***JULY***

JULY!!!! 
Its the best month because its right in the heart of summer...I LOVE SUMMER, I love red white and blue!! I love America!...I love popsicles!...I love swimming pools..baseball games, and hotdogs!...AND... its my BDAY month.. I love any reason to celebrate. I just love it, love it, love it!! 

The album release date is officially AUG 28th!! Its coming up so quick!! There is still so much to do, and the way time flies...it will be here before we know it. I just hope everything is ready to go!! 

I can’t wait, but I am also so nervous. Nervous?? Yes...because anytime you put a song, album, or a piece of art out to the public..you are basically putting your heart and soul on the line to get judged, hated, loved, teased etc..YIKES!! Well, I guess I am at the ripe old age of "I don't give a shit." I do music because it makes me happy..not because I am the best at it, not to be famous, or cool...I do it because it is what I love to do... I have taken so much time on this project, and put everything I have into it, that no matter how it turns out, I will be proud of it. I will never consider it or myself a failure. I have learned so much and grown so much from this entire journey and experience, that I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I set out to follow my dreams several years ago, and with several people saying NO, a few failures, and all odds against me, I have not given up and don’t plan to anytime soon. This is a learning process and all I can ask is that I continue to grow as a person, writer, and artist, and that everyday I push myself to be better.

 Thanks for listening, and for being there for my successes and failures..You are the best...:-) 

"HOME" is available for pre-sale AUG 7th!! Don't worry...I will be really annoying and reminding you frequently in between now and then...:-)

Jennell
#onestepcloser

#feelslikehome

SO MUCH TO SHARE!!!

Hello Universe? ANYONE OUT THERE?? :-)

So, if you have been following along on facebook or instagram,  you know that it has been a busy few weeks!! If you haven't been...You should start...Ill put the links below!!
Anyways, where was I?
THE NEW ALBUM "HOME" IS DONE!!! YAY!!!
It has not been released yet, but it is getting shopped around to publishers, publicists, etc...For those that don't know how this business works...IT TAKES A VILLAGE to release an album!! It took a few failed albums to figure this out...But, I am finally getting my team together. I have a project manager that  keeps me on track and has been super helpful and informative. I spoke with a publicist in New York today that wants to take me on as a client so that is exciting. I still have a few more to chat with, but I got a good vibe from her. Basically, their job will be to help with the marketing campaign in between now and the release date (late August!) They try and get press, blogs, articles, interviews, etc.. to help get the music out to a wider audience. I have also been working with a design and marketing team Sky Creative Entertainment Group who has been creating my website and all of my marketing materials.
Things finally seem like they are starting to move along!! I am NOT a patient person, so waiting for this is torture. I know it will be worth it in the end tho. Good things are worth waiting for...So they tell me!!

Yesterday, I launched my very first IndieGoGo campaign (a crowd-funding site). I seriously hate even putting it out there and asking for help, but I had to swallow my pride on this one. You never know if you don't try...right? and you can't get what you need if you don't ask for it...So....Here I am!!
I have put every bit of my earnings into this album and it still isn't enough. If you get a second please check it out. Every dollar counts!! If you can't donate...you can still help out by sharing the link...:-)

http://igg.me/at/jennellsmusic/x/10994414

Also, my website went live yesterday...So take a second and check that out if you get a chance!! It will be a busy few months until the album release date. I would love any and all feedback from you!! Good or bad!! I really appreciate you following along on this journey with me!!

www,jennellsmusic.com

Please shoot me a quick email, stay in touch, and check out my facebook page and instargram for more updates..
https://www.facebook.com/Jennellmm
https://instagram.com/jennellsmusic

Have a great day!!
Jennell
#OneStepCloser
#jennellsmusic

Bittersweet...

Hello Universe/the 10 people who might actually read this :-)
So... if you have been following along, you know that I have been working on a new EP for the past few months and it has been quite the amazing journey. I have spent countless hrs in the studio, while also trying to maintain a pretty full caseload of patients (if you are just tuning in, I am an occupational therapist at a pediatric clinic..(my plan B)). I have basically been a walking zombie for 2 months, burning the stick at both ends. Music is my true passion, so 10-14 hr days in the studio doesn't bother me... I actually love it...However, getting home super late, and going to work the next morning to a job that requires my full attention and cheerleader type energy (GOOOO TEAM) is kind of rough..I have definitely not been bringing my A game to work..OOOOPS....Sorry...Needless to say, it has been an interesting few months.
Well...guess what?!? We finished the final mixing of the new EP today...YAY!!! I can't even believe it. ...Its very bittersweet. The process of making this EP has been so magical.. so I am super sad that its over, but very excited for whats to come and excited for you all to hear it. Im sure my boss will also appreciate that its done, so I can step up my game. HAH.

Now what:
Well...besides trying to not suck at my job anymore..the new EP needs a name...so ill be pondering on that..Im sure its similar to picking out baby names...not easy. (not that I would know.)..Also, I have a photoshoot for the album cover next weekend that I haven't prepared for so I am going to look like a roly poly...(during the recording process, I ate really unhealthy crap for almost every meal...OOOOPS.. who has time to cook or meal prep?) Anyways, I am super excited because I really love the concept that we came up with...maybe Ill just wear a poncho to cover up my poocho..The following week the record is going to mastering, where it gets its final touches and magic sprinkles!! After that, and a few months of marketing...don da da daaaaa (super hero noise) it will be out there for you all to hear!!
SO MUCH TO DO BUT I CAN"T WAIT!!!

Below are some pics from the recording process...
Thanks for joining me on my journey

#onestepcloser
Jennell

Had friends stop by for some gang vocals 

 

Professor Dewey is in the building..probably teaching me about something technical/engineer stuff, that went straight over my head..

Porch break

FACTS..some random...some not so random...

Happy Monday...(those two words don't usually go together, but today they do!)

So, the last weekend/week was spent tracking my new record at FortyOneFifteen in Nashville!!!!!!

Words just can't express my excitement right now. We started with drums, bass, guitar, and keys. I am so thankful to have such talented musicians and a producer that knows exactly what I want working with me on this EP. Everyone went above and beyond and I think we are all pretty pumped with how it is sounding. 

Elvis..(my monkey mask that has been part of my life for the past three years) was able to make an appearance. (Fact 1..I love monkeys) haha..He was nicknamed Helvis by my producer..because when Elvis is in the building, he likes to raise some hell..and that is exactly what he did...pics below...

Random Fact 2...I LOVE PERCUSSION...Drums and percussion get me so excited, and some of my new songs are going to be pretty percussion heavy.YAY...So one of the best parts of my weekend was getting to play BASS DRUM on one of my songs...Elvis had a turn too.

Random Fact 3...I love little..things?..well..a mini version of anything that is typically big...
Im trying to be PC here...haha..

That being said....I had a mini piano as a child that I used to play and sing while pretending I was in a band. I made my brother use our big red lego buckets as drums (we also wore them on our heads..we totally should have kept that band together..haha)...
Well..it turns out that Dewey (my producer) has a mini piano at the studio..and it seemed completely necessary to feature the mini piano on the new album..so we did..HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!! 

Random Fact 4...I like unicorns...My friend Leah found me a cool lost unicorn shirt (I won a young authors contest in first grade for a book I wrote called "The Lost Unicorn"..pretty random) Anyways the shirt is awesome and talks about glitter poop and other magical things, so I wore it for good luck on tracking day 3...

So...now you all know 4 interesting facts about me...I love monkeys and Elvis has been a part of my life for 3 years now...I love little "things." (Ill expand on this more in the future).I love me some good percussion, and I love unicorns...but who doesn't...

Well, I am heading back to the studio today to start recording vocals for my song #longwayfromhome

So excited!!! 

Stay tuned...

Jennell 

#onestepcloser

Here is ELVIS (HELVIS) 

Elvis on the mini piano

Elvis playing guitar 

More PICS

Playing Bass Drum 

Chris Benelli playing drums

Dewey and Jesse Isley 

Mini Piano by Dewey 

Micah Snow on keys 

Me focusing...and loving what Im  hearing

Best shirt EVER

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY NASHVILLE

Hello world,
I have missed you!!
So, it has been 1 year!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY NASHVILLE!! I made it!! I can't believe I have been in this magical town for an entire year.
Where in the world has the time gone?
As some of you may have noticed...I stopped blogging...I wasn't really doing much to write about, so I didn't want to waste your time by making you read the same old same old...
It has been a pretty difficult 6 months. I feel like things started off really well here in Nashville, and then I decided to change directions which threw a kink in things. I  have really had to sit back and figure out exactly how I was going to approach the business from here on out..
My family had several unfortunate life circumstances starting in October..I lost my grandpa/one of my most favorite people in the world!! It practically killed me.. We also lost some really close family friends, and had some family illnesses, etc...It seemed as though a dark cloud was just hanging out over our family for several months..I really wasn't much in the mood for pursuing anything. I just wanted to be home with my family.

2015 the dark clouds started to part and we could finally see the light. I started off the year going on another work trip to Australia..Those trips are always challenging, but very refreshing. It was great to be able to help someone else, when I felt completely helpless in my families misfortunes. It was also nice to get out of the cold weather and enjoy some sunshine. I felt recharged and energized and ready to move forward once I got back to Nashville.
Since my return, I have been very busy writing, co-writing, and starting preproduction for my new record. We will start tracking drums, bass, guitar and piano this coming weekend at FortyOneFifteen Studios...I am so freaking excited. Ill tell you more about it soon.
The blog is officially back...but probably not EVERY week...because lets be real....that is exhausting!! So probably monthly, unless I have something exciting to tell you!!

Me and Grandpa

Grandpa and Grandma came to visit me in Nashville, 1 week before he passed away.

The little cuties I worked with in Australia 

Preproduction for my new record at FortyOneFifteen Studios 

Jennell
#onestepcloser

August...Where has the time gone..

Hello world..Last time I wrote to you was at the end of July..An entire month has passed. Not sure where all the time has gone, but summer is coming to end..I wish I could make it stop. I haven't lived in a place with all 4 seasons in 7-8 years, and I am not sure I am ready for it...eeeeek

Anyways..here is a little update on the past month..
I competed in the Pepsi Southern Original down in Montgomery AL. It was a really fun show to play. Everyone there loved my originals, and the judges pulled me aside and said that I scored really high and that they loved me...Well..then music politics came into play. I had to wait 2 weeks to find out the results. I had a really good feeling that I had won my region and would be competing Labor Day weekend. The results were finally in...and my name wasn't on the list. A different band (whom I happen to be friends with) won..I am happy for them as my friends, but when I found out why/how they won..I was pretty disappointed..Come to find out...their manager is head of the entire competition...They are a good band, but I wouldn't have even placed them in the top 3.. There were 2 other bands that were awesome... I wasn't mad that I didn't win, I was mad that it cost me several hundred dollars..and for what..Why did we even "compete" if they weren't actually judging the bands. For those of you that don't know how it works..As an unsigned artist..anytime I play a show, it costs me/the artist money. I have to pay rehearsal fees, travel expenses..not to mention, I have to pay each band member per gig. So my 2 song show/competition in Alabama cost me close to 700 dollars. Some bands might not have to do that..They might all just be friends playing for fun..That isn't the case for me..If you want the best guitar players, drummers etc, and you want them to take the time to learn your music and do an awesome job..then you have to pay them.. So I sure wish it would have been a fair competition based on the scoring criteria rather than "all in who you know" kinda deal....Whew..glad I got that off my chest..

For my Bday I was feeling kinda homesick..I missed my friends, and my family..So I proceeded to drink for basically my entire bday week...The few friends I have in Nashville showed me a good time! I was appreciative of that...but I don't think my liver was.

The next week I was an extra on the show Nashville for Season 3 Ep 1. I swore to myself I would never do extra work again ( I did it in LA a few times and hated it)..I doubt you will even be able to see me in the background..but I did get paid, and met a new friend who also just moved here from California..So I suppose it was worth it.

That following weekend I went to Dallas to see SL "ALL MY EX's LIVE IN TEXAS"....I had never been to Texas before. We had a pretty good time. He showed me all around Dallas, went line dancing,  to a gun range, ate some good food, had a good visit, etc etc. Glad to know we can still be friends. :-)

Back at it in Nashville. I got signed to a talent agency (BNA talent group)..So that was exciting..I had an audition for a Jerrod Neiman music video..However, when I realized what the role would entail I didn't really want the gig. hahah but....I just found out today that I have an audition for a Toyota commercial on wednesday so keep your fingers crossed. I sure could use that paycheck..

Speaking of paycheck...I FINALLY GOT MY OT LICENSE for Tennessee (it took FOREVER), and I finally got a job that I will be starting next week/ part time/ doing in home therapy..Not my favorite..but its really flexible so that is what is important to me right now.

Been doing a lot of writing sessions with various people..I really like where its all going...I haven't been playing shows around town recently. I am trying to totally revamp and refresh everything and get a new and improved sound for my next album release. Lots of awesome and exciting changes!!! So I am laying low, just writing for now, because I don't really want to promote my old stuff.

Hmmm what else..My BFF from LA came to visit the other weekend. I showed her how we party in the south..I had a great time..and I think/hope she had fun too. We went to cummins falls which is AMAZING..and I took her honky tonkin..(when in Nashville) Unfortunately I wasn't successful and getting her to move here. SAD!! HAHA but my other BFF is coming to visit me this weekend...Hopefully I can convince her.