Rising Stars: Meet Jenna Carlie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Carlie.

Jenna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started recording music in 2019 somewhat serendipitously. I had been writing music for years with the dream of recording and releasing my work someday – until one night, as I was writing, I had a spark of motivation to make it happen. I thought of my friend, Steven Alexander Chen (AKA “STVN”), a producer and songwriter – but I hadn’t seen him in years.

I didn’t reach out that night, but I happened to run into him the very next day. We ended up making a song in his studio that same day. Our first collaborative release, “Heartstrings,” has since received over 550,000 streams. I was (and still am) over the moon. I continued making and releasing music after that, but when the pandemic hit, it slowed things down a bit for me.

I spent two years without releasing any new music – but now I’m back at it again. I’ve grown so much as a songwriter since then, and it sort of feels like I’m reintroducing myself to the world.

I’m currently working on an EP (under the artist name, “Jenna Carlie”), releasing one single from the project at a time. The first song on the project is called “left lane,” and it released on May 19th. It’s about being “just friends” with someone but catching feelings for them. It expresses the ache, anxiety, adrenaline, and excitement of wondering if the other person feels the same way you do.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Covid slowed down my music-making journey.

I would also say that it’s challenging to navigate the music industry as an independent artist. I’ve learned so much over the last few years, and I’m grateful for all the opportunities and support I’ve had, but it definitely hasn’t been easy. It can be hard to cut through the noise.

At the end of the day, though, I’m just grateful to be making and sharing art at all.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a pop singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, based in Nashville. I love writing emotional songs – typically love songs that have an element of ache or tension in them. People usually tell me that my lyrics are relatable, and that’s my goal as a songwriter.

When I’m not writing pop, I’m writing cinematic songs for sync licensing, such as my recent collaboration with WLDHRT, “Welcome to the Wild” (available for licensing on Musicbed).

I’m really proud of my first release, “Heartstrings,” along with the new music I’ve been working on lately. I’m excited about “left lane” and the rest of the songs I will release on my first-ever EP.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
1. Stay connected to your “why.” Remember your passion for what you love, and make that your reason for doing it.

2. Be consistent! You get better at a skill when you continually work on it and refine it.

3. Be willing to be “bad” at it. I am a firm believer that you have to make bad art to make good art. I’ve written my best ideas because I have a songwriting practice, not because I was born with an innate talent. I like to think of it as “practice” – because if I’m practicing, there’s no pressure to create good work.

It’s all contributing to me and my skills as an artist. Once I get my “bad” ideas out of the way, I eventually land on something I like – but it’s the practice and consistency that leads there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0V1mgyJiP7dMWdUl75UoNh
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennacarlie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063707184668
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiOJtYOg88u3Ahby1S951tA
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jenna-carlie/1485411802

Image Credits
Daniel Shahbazian