Happy New Year! - January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!!! I hope 2009 is your best year yet!
Jennifer :)
Jennifer :)
Jennifer Reff: News
Happy Thanksgiving! - November 27, 2008
Wow...another year that went by so fast. I can't believe that it's already the Holiday Season again! But its my favorite time of year so I'm not complaining. :) I'm especially looking forward to the next few weeks because I'm collaborating with a really talented composer, Luis Fletes, on a couple of songs. The first song is a haunting contemporary setting of a "Pie Jesu" and the other is a really pretty song in Spanish. I think there will be one more but I haven't heard it yet. Also, my website will relaunch in January 2009 with new photos and content so I'm really excited about that too! The photoshoot for the new photos will be next week and I can't wait for it. It's going to be fun! Anyway, other than that I'm still contemplating where I'd like to go with my next CD. Sometimes, I really want to do something completely traditionally classical and other times I really want to do something experimental. Whichever it is, I'm hoping to begin work on it this coming Spring. Well, have a Happy Thanksgiving! Eat lots of yummy food! I will be having Tofurky! :)
Jennifer
Jennifer
My new website! - August 8, 2008
Hello Everyone,
How has everyone been? I hope you all like the new website! If you have a chance, let me know what you think. Also, I hope you enjoy the Q & A below. These are some questions that I have received, so, I thought I would answer them in one big post. Hope you all have as much fun reading it as I had answering!
xoxo
Jennifer
JENNIFER'S Q&A
Q: Favorite color?
A: Blue.
Q: Favorite food?
A: Fish tacos and coffee. (But not together!) :)
Q: Favorite things to do?
A: I love going to movies and getting coffee. I also really love to Belly Dance.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: It’s between Napoleon Dynamite and Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day.
Q: Favorite book?
A: I’m more of a magazine girl but I loved The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. I also love classic British literature.
Q: Favorite Song?
A: A Sorta Fairytale by Tori Amos.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have 2 dogs. A Kuvasz named Willa and a Chow/Newfie mix named Jonah.
Q: What is your most embarrassing secret?
A: I still don’t own an iPod.
Q: Is it hard to make an independent CD?
A: It’s hard because you don’t have the budget that an artist with a record deal has. Also, when you have a label you have guidance from people with a lot of experience. For me, especially in the beginning, there was a definite learning curve where I had to struggle through my mistakes. On the other hand, making an independent CD is easier because I don’t have to answer to a label. I get to decide what songs I sing, what my image will be. I can be more driven by what I want to do artistically than by worrying how much money the album will make.
Q: Who’s the number one person you want to collaborate with?
A: Tori Amos would be my number one choice. She is a genius songwriter and I think she has the most beautiful, perfect voice ever.
Q: How do you select which songs you’re going to sing?
A: I love to sing music that is dramatic and haunting. Also, I love taking a pop song or classical song and reshaping it. I covered Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” on Portrait of a Lady and, originally, it was this catchy avant-garde disco song but we arranged it to be darker with a rock opera sound. I think it came out very interesting and very different. When I choose a song to cover, I only sing it if I know that I can make it different from the original. I don’t just want to do a verbatim remake. For some musicians, music is more personal expression. For me, as an artist, I’m more interested in conveying an idea or story rather than sharing my own personal experiences. I think that’s probably why I haven’t written my own music. I take on more of a character to express something. The songs that I sing definitely resonate with me but it’s not my personal experience so I approach it as if I’m a character in the story like an actor would.
Q: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: While I love opera and I love singing arias, I’m not a fan of the “traditional operatic sound”.
Q: What’s next?
A: I’m starting work on my next CD. I’m very excited about it because it is going to include a lot more experimental elements and, hopefully, some originals.
How has everyone been? I hope you all like the new website! If you have a chance, let me know what you think. Also, I hope you enjoy the Q & A below. These are some questions that I have received, so, I thought I would answer them in one big post. Hope you all have as much fun reading it as I had answering!
xoxo
Jennifer
JENNIFER'S Q&A
Q: Favorite color?
A: Blue.
Q: Favorite food?
A: Fish tacos and coffee. (But not together!) :)
Q: Favorite things to do?
A: I love going to movies and getting coffee. I also really love to Belly Dance.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: It’s between Napoleon Dynamite and Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day.
Q: Favorite book?
A: I’m more of a magazine girl but I loved The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. I also love classic British literature.
Q: Favorite Song?
A: A Sorta Fairytale by Tori Amos.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have 2 dogs. A Kuvasz named Willa and a Chow/Newfie mix named Jonah.
Q: What is your most embarrassing secret?
A: I still don’t own an iPod.
Q: Is it hard to make an independent CD?
A: It’s hard because you don’t have the budget that an artist with a record deal has. Also, when you have a label you have guidance from people with a lot of experience. For me, especially in the beginning, there was a definite learning curve where I had to struggle through my mistakes. On the other hand, making an independent CD is easier because I don’t have to answer to a label. I get to decide what songs I sing, what my image will be. I can be more driven by what I want to do artistically than by worrying how much money the album will make.
Q: Who’s the number one person you want to collaborate with?
A: Tori Amos would be my number one choice. She is a genius songwriter and I think she has the most beautiful, perfect voice ever.
Q: How do you select which songs you’re going to sing?
A: I love to sing music that is dramatic and haunting. Also, I love taking a pop song or classical song and reshaping it. I covered Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” on Portrait of a Lady and, originally, it was this catchy avant-garde disco song but we arranged it to be darker with a rock opera sound. I think it came out very interesting and very different. When I choose a song to cover, I only sing it if I know that I can make it different from the original. I don’t just want to do a verbatim remake. For some musicians, music is more personal expression. For me, as an artist, I’m more interested in conveying an idea or story rather than sharing my own personal experiences. I think that’s probably why I haven’t written my own music. I take on more of a character to express something. The songs that I sing definitely resonate with me but it’s not my personal experience so I approach it as if I’m a character in the story like an actor would.
Q: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: While I love opera and I love singing arias, I’m not a fan of the “traditional operatic sound”.
Q: What’s next?
A: I’m starting work on my next CD. I’m very excited about it because it is going to include a lot more experimental elements and, hopefully, some originals.
MySpace - July 1, 2008
I have officially joined modern society! I now have a myspace page! It's still a work in progess but everyone please stop by. See you on myspace!
Jennifer
Jennifer
Coming May 20, 2008 - April 17, 2008
PORTRAIT OF A LADY
Take an evocative musical journey into the romantic world of Victorian melodrama...Portrat of a Lady is a richly layered soundscape of haunting vocals that soar through lush, dramatic, and often soundtrack-like arrangements. Tinged with gothic and literary themes, music selections range from modern arias to ethereal pop ballads to a cover of Tori Amos's epic Winter.
Take an evocative musical journey into the romantic world of Victorian melodrama...Portrat of a Lady is a richly layered soundscape of haunting vocals that soar through lush, dramatic, and often soundtrack-like arrangements. Tinged with gothic and literary themes, music selections range from modern arias to ethereal pop ballads to a cover of Tori Amos's epic Winter.
May CD Release - March 31, 2008
Hi everyone!
Wow, it's been a long time! I am beyond happy to say Portrait of a Lady has finally been sent to replication and should be ready for release in early May! Yeah! It took so much longer than I thought it would but it's just one of those things that it's finished when it's finished. A good lesson for me to learn since I'm a really impatient person. (lol, something I'm working on.) Well, I will keep you updated on the exact release date. Hope you all are having a wonderful 2008!
Wow, it's been a long time! I am beyond happy to say Portrait of a Lady has finally been sent to replication and should be ready for release in early May! Yeah! It took so much longer than I thought it would but it's just one of those things that it's finished when it's finished. A good lesson for me to learn since I'm a really impatient person. (lol, something I'm working on.) Well, I will keep you updated on the exact release date. Hope you all are having a wonderful 2008!
Sound clips are finally up! - January 26, 2008
Hi Everyone!
I can't believe the first month of the new year is already almost over! It just seems like time goes by so quickly without even realizing it. My new year's resolution was to "drink more water" (the same as every year, LOL) but I think I might change it to "slow down and take the time to enjoy life more". Anyway, I am so happy to report that I have been able to license Wings of a Dove. Wahoo! Also, sound clips are finally up! I hope you enjoy!
I can't believe the first month of the new year is already almost over! It just seems like time goes by so quickly without even realizing it. My new year's resolution was to "drink more water" (the same as every year, LOL) but I think I might change it to "slow down and take the time to enjoy life more". Anyway, I am so happy to report that I have been able to license Wings of a Dove. Wahoo! Also, sound clips are finally up! I hope you enjoy!
Tracklist up! - December 25, 2007
Hello again! The Portrait of a Lady tracklist is finally up! I'm still trying to make some progress in licensing Fade to Grey and Wings of a Dove. Anyways, hoping to have sound clips up soon!
Happy Holidays! - December 23, 2007
I can't believe what a busy year 2007 has been! This time last year it felt like my CD wasn't ever going to get started and now it is completely finished! Unfortunantly, it's release has been delayed a little due to licensing issues but I'm still hoping for a February 2008 release. There is good news though. The new year already looks very exciting! I am planning to make a music video for my first single and I even have some publicity for Portrait of a Lady in the works. I did an interview with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp that will be included in Blue Lake's online newsletter sometime in January. Anyway, I have several days off for Christmas (Yeah!) and I plan to spend lots of time with my family and 2 puppies. (I have a 90lb Kuvasz and a 65 lb Chow/Newfie/Lab mix.) I hope everyone has a very safe and happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year!!!
-Jennifer :)
-Jennifer :)
Just a quick update! - June 3, 2007
Wow, I can't believe it's already June. Time really flies! Anyways, just a quick update on how the project is going. We're taking a very brief break and should resume recording within a few weeks. It's amazing how the CD has begun to come together. I started planning this CD almost 4 years ago, so, I am very happy to finally see it taking shape. It's very exciting! It's also amazing when I think about this whole process. When I first started working on this CD, it was just a little project. However, since then, it's grown to include so many talented people; some as far away as Hong Kong and New York! I've had so much fun but I am looking forward to finishing this CD up! I can't wait for everyone to finally hear it and I am looking forward to possibly doing a small tour once the CD wraps. Thanks for stopping by!
Welcome to my new site! - April 29, 2007
Hello Everyone!
Thank you for stopping by my new website! Please check back often for updates on my upcoming CD. Also, I will try to have sound clips up very soon. The CD has a Victorian melodrama theme and is titled "Portrait of a Lady". It's a little over half recorded and pretty soon we will begin mixing! Hope you enjoy the site! More to come soon! :)
Thank you for stopping by my new website! Please check back often for updates on my upcoming CD. Also, I will try to have sound clips up very soon. The CD has a Victorian melodrama theme and is titled "Portrait of a Lady". It's a little over half recorded and pretty soon we will begin mixing! Hope you enjoy the site! More to come soon! :)