Jenn Summers
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Here is one of the best voices I have heard in a long time, with a great story to go with it. I find it an honor to be able to feature so many great up-and-coming artists here at the website, and Jenn Summers is no different. Read below for more info on the artist and make sure to check out her website/Twiiter/Facebook as well and support the artists here at T & T Tunes! - T&T Tunes
Jenn Summers – When Life Gives You Lemons
2012, Jenn Summers
Some folks spend their lives bemoaning the minor pits and pratfalls of life. Others struggle bravely on in spite of steeper obstacles and keep a sunny disposition, grateful for what they have. Enter Jenn Summers. She is definitely of the latter group. Afflicted with a congenital heart disease, Summers has already lived through three open heart procedures in her young life. In spite of that, Summers displays a warmth and sweetness in her songwriting that is the product of a golden heart. It all comes clear on her new album When Life Gives You Lemons.
Summers kicks things off with “Blue Velveteen”, an ode to living fully and freely in spite of not having much in the way of worldly possessions. The catchy country/folk/pop feel of this number is very appealing, and Summers’ voice is the perfect summer balm. This is a great way to kick off an album. “Get Better” is built in the same mode; a stripped down and simple arrangement that perfectly embraces Summers’ vocal. There’s a bit more of a pop/singer-songwriter orientation here, and Summer’s everywoman voice is engaging and warm.
“When Life Gives You Lemons, Make L.O.V.E.” is a sweet song built on minimalist guitar, voices, handclaps, and a killer pop sensibility. The jaunty feel of this number could make it prone to kitsch, but Jenn Summers sings it with such conviction that you never question her authenticity. “This Side Of Free” is a straight-up pop/rock number that asks for the dropping of the guard in a relationship. There’s a catchy feel here that gets in your head, even if the more full-sound orientation here is surprisingly thin. “Don’t Mind Me” is self-pity in the form of a pop song. The writing here is a bit bland, but Summers builds a nice sound out of it nonetheless.
“The Monday Song” is pure fluffy folk/pop; it’s easy to imagine this song catching on to a movie soundtrack and raising Summers’ profile in the process. “Wake Me Up” brings a touch of country flavor once again. This is a song that sneaks up on you… the first listen might not be particularly notable, but this tune will grow on you over time. Summers is at her vocal best here, and the slow build into the chorus will carry you along. “Muchi Muchi” is a cute/sweet love long; bright and airy and lots of fun. The simple arrangement and catchy melody are a winner, and Summer is perfectly in her element on the vocal.
“On My Own” is a solid pop/country number dressed up as adult contemporary. The melody is well crafted and hauntingly familiar even on first listen. The pacing here is a bit off, and the rhymes a bit predictable, but Summers does a fine job of making it all work. When Life Gives You Lemons winds down with “Bad Idea”, a dreamy piano ballad. The sound here is silky smooth, with Summers creating a near-perfect sonic blend. The lyrical output here is still a bit awkward at times, but the sound is so smooth you won’t care.
Jenn Summers has a gift for creating bright airy pop songs and lyric ballads, crafted in simple arrangements that are rarely more or less than exactly what they need to be. When Life Gives You Lemons is both more and less than it should be. Sonically, Summers keeps things simple yet brings out the utter beauty of simple arrangements, an artistic choice that fits well thematically with much of her lyric writing. From a lyrical perspective, Summers’ authenticity and sweetness of heart cannot be questioned. The occasional awkwardness of rhyme this engenders is easily overlooked in light of Summers’ near-perfect melodic sensibilities. When Life Gives You Lemons is not the best album you will hear all year, but it might be the one you most remember, and the one you keep returning to. It’s musical comfort food with a positive message. You’ll want to spend some real time with Jenn Summers.
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn more about Jenn Summers at www.jennsummersmusic.com or www.facebook.com/jennsummersmusic#!/jennsummersmusic. When Life Gives You Lemons is available from the e-tailers below:
Amazon MP3 iTunes - Wildy Haskell
Me: Hello, Jenn, welcome to the Phile. How are you?
Jenn: I'm doing great! Thank you so much for having me!
Me: Where are you from, Jenn? You have that California look and your music has a California feel, but you're not from Cali, right?
Jenn: No, I'm actually born & raised in NYC. I've thought about moving to California so many times, but I'm too much of a New Yorker. LOL. Eventually I think I will move there for a little bit at least.
Me: Whereabouts in New York, Jenn? I used to live in Port Jefferson out on Long Island. Ever been there?
Jenn: Of course I have, I was born in Staten Island, but have lived the past 17 years in Manhattan. There's no other place like the city. If only New York had palm trees it would be perfect!
Me: We have to talk about this, and I was surprised when I found out as you look so healthy and robust. You have congenital heart disease?
Jenn: Yes, I've been very blessed that my heart defect was corrected 10 years ago and now I'm able to live a strong and healthy life! So I like to think of myself as a heart disease survivor! I was born with Tricuspid Atresia (without a tricuspid valve). I do have a pacemaker to help control my heart rhythm and take meds regularly, but it could have been a lot worse and I'm so thankful that I'm healthy now.
Me: For the readers that don't know what it is, can you explain? I am sure it's real bad, as anything to do with the heart being unwell is not good. Did I just say the dumbest thing ever? I am sorry.
Jenn: Don't be sorry, I've been very fortunate to have amazing doctors throughout my life. Being born without a tricuspid valve meant that blood was not able to flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle, which causes a lack of oxygen flow to the lungs. Another term I prefer use is Blue Baby Syndrome. A little over 10 years ago I was told I needed a pacemaker to help control my heart rhythm as well, since it was abnormal. The pacemaker paces my heart so it stays at a normal rhythm.
Me: How old were you when you first were told you had the disease?
Jenn: I was only 2 months old when my mom noticed I had blue lips. She brought me to an amazing Cardiologist, Dr. Michael Lacorte. He said he'd take care of me & he's been my doctor ever since.
Me: How did you and your parents and everyone take it?
Jenn: My parents were clearly devastated. When I was younger they were told I might not live past the age of 12. I can't imagine hearing that about your child! Growing up they were so supportive and without their strength I wouldn't be who I am. We all managed with whatever obstacles came our way. They always taught me to focus on the positive. We never would dwell on being sick. I was in and out of hospitals a lot when I was younger, but they always kept me thinking about what fun things we would be doing when I would get out of the hospital. They always told me to stay focused on my dreams and goals and I think that's why I'm so determined!
Me: Okay, this proves what a big wuss I am... I don't like to go to work with a migraine but you performed a few weeks after your last surgery singing the national anthem, is that right? What the hell?
Jenn: Ha ha, migraines are painful! I stay home also when I have one. LOL. Yes I did, I can't say it was my best performance, but it was appreciated and it was to support The American Heart Association, so I didn't want to back out!
Me: First of, was that gig already booked before your surgery?
Jenn: Yes it was, even if it wasn't, I probably would have still committed to it and sang :)
Me: It wasn't an out procedure surgery, you had open heart surgery and then you performed. How did you feel when you sang the anthem?
Jenn: No, actually this was a smaller surgery, thank God! It was to replace the battery in my pacemaker. Luckily it wasn't open heart! It was not easy though. I was still swollen from the surgery & breathing was a little difficult, but I held my own!
Me: Did anyb - Peverett Phil
Discography
When Life Gives you Lemons, Make L.O.V.E (Single) released May 1st, 2012
When Life Gives You Lemons (Full Length Album) released June 19th, 2012
My Songs Get Better, Blue Velveteen, Bad Idea and When Life Gives You Lemons, Make L.O.V.E have been featured on the following internet radio shows; Indie On Air, DJ Lucy Radio Show, Starcast-Binary Star Music, Music Think Tank Radio, The Jogtunes Indie Podcast, The Bug Cast, Idiosyncratic Transmissions, I-SIS Radio, The Director's Cut, IM Radio, Deli Radio, T&T Tunes
Photos
Bio
This May singer-songwriter Jenn Summers releases a debut of exhilarating soul-pop with instantly familiar hooks and uplifting lyrics. The native New Yorker radiates an ease and warmth in the silky swagger of her rhythmic flow. She glows with an unflinching positivity hard fought after a nearly lifelong battle with congenital heart disease. Jenn’s undergone 3 open heart surgeries in 23 years, but for the last 10 years she’s been strong and healthy. Now she is ready to move on. Transformed, positive, and refreshed, she’s issuing the aptly titled When Life Gives You Lemons.
The balmy 10-track album jubilantly bursts forth with a head-bob groove and the warm tapestry of soul-folk acoustic guitars. The opening track, “Blue Velveteen,” is a paean to a full heart and an empty pocketbook. “It’s the Bob Marley concept of life being full and having riches but not having tons of material possessions,” Jenn explains. Her vocals on “Blue Velveteen” reflect this aesthetic, there is a richness but carefree gait to her singing conveying she has pipes but is tastefully keeping things breezy and rhythmic. The instrumentation is appropriately lilting, with tropical ukuleles, airy backup vocals, crystalline electric guitar work, strummy acoustic guitars, and a modern touch of refined R&B-flavored beats adding a little urban to the quaintly rustic.
The sweetly silly ukulele-centric “Muchi Muchi” evokes Don Ho and Jack Johnson with its Hawaiian meets modern surfer-folk stylistic touches. Jenn co-wrote the tune with upcoming songwriter Ashley Levy. “Ashley and I were looking for good song titles and we came across ‘Muchi Muchi.’ There was no definition for it, we just started saying, ‘I love you, Muchi Muchi.’ I wrote it about my cat, Joey, who I adore,” Jenn says laughing. With ease and elegance, and tongue planted firmly in cheek, she sings: I love you nine lives long you know/ forever/ is better together it’s true/ muchi muchi/muchi muchi.
The album’s defining moment is the single "When Life Gives you Lemons, Make L.O.V.E.” Not only does the title have a deeper meaning given Jenn’s brave victory over congenital heart disease, but it’s stylistic parameters led to an artistic breakthrough for Jenn. She had previously issued one album under her birth name Jenn Costantino but felt emotionally disconnected from it. When her producer and coconspirator Tomas Costanza (Boys Like Girls, Secondhand Serenade, Hilary Duff, and Katie Waissel) played her the title track, it took her everywhere she wanted to go: to California, Hawaii, anywhere there is beautiful weather, summertime all year, and good feelings. Jenn went to Killingsworth studios in LA to soak up the beachy Cali vibes, and she even filmed the video for "When Life Gives you Lemons, Make L.O.V.E.” on Malibu beach. The track pointed the way for a rebirth, and to commemorate this new era Jenn, took her grandma’s maiden name “Summers.” Not only was the gesture a loving tribute, the name was evocative of the new music and spirit she set out to pursue.
Jenn first had open heart surgery at the tender age of 3 months. She ended up having 4 surgeries total and countless emergency hospital visits to have her heart “shocked” back into a into a proper and healthy rhythm. Her last surgery—battery replacement surgery for her pacemaker—was in 2009 and 3 weeks later she sang the National Anthem at Keystone Park for Cyclone Game in support of The American Heart Association. In 2011 she sang the National Anthem in front of 12,000 people for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk. As an actress she’s made television appearances on “Project Runway,” “Ed,” and “Law & Order,” as well as several projects on the MTV network. Reflecting on her journey Jenn says: “I know where I came from and this new album’s happy sound is about putting things in the past and moving on.”
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