with them also. If anyone wants to subscribe for a notification when they are released, you can subscribe here. My website is also a great place to stay up to date with news, and you can sign up for my email list there.”
