In Coversation With Jennifer Marks

Posted by Adam Gonshor on April 30th, 2004

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Usually at andPOP, we don’t post question-and-answer style interviews, because that is often a form of lazy journalism. It takes a few minutes to transcribe an interview, and then you’re done. The story behind the artist gets lost and it’s tough for the reader to get a sense of how the artist really feels because emotions don’t get told in a transcript.

However it was clear that the Q&A approach would be the best way for you to learn about the outspoken and charismatic Jennifer Marks. She has a lot to say, and it would be a shame to cut any of her answers.

The Long Island-born singer-songwriter is set to release her self-titled Bardic Records debut on May 4, but for years she was an indi-artist, releasing albums through her own label, “Red Kurl Records.”

Marks took some time to speak with andPOP, from her home in New York, on a break from touring. Keep reading to learn about everything from her countless jobs she used to tackle to who she thinks is music’s coolest person.

Your album seems on the friendlier side than most albums, like you’re looking at the better part of life. Would you agree with that?

It’s funny because cynical is my nature. I’m fairly cynical but at the same time I’m optimistic. It sounds kind of ridiculous, but it’s something I feel I have to train my self to be. It just feels better to live when I’m feeling optimistic.

Where do you think you get that optimistic attitude from?

I guess from my parents. My husband has been incredibly optimistic about things. He’s a very happy go-lucky guy. I’ve always had friends who are sunny-side-of-the-street kinds of people.

It’s funny because we’re talking about being optimistic but the first line on the album is, “woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed.”

Exactly. And I think it’s really the perfect example of how life can suck but you can make a choice as to whether you’re going to live life for everyday, or is this the best that’s going to happen, or if you’re going to sit down and cry on your couch.

You have been releasing your albums through your own label, Red Kurl? Now you’re signed to Bardic. Were you always actively trying to get signed?

Honestly, I wasn?t trying to get signed at all. I know it’s horrible to say. I had been considering it. The year that I did get signed, I had been thinking about how many opportunities there are out there that I can’t afford myself. I also see if I have three other people working with me, wow, I’d do really well. As a single artist kind of trying to take care of everything, I knew that I was getting to the point where I wouldn?t be able to do much more for myself. I was starting to think, ‘maybe I do have to get myself involved in the machine aspect of this industry.’ I think it just came along. I was ready and they were ready.

How did you get the deal?

It’s still sort of a mystery. I think Jack Ponti, the President of the label, had been searching around on the internet for independent artists who were doing it for themselves. My name kept coming up and he finally started to take a listen, liked what he heard, and emailed me.

Do you think your sound has changed, not necessarily because you signed to a record label but because of the natural progression of your life?

I hope so. I think that you want to grow. I always feel like I don’t want one record to sound exactly like the last one. I always feel it’s important to keep it in the same vein. I am who I am and I can’t change that. As much as I’d like to be as cool as the coolest people in the world, I am who I am. I trip going up the stairs. I’ll never be that cool. I throw things at the dinner table, not meaning to. Cool is not what I’ll ever be. I just feel like I have to stay true to who I am. It’s one of those things where you have to ask how far can I push one way and how far can I push the other way? With this new CD, I just wanted to give it the best shot I could give it and more Grande than my other records.

Who is the coolest person in the world?

There are a couple people who come to my mind. John Lennon of course. Johnny Depp is cool. Bonnie Rait is cool. She’s still around and around in a big way.

How important is it for you to write your own music?

For me it’s very important. I’m not great at taking another song and making it my own. I didn?t start from singing other people’s songs. There’s a part of me that isn?t connected to it if it isn’t coming from my brain.

What is the process you take to write a song?

It’s really random. There are times that it will be a word that sparks the title and it sparks the whole idea. Some stories are from friends. Some of the stories are my own and would be exactly what I would say to you. “Woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed man.” I try really hard to have it be a fairly natural conversation.

The song, “High School Reunion;” If you went back to your high school, what would people be surprised about?

I don’t know if I’m that surprising. When I left high school, I wanted to pursue this. Maybe they’d be surprised that I’m still trying. “what are you crazy, you’re still trying to make this happen?”

You do a lot more for your career than just singing and writing. Can you run down the whole list of all the jobs you take on?

When I was running my own label, I did everything, literally everything. I booked the shows, once the shows were booked, I then sent out the promo material and publicity material. I hired people to do publicity, I hired people to do radio campaigns. I had national distribution, so I would take the boxes to the UPS store and send them over to the distributor. My back would kill me. I made my own press kits and would be the person who sent the press kits out. I did everything.

What’s the hardest challenge for you now?

Letting go of all of that. There’s part of me that feels that I’m not doing all the things I should be doing in my career. Bardic Records is doing a kick ass job, they’re not missing a beat, but I feel like I should contact this person and let them know, and keep looking for opportunities. It’s hard to let go. Sometimes I feel guilty.

If you could change anything in the music industry, what would it be?

There’s a lot I would change. I think as musicians, and music in general, it’s completely… it’s so much about the business. There are so many talented writers and singers out there. It’s so much about quick. People are afraid to take chances. I think there’s been a lot of things that have been missed. I think a lot of the times it’s looked over for money and for business. And it’s business. It?s a fundamental thing that’s hard. For somebody to want to invest in something, they have to know they’re going to make money. Changing people’s minds and opening their minds is hard. There’s a lot of stuff to be heard out there and there’s a lot of media medians that you’re competing with. I wish there was more development.

There are a lot of articles I’m reading that say something like “you’re on the verge of becoming a huge star.” What steps do you need to take in your career to achieve the large scale fame and fortune? And is that something you even want?

No clue! I’m just trying to walk in a straight line. I’m just trying to keep my head on straight and keep walking forward. I’m not going to lie and say “oh now, I do this just for the art.” I would love to have a beautiful house and a grand piano with a couple Grammys on it. I don’t know that I would want to be so huge that I wouldn’t be able to walk down the block and not get accosted.

Is there anything you can tell people to convince them to go get this album? I know self promotion is one of the hardest things.

I was just going to say that. I used to call up people and say “Hi I want to talk to you about this new artist, Jennifer Marks; she’s really great!” I’m so bad at self-promotion. I’m not reinventing the wheel. I think it’s a feel-good, empowering CD.

Check out the Jennifer Marks e-card for songs, news, and much more. Plus, visit her web site at jennifermarks.com

Categories: Pop