Getting To Know... Jennifer Owens

Having already received enormous praise from the likes of Lewis Capaldi for her recent releases, singer and songwriter Jennifer Owens now returns with her latest hit-in-the-making 'Spend The Night'.

Produced by the renowned Guy Gyngell, 'Spend The Night' makes for an incredibly heartfelt and emotional return. With her rich and soaring vocals layered over a blend of sweeping piano keys and blistering production, her newest delight looks set to garner even more praise in the near future.

So with her new single delighting us throughout, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has inspired her most over the years.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

The piano! My grandmother played the piano and I would stand beside her whist she played and sang for hours. I tried to learn myself for a few years as a child, but I was never motivated to practice. And I only continued with the lessons because the teacher used to give me a creme egg at Easter.

What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?

My first difficulties with depression started when I was 19 and I was sat on my bathroom floor hopelessly trying to find a song to sing in my next singing lesson. And I came across a song called ‘Anything Worth Holding On To’ and I will never forget how much that song perfectly expressed everything I was feeling. And for those 4 minutes I felt like I wasn’t alone. And that one moment made me realise that I wanted to give that moment to others with my music. And so I write honest, open music that I hope can be there for someone when they need it most.

What kind of music did you love as a teenager?

I really loved Mcfly as a teenager and I actually still love their first albums. I had a karaoke machine with tracks like ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’ and ‘Living the Lie’ by David Sneddon on it and I used to listen to the songs on that karaoke machine over and over again. We didn’t really have the money for new CDs or tickets to gigs, so I found music in other places. Like my karaoke machine or my dad’s cd collection that stunk of smoky pubs and clubs (he was a gigging singer). So the music I listened to as a teen would probably be seen as quite uncool.

Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?

My mum used to sing a song called ‘What I Did For Love’ and my interpretation of the song is about not regretting a life doing something you love and if you had to stop doing it, knowing you did it with passion and everything that you had. And I would listen to her singing that song and think about how wonderful it would be to do something that made you feel like that everyday.

When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?

When I wake up in the morning the first thing on my mind is a cup of tea. And then usually I’ll have a listen to my latest track or recording and scrutinise it, pinpointing all the bits I could have done better. And then obviously it’s a power ballad for the shower, a bit of Celine or Michael Bolton (my neighbours definitely hate me).

How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?

All of my music is about people in my life. I write about experiences in my life that have made me who I am, and so naturally, those moments come from the people in my life, family, friends and the people I love the most.

What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?

Fred Dinenage told me he was my biggest fan!

Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?

I feel passionate about mental health struggles being normalised. I think we have come a long way in the past few years, but I also think we have a long way to go. I’m very open with my followers about my mental health struggles with clinical depression and at times that isn’t easy but I think it is important. I’m also really passionate about cake! Baking cake, decorating cake and eating cake!

If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?

Maybe the service industry, I used to work at Nando’s and they were some of the best years of my life. The community and friendship amongst the staff, talking to people and being surrounded by the buzz of customers. Plus the staff meals were always a bonus.

And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?

You do not need a label! And you do not need to be the next Ed Sheeran. You just need to make the music YOU want to! I have sat in a major label office and been told ‘can you be a bit more James Arthur’ And you don’t have to do that. And you shouldn’t because you are you and your music will be important to someone!

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Jennifer Owens' new single 'Spend The Night' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.