Meet Jenny Rae

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Rae.

Hi Jenny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.

Three siblings, strict parents and a lot of pasta… That’s how I would describe childhood. A vast learning plane to roll with life’s punches and love hard. I mean I was a nine year old who really dug hardcore rock and theatre who also loved all things sports and didn’t like wearing dresses. I believe that’s where a lot of my early songwriting came from, why I taught myself how to play guitar in fourth grade, how I started performing at such a young age, and the almost perfect recipe for moving to Nashville fresh out of high school. 

What started as piano lessons, musicals, church choir and bedroom songs turned into living on a couch with barely fifty dollars for weeks, a lot of different places, late nights and Jack Daniels. It’s been quite the ride to get where I am today to keep things short and sweet, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Because if you asked me eight years ago when I first got to town if I’d get to sit here and write something like this about the journey, I would have laughed and called it crazy. Every little moment led me right here to being a 25 year old who recently finally finished recording her debut EP and moved to Chicago from Nashville to keep living her dream. My name is Shan Scott and it is an absolute pleasure to meet all of you.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

The road has been more like a rollercoaster, Fun and thrilling, but terrifying at times. Addiction and grief have been two of the most challenging struggles along the way. And though I now trust that I will always make it through, there have been many times I didn’t think I would. 

They say misery loves company, right? Amongst being young, I was also naive. I had a lot to learn, and that meant a lot of weird experiences; a lot of not being sure where my next meal would come from. I began to lose myself in poor choices, alcohol, drugs… basically anything to try and escape the life I was creating for myself at the time. 

One night at a midtown bar, I collapsed. That night is forever ingrained in my brain and plays a huge role in the person I am today. Moving to Nashville fresh out of high school was no easy feat. I don’t even think I’ll ever know how I did that.

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?

Although I’ve played more live shows than I can count, I’d say I’m most known for wearing my heart on my sleeve and being kind in such a cut throat industry… even when I had what seemed to be every reason to be anything other than those two things. That’s what I’m most proud of. Personally, you could be the most talented human I’ve ever met, but if you aren’t genuine and real then what’s the point?

What is something surprising that most people who know you or your work/brand might not know about you?

I mentioned above that grief has been a struggle along the way. My first experience with grief was when I lost my first best friend at the age of seven, and I often think of what life would have been like if she were still alive. That’s a big part of the reason I care about people so much. 

I’ve lost a handful of other really important people over the past few years, but I guess they’re not truly lost. They live on through other people, places and things. They are my constant reminders that tomorrow is never promised and are a driving force behind my music and my why. This all helps me continue to grow and evolve as we get to share these stories together. 

While living with such grief has proved to be incredibly difficult, it has been equally as beautiful. 

I can also recite the ABC’s backwards. I’m proud of that too.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanscottmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shanscottmusic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/shanscottmusic

Image Credits
Simon Narborough, Tammy Hecker, and Blake Urmos