Published: September 29, 2008 9:00 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Review
Jen Ketrow
Jen Ketrow
Singer/Songwriter Jen Ketrow is a breath of fresh air. She makes music that matters and that is a good thing. She recently took some time from her hectic schedule to complete an interview with our magazine. Here is what formulated.
Isaac: Elaborate on who you are and your upbringing.
Jen Ketrow: My name is Jen Ketrow. I'm a songwriter/guitarist. I'm an animal lover, but not a vegetarian. I was raised in a very quirky, yet musical family in Bradley Gardens, New Jersey. Right now, I live in
Boston where I attend Berklee College of Music. I own and operate Girl In Red Coat Publications, a music publishing company. Other than myself, I have one other artist signed to GiRCP. We're a happy little
company that grows each and every day.
Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were inspired to do your own thing?
Jen Ketrow: Ha! It's hard to just narrow it down to one musician. The Beatles had an amazing effect on my life and are still a very big part of the way I arrange my songs. They did everything with such natural freedom. Even when they first came out, wearing those up-tight suits to gain acceptance, they made sure to do it THEIR way; the way The Beatles changed music will always be the soul of what inspires me to create my own music.
Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?
Jen Ketrow: I would love to play guitar and sing with Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr. If given such an opportunity, I would most assuredly wet my pants. But hey, you can always buy new pants.
Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?
Jen Ketrow: It varies from time to time, just as people often do. My constant answer will always be Paul McCartney and John Lennon; however, I tend to feel more connection to a specific song than just an artist.
Isaac: Out of your entire song collection that you've written thus far, which song(s) would you say is/are the most personal/meaningful to you?
Jen Ketrow: I would have to say the song, "Hold Me Close" is the most meaningful because of the happiness it brings me to share it. Just recently, a fan sent me a message telling me that she listens to the song just about every night because it reminds her of her fiance' who is fighting in Iraq.
Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?
Jen Ketrow: I'm not really a huge fan of anyone out there right now. I like to listen to Nora Jones and drink wine....I think that counts, but she needs to put out a little more new music before I'll be a huge fan.
Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support?
Jen Ketrow: I regularly donate money to the charitable foundation started by my spiritual teacher, Amma. She's a wonderful Indian saint who travels the world offering a loving embrace. It sounds quite silly, but even the most skeptical have been transformed just by accepting one of her hugs. Check out her website for more information on where your charity money actually goes. She's made real progress in building homes and communities in impoverished places. Amma.org. I'm also an advocate of animal rights and a member of the ASPCA. I encourage everyone to donate what they can to the ASPCA because every little bit helps find homes and care for abused and neglected animals.
aspca.org.
Isaac: Have you (or would you ever consider) writing a song about any of today's particular world issues/problems? If so, what world issue would speak to you the most to write about?
Jen Ketrow: I've never written a song about politics or war. I admire the songwriters who can write great anti-war music, but I just don't believe that writing a song that focuses on the negative (war) will
solve anything. I've never been much into change by force, and it seems that a lot of anti-war/political songs demand that we unite and use the same violence our government uses when they squash others. The only way to change a nation is by teaching its people to have love and compassion for one another. It's great to be informed of a government's transgressions, but acting with violence will not create
peace.
Isaac: Why should people listen to your music?
Jen Ketrow: People should listen to my music because I smell nice. Actually, they should listen to it because it brings me great joy to make it. If I get more listeners, then I'll have to make more music and that will keep me happy.
Isaac: Your music is relaxing and chill. What inspired you to toss out these awesome lyrics and cords?
Jen Ketrow: I only use the finest chords and words in all of my compositions. Actually, I don't. I like simple words, simple phrases and catchy melodies. I want to connect with people through my music, not alienate them with huge words or difficult harmonies. In other words, I don't know any big words or chords.
Isaac: How far into the creation of a song do you share any of it with anyone? Who would you play it for? Would it be a chorus, a verse and chorus, or a complete song?
Jen Ketrow: There have been times when all I had to play for someone was a verse and a chorus. When I get lucky and have a complete song made, I'll play that for a selected few; that selected few depends on who happens to be near me when I have my lyrics sheet and guitar. My main two guys I play for are my producer, Ben Camp and my best friend, Henco Espag. Both of them are outstanding writers and great people to have fun with.
Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs?
Jen Ketrow: It depends on the song. If I see an emotional reason for a word to be "miss-set" in a song, I'll stand by my decision and not accept suggestions. Otherwise, I'm pretty open to suggestions as long as the person offering them can convince me that their idea will be best in the long run.
Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?
Jen Ketrow: No, but it helps to be distressed in moderation. One just can't seem too tortured because no one will want to speak to you. Music is all about networking. You don't want to just hang out with other tortured souls, right? To keep a level head in this industry, you always have to keep in mind that someone out there is much worse off than you, either physically, emotionally or financially. Give thanks
for what you have and keep working on the things that you dream of. Your sense of torture will fade and you'll write from a much more productive place.
Isaac: Are your songs strictly autobiographical or are they embroidered autobiography?
Jen Ketrow: When I first started writing songs, they were all autobiographical. Every time I played them at shows, my friends knew exactly what was going on in my life and consequently, how I felt about them at certain points. After a while, I felt far too vulnerable to be writing from that place all of the time. Now, I sacrifice intensely personal lyrics for the sake of a good story. I'd rather sing a song about a happy
love affair than to make the audience miserable about how horrible break-up that I had.
Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?
Jen Ketrow: About 4 hours if it's a newly found emotional response. If it's an ongoing issue that keeps bugging my brain, I'll write an entire series of songs with that feeling, but all of them from a different
viewpoint.
Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?
Jen Ketrow: "It's not that deep." I tend to get really caught up in the dumb little details of everyday life, and this phrase carries me through a lot of hard times. Besides, it's funny to say it when everyone else is
freaking out around you.
Isaac: Give Shutouts to your family and friends.
Jen Ketrow: Hi mom. Hahaha. Oh, and hey to my brother Fred and his wife, Deva. Huge hug to my best gal-pal, Lindsey. A naughty hand gesture to my favorite professor, Tony. An awkward joke directed at Ben Camp. And last but not least, big hugs to Henco Espag!
Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?
Jen Ketrow: Right now, I'm working on a song that will be dedicated to that awesome girl who told me about her fiance' in Iraq. It will be their wedding present. Besides that, I'm always in the studio recording, arranging, and producing.
