Jennifer Stills

With a debut album currently being recorded in Portland, OR under the direction of one Beau Raymond, Jennifer Stills is once again exploding back into the music scene. With a newly found “Sing-or-Die” personal mantra by her side we expect great things from her upcoming scheduled album release in early 2011. This self described piece of “Organic-Americana” carries a strong emphasis on its lyrics and vocals. Her earliest childhood influences included names such Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt, Blondie, Fleetwood Mac. More current musical favorites include names such as Ray LaMontagne, Tracy Chapman, Chris Stapleton, Brett Dennen, Rodney Crowell ,Mark Lanegan and Mary Gauthier.

From an early age Jennifer has been recognized and appreciated for her immense, deep felt musical inclinations. Her young talent flourished while attending The Musicians Institute of Hollywood after which she quickly became a regular performer around the Los Angeles music circuit beginning in 1993. Her passion to sing and write music lead her to perform at any and every venue available. Her exposure to other up and coming artists of the day helped to shape, style, and mature a truly amazing approach and sound of her own.

One of her first big gigs was opening for her father (Stephen Stills of the famed Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) solo shows in 1994. Jennifer was the first female invited to record on a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album. Her first demo was cut by the great producer Ethan Johns. She was afterward offered several production deals, none of which produced a finished product, but that would not keep Jennifer from chasing her dream. Next she was given a publishing contract with Peer Music, followed by her first major label signed deal with Universal Records in 2000. The level of exposure, knowledge, practice and understanding gained from these opportunities is something truly priceless. Then, again, no finished product surfaces, but even in the face of these volatile industry tides she comes back from said lost contracts to re-introduce herself as singer.
After taking a break from the music biz Jennifer was called in by a friend, Michal Lord of AO Records to record a version of Jackson Brown’s “These Days”, which lead to also recording her fathers most popular song, “Love The One Your With” in 2010. Her rendition carried the same forever fresh, champagne-like air that follows everything she does, earning her a spot on the soundtrack of a nationally syndicated television show. Today she can be heard practicing publicly as part of ’Writers In The Round’, a collective of singer/songwriters, each week (Next performance November 10th) at Portland’s ‘Beaterville‘. The public is abuzz about Jennifer Stills’ upcoming record release and soon to be confirmed tour dates, talk it up folks, the momentum is contagious.