The Thought Vox

With the gift of music and a passion to create, Jen Foster continues to make her mark.

For years Jen has played the club circuit, promoted her music, managed her own tours, and never gave up on her ability to write songs. These songs have won awards at the International Songwriting Competition, International Acoustic Music Awards, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Independent Singer/Songwriter Awards, USA Songwriting Contest, Nashville Song & Lyric Contest, LOGO Channel – Best of 2008, among others.

Closer To Nowhere is presently nominated for LOGO Channel’s “Top 10 Videos of 2009.”(click to vote) In addition to winning awards, Jen’s songs have been featured in film and TV: American Pie – Beta House, HBO’s short film, Happenstance, the feature film, Girlplay, ABC’s, All My Children, and MTV’s, The Hills.

“I’ve only recently discovered what a lot of folks already knew: That Jen Foster is a first-rate songwriter, a gifted expressive singer who has a soulful instinct for describing the beauty and anguish of the human condition.”
~ Garth Fundis, Producer (Sugarland, Trisha Yearwood)

The summer of 2009 brought the release of Jen’s third full length CD Thirty-Nine. On this record Jen had the opportunity to work with some industry heavy hitters. Greg Droman, who has worked with Fleetwood Mac, Lee Ann Womack, Brooks & Dunn, etc, produced Thirty-Nine. The record also features top-notch musicians: Peter Stroud (Guitarist: Sheryl Crow), Rami Jaffee (Keyboardist: Foo Fighters, The Wallflowers), Sean Hurley (Bassist: John Mayer, Vertical Horizon), and Fred Eltringham (Drummer: The Dixie Chicks, The Wreckers, The Wallflowers).

The songs on Thirty-Nine are lyrically and musically solid – AND people are taking notice! It has just been announced that the track: Venice Beach has been licensed to be the theme song for the highly anticipated Web Series: VENICE, which debuts December 4th, 2009. The series is Co-produced/written by Kim Turrisi & Co-produced/written/stars, actress, Crystal Chappell; and is inspired partly by Chappell’s character, Olivia Spencer’s storyline, on the longest running daytime drama in history: Guiding Light.

2009 also saw Jen hosting The Writers Share Nashville charity event, where she took the stage with notable songwriters Richard Marks, Grammy & ACM award winning Mike Reid, CM Song of the Year Award winner Chuck Cannon, along with his wife, Lari White, who’s a three-time Grammy winner and platinum-selling producer.

In addition to musical endeavors, Jen is featured in the soon to be released third book from bestselling authors, Linda Woods and Karen Dinino. The photography/art book Meeting In The Ladies Room, features women from all walks of life. Jen shares the pages with notable women, such as Jann Arden, Amanda Palmer, SheDaisy, Sarah Bettens (K’s Choice); as well as Rosie O’Donnell and a host of teen girls, moms, and grandmothers; who share their thoughts in every woman’s private space ~ The Ladies Room.

Now that you know a little more about Jen, lets get to her thoughts!

But first – Three lucky people will win PRIZE PACKS that include an autographed copy of Thirty-Nine and a Necklace/Dog-Tag. To be entered in the draw all you have to do is LEAVE A COMMENT! Prizes will be drawn Wednesday December 3rd.

In an ever-changing music industry it’s difficult to generate revenue (due to music theft), and get ahead. Yet you, an independent artist, are continually gaining recognition and collaborating with some of the best in the business. To what do you attribute your success?

It’s always a combination of things that leads to success. Being blessed with the foundation of having a great family and friends is #1 to me. But I’m also stubborn. I’ve been through all kinds of rejection with regard to the music business – but I keep getting up and fighting to get my songs heard. That means being creative and thinking outside of the box – being “scrappy,” as my Mom used to say. I oversee every aspect of what I do – from the arrangements on my songs to the graphic art on all my materials to price-checking CD manufacturers and on and on. I also am really interactive with my fans. But the bottom line is that the music has to resonate with people. I have always had something to say, and I’ve been lucky enough to have a good amount of people who care to listen . As the NSAI motto goes, “It all begins with a song.”

What drives you most?

Having meaning. We all have gifts. Mine is music, and I want to share it with as many people as possible. I want to move people, to entertain them, to be a person they remember.

Recently you hosted “The Writer’s Share” at Nashville’s famed, Bluebird Café. What was it like to share the stage with so much talent?

Humbling! I was the only person on that stage that has never had a “cut”. For those of you who don’t know, a “cut” is when another (usually major label) artist records and releases your song.

Nashville is the hub of the songwriting world. Every day, all over Nashville (and especially on the famed “Music Row”), professional songwriters meet and co-write songs that will be plugged to managers, producers, and major artists. It’s big business here. Chuck Cannon and Mike Reid, for example, are two of the most well respected, successful songwriters in this town. Mike wrote, “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” for Bonnie Raitt. Chuck wrote, “I Love The Way You Love Me,” for John Michael Montgomery: among many others. And let’s not forget Richard Marx was also sharing the stage with us! Richard wrote a Keith Urban hit, has written songs with Justin Timberlake, etc – in ADDITION to all his 80’s hits. So here I am – an independent artist – sitting up there with some of the greats. I had to pinch myself!

Are there more “Writer’s Share” sessions in the works?

Yes! We are looking to next year now. When I say “we,” I’m referring to me, and my lawyer, Derek Crownover, who is basically my business partner. Derek has always believed in my approach as an indie artist and he has really helped “connect” me in this town. Anyway, we’ve got our work cut out for us – the bar is obviously high as far as the caliber of writers we want. And one more thing: all of the proceeds for these events go directly to TJ Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS, and Leukemia Research. I wanted to do the series in honor of my Mom, who died from endometrial cancer last year.

On your latest full length CD, “Thirty-Nine” you worked with many industry renowned people. Did you ever have to pinch yourself?

It was an amazing experience in the studio, for sure. The guys that I worked with were top-notch AND really sweet people, too – always a great combo. My co-producer, Greg Droman, helped me put the band together and get them out here from LA and Atlanta. Rami Jaffee from the Wallflowers was such a character – like a mad scientist playing B-3 – brilliant! And Peter Stroud, from Sheryl Crow’s band – what a sweetheart. He and I have started a song since then, too. Hoping to finish it soon…

How is “Thirty-Nine” different from your previous releases?

I think “Everybody’s Girl” was really upbeat, poppy, and slick overall. “The Underdogs” was darker in its tone. And “Thirty-Nine” is a combo of the light and the dark – which is appropriate for the balance I am finding in my life at this point.

Your song, “Closer To Nowhere” was featured on an episode of MTV’s popular drama, “The Hills,” how did that come about?

Adam McCants at Whizbang Music pitches my music to film/TV non-exclusively. He pitched the song to Jon Ernst, the music supervisor at “The Hills,” and he played it for the staff, who unanimously loved the song for the show. There was one false alarm, which sucked – the song got replaced last-minute in an earlier episode. But they finally found the right place for the song, and luckily, it was in the episode that Heidi and Spencer briefly broke up (Lots of people watching!) It was a killer placement – and sales skyrocketed on the single. Not to mention the visits to my website – it was incredible exposure on lots of levels…

Your song “Venice Beach” has been licensed (and reworked) as the theme song for the NEW web series, “VENICE.” Has this broadened your audience?

TREMENDOUSLY. The “Venice” fans are passionate people – and they have gone to Bandbox in droves to support “Venice Beach.” The sales this week have been great. Over $2500 and counting…and the Twittering is nuts! You’ve been telling me about Twitter for a long time, Pam – and “Venice” was just the motivation I needed to get on there and work it . I love the new people I am meeting because of the placement. I can’t say enough good things about the “Venice” team. They are just really nice people and the positive energy they have is contagious. It’s also looking promising that at least one other song of mine may be on the show! I am so grateful…

Bestselling authors Linda Woods & Karen Denino, are big fans of your music. You are featured in their soon to be released third book. How was the experience of photo shoot day?

Linda and Karen are a trip! Pure energy! If you could have seen us all hauling photo equipment and guitars and bags down the Venice strip that hot California day…stopping to catch our breath, taking photos along the way with tarot-card readers and rollerbladers, etc. We laughed a lot and were giddy-tired by the end of it. We took photos in my hotel room in addition to Venice Beach – it was Linda’s idea to shoot me in that setting because of the song – and now, with the series coming out in December, and the book, too – it’s really nice to have all this happening at once! The book, I have heard, is looking amazing – and how awesome to be included in a book that also features Jann Arden, Rosie O’Donnell, SheDaisy, Sarah Bettens, and Amanda Palmer, to name a few.

It’s no surprise that you’ve written songs that other artists are showing interest in recording. Are there any artists you would love to write for?

Well, I just try to write great songs and hope they will land in good hands. But Alison Krauss is the one I’m dreaming of . Garth Fundis (who produced Sugarland, Trisha Yearwood, etc.) called me when he heard “Second Hand Love” and asked if he could send it to her. I have met once with her manager, and I say my prayers every night that the song will be heard and embraced by her. But no definitive word yet. It was an honor to get a call from Garth, though, and if that’s the best thing to come out of it, I can live with that . He and I have become friends and may do some recording in the future.

In 5 years – I hope to be a performing songwriter who has had a few hit songs and plays the gigs I want to play. Simple, right ?

Where do you see yourself, professionally, in five years?

I think this next year will be pivotal. I’m happiest when I am writing at this point, and am hopeful about getting songs cut with one or more major artists. Doors are opening every day here in Nashville, and I feel like I need to be present here in the immediate future and nurture the relationships I’m building here. I was just elected to the board at Nashville Songwriters Association International, and that is a really huge honor and responsibility that I take seriously. There is also a lot of planning that goes into the Writer’s Share.

It’s easy for me to get distracted having so many irons in the fire! For now though, I am loving having a routine and being home with my girlfriend and our dogs. I can be really productive from home, too, in terms of pitching songs to film and TV. That can be massive exposure, as I’ve seen from “The Hills” and “Venice”. I look forward to seeing how “Venice” unfolds, too – I see big success for the series and there are lots of possibilities (maybe a video?) as that develops.

As for touring, I’ve toured the club scene for years, and have realized that if I keep doing that all the time, I will keep doing that all the time . If I could get a kick-ass, experienced booking agent on board, it might change things – but it hasn’t happened yet. So think if I focus for a while on writing the best songs I can – and possibly get them exposure with bigger artists – and some more film/TV placements – better gigs will come along. I would love to be playing theater-style venues – like the Ryman, for example. Or uh, maybe Lilith Fair . (Hint to you Canadians out there! Anyone know Sarah?). I also love recording – and definitely foresee new projects for me as an artist.

Venice The Series – Season One – Teaser from Venice The Series on Vimeo.

http://www.venicetheseries.com/

Keep Up With Jen!

Jen’s Official Site: http://www.jenfoster.com/
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