Music Interview With Pop Vocalist Jenn Connor

Over the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of photographing the talented singer/songwriter, Jenn Connor for her CD singles and music promotion.   Her voice is amazing and her pop songs are authentic and catchy.  Her latest CD is now streaming.

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/7yIMuLKHqDajTfnHdUcSb0
iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/like-i-did-single/1326387962
SoundCloud – https://soundcloud.com/jennconnormusic/like-i-did

I personally love reading artist interviews and learning more about the person behind the work, so here is my latest interview with Jenn Connor.  There are also some photos from the shoot we did for her recent CD single release.  It has been wonderful watching her grow as an artist, which is one thing I love about photographing musicians. Thanks so much Jennifer for answering these questions.

Which musicians initially inspired you to pursue singing, from a young age?

I actually grew up in a musical family. My mom is a singer/songwriter and was involved in musical theatre. My brothers play piano, guitar, and drums. My dad is a talented lyricist. I’ve always been around music so I guess my parents and my brothers are my biggest inspirations. When it comes to famous, established artists, I love Michael Jackson, The Tenors, and Taylor Swift. When I was younger I loved the Backstreet Boys and Hilary Duff. All of these artists have really inspired me to pursue music.

Yes, I do write my own music. I also love to collaborate with other talented songwriters. Many of the songs that I have written have been based on a personal experience that I’ve had. I like to write about love and relationships. I have had my heart broken but I have also experienced true love. I like taking the feelings and emotions that I have experienced and turning them into a song. I also love to write songs that reflect my belief in overcoming adversity, and inspire others to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. I write and sing from the heart.

I have been recording music since I was 15 years old.  I started taking my career seriously at the age of 18. The music business can be tough. I have learned from experienced people in the industry to exercise due diligence, in choosing who to partner with to further my career. I have learned that in order to be successful in this industry, you must have people that you can trust around you. I have been lucky enough to have wonderful, loving, intelligent people around me who have helped me make the right decisions along the way. I’m very blessed to have them in my life.

2) Creative Perspective

When it comes to the creative side of the music industry, the most important thing I have learned is to stay true to who you are. Never pretend to be someone that you’re not and don’t ever do something that you’re uncomfortable with. I want my music to reflect who I am and what I stand for. My songs come from the heart and my hope is that they genuinely touch people. I don’t want them to be regarded as simply a product that I’m selling.

Yes, there are definitely certain values that I hope are reflected in my songs. For example, when it comes to relationships, I want to inspire women to be comfortable and not be afraid to take things slow. I want them to believe that they should listen to their heart. If a man genuinely loves you, he will always respect your views and decisions. My song “Follow” really explains this well and it’s based on a personal experience that I’ve had. I think it’s a very positive message for young women to hear.

And also, as I mentioned before, I want to inspire people to believe in themselves and in their dreams. I want them to think positively and not be affected by negativity. I truly believe that if you work hard, you can do anything that you set your mind to. I think this is a message that we all need to hear from time to time.

I am extremely proud of my new single, Like I Did. I think what I love most about it is the melody and the story. The vocal melody is up and down, I feel that it really captures the emotional rollercoaster of a relationship that unfortunately just isn’t working out.

The story is about breaking free from a toxic relationship. You may love the person that you’re with, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the one for you. There comes a time where you have to put yourself first and do what’s best, even if your partner doesn’t want to let go. You have to believe that true love still awaits. Like I Did celebrates that freedom and the development of a new, better, healthier relationship.

What do you love and appreciate most in your free time when you are not singing?

When I’m not singing, I love spending time with my family and friends and my dog Wellington (a Basset Hound who I absolutely love) . I also love to work out at the gym, play ps4 (Call of Duty), and watch Netflix. I’m totally obsessed with the show, “This Is Us” right now, ha ha! I also am a big fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and really all Toronto sports’ teams.

I think the public would be surprised to know how many different styles of music I really enjoy. When I listen to music on my iPhone, I’ll be listening to songs by Drake, Usher, and other r&b/rap artists only to be followed by Luciano Pavarotti or George Strait.

In three words, describe yourself as an artist in 2018?   Fresh, genuine, passionate.