Jenn Ford Jenn Ford is an East Texas Country Singer; she has a very distinctive sound and vocal style. Jenn’s voice has a beautiful tone, Jenn does a great job with the Country style songs that she sings. But does an equally great job on the songs that lean towards the Rock style. Jenn has album “Jenn Ford” it has 6 songs on it. I would have to say that my first fav is “On The Side”, next fav is “You Don’t Have To Stay”. Jenn is an outstanding songwriter also. Jenn has a way of writing songs that when you hear the song, you know how the main character in the song feels and what they are going thru, which is a rare talent. Overall, I will have to say that Jenn Ford is someone to definitely keep in your music radar. I see big things in Jenn’s future. She has a lot of talent both as a singer and songwriter. I have not been able to witness a live show of Jenn’s but what I have seen on YouTube I can see that see gives a 100% in your shows… I had an opportunity to ask Jenn some questions, here are your answers hope you enjoy them. Also, a couple of links to find Jenn’s music. https://www.jennfordmusic.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlW2g6H0RiiVd8vUUXIl6A 1.How long have you been playing music? As long as I can remember. I started off with the harmonica at around 2, but that was just a lot of noisemaking and screaming at the top of my lungs to John Denver and CCR. I got my first guitar at 7, started piano lessons at 14, and played in the high school band and sang in choir at school and church. 2.How many bands have you been in? Too many to count, rock bands, R&B bands, Motown bands, blues bands, country bands, jazz bands. I was a vocalist in the Army Soldier Show and 2 different US Army Bands for a total of 6 years and had a heavy metal band from 2012-2016. I've also been in several small groups/duos. I have had my own band since 2018 and have sung background vocals for several East Texas bands since 2010. 3. Where were you born? North Carolina, but my parents are from Texas. My dad was still serving as a Marine. We are a military family, but my parents moved back to Texas when I was almost a year old, and I grew up in a small town in East Texas. 4. Are you self-taught? Yes and no. I have had formal training, but I also have picked things up on my own along the way, percussion instruments, guitar. 5. Who are your biggest influences? Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner, Beth Hart, Anne Wilson, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sheryl Crow, Tom Petty, Greg Allman, Lucinda Williams, Ray Lamontagne, Warren Haynes. But ask me tomorrow and I may say something different. I'm really into roots-based music. Something in between rock, blues and country. But 10 years ago, I got into Tool and Deftones and System of a Down and Cannibal Corpse. Next week, I may listen to 100 percent German Techno at the gym. Then while I'm driving I'll listen to Steel Woods and Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton. I even like 90's rap and love Missy Elliot, Sade and Alicia Keys. I like it all. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? Anything southern, but I love the blues and roadhouse music. 7. What was your first gig? Probably at church, lol. How old were you? 3 or 4. But I performed my whole life. My first gig with my full band was in 2018. That's when I think I really started to narrow down my style, instead of performing under someone else's guidance. 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? You have to make your passion a priority every day. My passion is music. My parents didn't always agree with me pursuing this as a career, and I think they always thought it was a hobby or a passing phase. It took me a long time to own this part of myself, without apology. Once I started putting music at the front of my identity, and realized it was who I always was and how I was going to be happy, then it became easier to prioritize the work I needed to do to move forward. I try to learn something new every day, while still balancing my role as a wife and mother. 9. Do you write your own songs? All of my original music as of now was written solely by me. I also have some cover tunes out as well, but they are more renditions than covers, because I try to retool it and make it sound new. 10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal record collection? The Blues Brothers Original Soundtrack and a bunch of classical music. I have watched Blues Brothers about 500 times, and it all started with a VHS recording of it off of one of the TV stations when I was a kid. I watched it every day after school in the 6th and 7th grade, commercials and all. I found the vinyl in an antique shop for 5 dollars about a month ago in perfect condition. Immediate purchase. 11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? Be a barber. I have had my barber license since 2012. I graduated top of my class, and always wanted to own a rock n roll barber shop. I'm really good at cutting men's hair. 12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? Built for Comfort by Willie Dixon. It's one of my favorite covers. 13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? Probably Miranda, Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd or Beth Hart. But hopefully I'll get to sing my songs for them as a supporting act on tour one day.
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Heidi Holton
I am not sure how I came to learn about Heidi Holton, but I am glad I did. Heidi is a Blues Singer & Musician. Heidi doesn’t have your typical Blues sounding voice, but she has a beautiful voice, very unique. I would say that Heidi’s style of music would closely related to The Piedmont Blues. Also, with a little bit of Folk sound to her music. Listening to Heidi sing you can really get a sense of the feeling that the song is trying to set, in a way that most singers don’t do. I have Heidi’s album “Mockingbird Blues” which is one of Heidi’s original songs, which there are 6 out of the 10 on this album. All of Heidi’s original songs stand up to the covers she does from some of Blues Greats. So, let’s talk about Heidi’s guitar playing, here is where we really get the Blues sound from, Heidi is an amazing slide guitar player. Heidi is right up there some of the great Slide guitar players: Like Johnny Winter, Elmore James, and Ry Cooder to name a few. I feel that Heidi Holton is more then worthy to be in the amazing company of other Female Blues Singers as Bonnie Raitt, Memphis Minnie, Trixie Smith, the list goes on. If you have not heard Heidi Holton sing, let just say this I think you should. Once you do you will think to yourself, WOW she is the real deal. Here are a couple websites that you can find Heidi Holton’s music. Also I was able to ask Heidi some questions and here are the answers, enjoy. https://heidiholton.com/home https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE4CTjE4oAiVvUejVd5kiaQ 1. How long have you been playing music? Since 1986! I played piano as a young kid and then bought a guitar when I was 15 and never looked back. 2. How many bands have you been in? Dozens. Some great, some terrible. Now I mostly perform as a solo artist, but there’s nothing as magical as playing in a band. 3. Where were you born? Alachua County, Florida but I grew up in St. Augustine and spent my high school years in western NC. 4. Are you self-taught? Yes and no. I was self-taught at first. I took a few lessons at a local music shop and then immediately started writing songs and playing in bands. When I was in my early 20s, I found a mentor (Jorma Kaukonen) who took me under his wing and really showed me how to play. At that point, it was more than just “here’s how you play a G chord” and more about “here’s how you become a professional.” 5. Who are your biggest influences? I have so many. My biggest mentor/influencers are obviously Jorma Kaukonen and Rory Block (who produced and performed on my latest record). In terms of songwriting, it’s Bob Dylan, hands down. Followed by Tom Waits and Neil Young. In terms of attitude, David Bowie, Marc Bolan, and Brian Molko are my heroes. But I’m also extremely influenced by literary fiction and fine art. Karl Ove Knausgaard and Haruki Murakami are two of my favorite authors, while Anthony McCall’s light sculptures bring me to my knees. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? I consider my music to be blues-based folk/rock. I play blues, but I came up in the 90’s grunge scene and that definitely left its mark. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? I was like 15, maybe 16, and played at a biker bar in Ducktown, TN with my southern rock band. 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? Go for it. Dive in. Be humble, but don’t let anyone tell you you’re not good enough. 9. Do you write your own songs? Yes. 10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal record collection? I’m a huge metal fan. Especially slow tempo, stoner/grunge metal. I played heavy metal and punk rock in my 20s. It’s not really surprising to people who know me personally and have been with me on my musical journey from the beginning. But people hearing me for the first time might not put two and two together. 11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? That scenario actually presented itself during the pandemic and I ended up having to figure out a plan B. I’m a licensed massage therapist and yoga instructor and I currently manage a wellness program at an ashram. 12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? Statesboro Blues by Blind Willie McTell 13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? Brian Molko from Placebo, Don Chambers, or Fiona Boyes |
AuthorHello, My name is Michael. I am into music, have been for over 48yrs. Big fan of all kinds of music, right now it has been the Blues for the last 10yrs. I do not play any instruments, But I very interested in the recording aspect of the industry. Have messed around with it a little and always learning new things about it. I have met many wonderful people because of Music.. Hope you enjoy my Blogs... In the last two years I have been producing House Concerts. I also in the past 2 years got to produce and engineer an album for a very good friend of mine from Sweden "Magpie". Archives
February 2024
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