Words: Evie Johnson
We spoke to Jennifer after her gig in Liverpool to learn more about the new album, performing the launch show in Liverpool, and any upcoming plans.
Can you talk a little about the new album, any inspirations, meanings, key influences, etc?
Jennifer: I have quite an eclectic taste in music, and I think I used to always try and lean into one genre more to be considered a bit more serious with muso’s etc. But as I’ve got older I’ve realised my love of pop/girl bands etc is just as important to me as my love of Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel. I definitely am influenced by more 60s and 70s singer-songwriters and country artists such as Dolly Parton and Eagles. But also, I’ve got four older sisters and grew up listening to The Cure, The Jam and Oasis so there’s probably elements of all that in there. Along with some good old Catholic choir school girl harmonies – I love adding as many harmonies as I can!
The new album is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s an amalgamation of stuff I’ve written five years ago, as well as the past two years, and even includes a couple of oldies – which I think fits with the concept of ‘Time Like Water’. My dad passed away a couple of years ago, and I had a bit of writer’s block before and after it. But I’ve found myself being a lot more reflective of time in my late 30s, and how when you’re young you think you have all the time in the world, wishing you could change time or had more time, had more time with people, and even just being a woman with four jobs having no time!
The album covers everything from past relationships, falling in love, grief and even fertility issues. There’s also a song called River which is part about my dad, and part about how boss Liverpool is, and us as a community.
Being from Liverpool yourself, what does playing at the Philharmonic’s Music Room before the release of your album mean to you?
Jennifer: Funny you should say that about the Philharmonic as I actually worked there for 10 years so that’s been an interesting one! I practically grew up there, met friends for life, had the best memories, had my heart broken and I used to have my school prize given there, so it felt really special. It sort of feels like home, and I think that’s what the album feels like too. It’s the perfect encapsulation of the people and moments in my life from my 20s and 30s which felt really personal.
Is there any one track you’d like to highlight for people ahead of the album’s release?
Jennifer: There’s a couple of tracks. ’I Remember’ was released last week, and is really special to me. It’s about my dad passing away which sort of got me back into the swing of things with writing. We even managed to get a clip of him singing in the outro, and it finishes with him saying “ah will you look at that”, so I felt this was the perfect track to be the final track on the album
River has been on a bit of a journey and I feel like it could be a really nice anthem for the city, as it just celebrates how boss scousers are, how if you’re feeling low they always carry you, and how we just get on with it. I’m a big Evertonian and there’s a secret little reference to it in the pre-chorus, so I’m hoping Hill Dickinson will play it at a game haha!
Then there’s ’Time Like Water’. It started off as a song about my own fertility issues, and then a few friends had miscarriages and it got me thinking about how as women we just get on with it and you wouldn’t know.
Do you have any upcoming plans after this that you’d like people to know about?
Jennifer: I’m currently planning a few UK tour dates and doing an intimate gig with the Mellowtone in February, so I’ll be putting info out for that soon!
Jennifer’s new album, ‘Time Like Water’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
