Photography by Douglas Newton
There are few things that can make a modern music critic cringe harder than an artist covering an exceptionally popular radio hit from the early 2000s. That was a golden era, a renaissance of painfully generic pop music set to equally awkward production. Outside the realms of nostalgia, the music hasn’t aged well. Hence, it’s especially astonishing when a modern artist not only chooses one of the pinnacle tracks of that era to cover, but does it exceptionally well, eclipsing its forgettable predecessor in every way. JNNA, an up and coming pop vocalist from California, has released a cover of Kelly Clarkson’s 2004 mega hit, ‘Since U Been Gone,’ a song that was so frustratingly catchy it’s etched into the ages as one of the most recognizable, albeit stereotypical, pieces of music from the early ots. JNNA hasn’t just revitalized the track, though, she’s taken it to a place that is, yes, ‘soulful’. Check the interview below.
What inspired you to become a musician and songwriter?
I’ve just always loved singing and while in college, I realized that music is what makes me happy.
You draw inspiration from artists Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Little Dragon, to name a few. How do they inspire you?
When I listen to their music and voices when they sing, I feel the emotion. They all have their own unique way in both their writing and vocal styles and that just pushes me to make my own music and express myself in my own way.
You cite your father as the biggest influence for pursuing your dreams and the music you create. Tell us about it.
It’s funny because when my dad was alive, I hadn’t made the decision to pursue music. I was still taking classes at Santa Monica College. When he passed, I was obviously in a very bad state and hated every second I was in school. I realized that life really is too short to be unhappy, that’s when I decided to pursue what made me truly happy 🙂 And I know if my Dad were still here, he would be proud of that decision.
You also work with organizations that deal with issues, such as child abuse, animal welfare, and the homeless population. Does your work with these organizations reflect the music you create?
I don’t necessarily write songs about the work I’ve done for organizations, but it inspires me to work even harder so if I’m lucky and fortunate enough to reach my goals as a musician, it will afford me a platform to better assist them 🙂
Tell us how following your dreams and intuition has paid off.
Well, it has made me abundantly happier and excited for my future. Before music, I had no clue what I wanted to do; in high school I wanted to go to Art School but not even the thought of that was all that exciting to me. I have absolutely no regrets about pursuing music because it has made me who I am today and I know it’s what I am supposed to be doing.
Your uniqueness and talent is evident. You can take an upbeat song, like Kelly Clarkson’s hit song, Since U Been Gone, and turn it into a haunting and melodic tune. Tell us about the process of changing the vibe of the song.
Aw thank you I appreciate that! Well when Casey (Tyzo Bloom) and I decided to do a cover, it was with the intend of submitting it for tv and film. We both knew that we wanted it to be completely different from the original. We talked about the kind of vibe we wanted it to have and he worked his magic with production to make it somber yet melodic. Obviously I don’t have a voice like Kelly Clarkson so transforming it into this style matched my vocal style much more and made it easy for me to vibe out to.
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What has been the best part of working in the music industry?
So far, I’m still at the very beginning of career and I’m still, slowly but surely, learning everything there is to know about the industry. What I can say for sure is that it makes me happy every day, waking up, knowing I get to make music!
Career wise, where do you see yourself in five years?
By then I will have released at least one full album of my own and toured it; playing major festivals and stadiums around the world. It would also be super cool if I got to perform at some of the major award shows…maybe even have a few awards of my own 😉 I just hope that by 2022, I’ll have grown as an artist, developed relationships with the artists I look up to, and made my stamp on the industry as JNNA.
Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?
So far, I have my first single finished and ready to release soon 🙂 I’m also in the process of working on a few more tracks of my own with various producers as well as collaborations for their artistry.
What advice would you give to someone, who is aspiring to enter the music industry?
Make music that’s honest to you and that you love and eventually others will love it, too ❤
Author’s Note: Check the review of Since You Been Gone.
Connect with JNNA:
Website: https://www.jnnamusic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jnnamusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JNNAMUSIC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jnnamusic/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jnnamusic
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