Indie Pop singer/songwriter, Jess Penner, will release her new ep titled “Imagination” on August 11th through Position Music/Recurrent Records. This laid back collection of tunes for the whole family is ripe with electro pop-folk and will inspire joy not only in youngsters but adults alike. I’ve followed Jess Penner’s music since she was a part of the Hawaii based alt rock band Spooky Tuesday way back in the 90s. She has continued to produce positive, uplifting indie focused pop music for the past few decades through groups like Chandelle, We Cry Diamonds, Kayjez, and her much adored solo work. If you’ve never heard of Jess Penner before, look up her albums on Spotify (streaming below) and make sure to check out this new ep on August 11th.
Indie-Pop Artist Jess Penner Releases First Children’s EP, ‘Imagination’
Available from Position Music on August 11, 2017
Los Angeles, July 10, 2017 – Jess Penner, a BMI songwriting contest winner known for her “bubbly indie electro-pop sound” (Popdose), “simple yet impressive melodies” (Honolulu Star Bulletin), and “a rawness and intimacy that is consistently missing from modern top 40 pop” (Baeble), ventures into the world of family music with Imagination, an EP of eight songs due out August 11 through Position Music/Recurrent Records.
Working with Position Music since 2008, this Los Angeles based recording artist has earned hundreds of song placements around the world in advertisements and movie trailers, film and television shows. With Imagination, Penner breathes new life into classic children’s songs like “Mr. Sun,” “I’ve Got No Strings,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “I Don’t Want To Live on the Moon,” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” The album also debuts two Jess Penner original songs: “Forever in My Heart” and the title track.
Penner grew up on a banana farm on Kauai. She met her husband Kevin as teenagers performing in a nationally touring Christian rock band. Over the past decade, they have forged a musical powerhouse, crafting sticky songs and recording other artists’ projects in a converted garage studio behind their Los Angeles home. Over the years, other projects have included the bands Chandelle, Kayjez and We Cry Diamonds. Penner’s three solo albums have gained critical acclaim and millions of streams on Spotify, including the song “Life Is Rosy,” written with former One Republic band member Tim Myers.
As a kid, Penner listened to the oldies radio station with her parents, who also enjoyed popular folk rock. Today, Penner says she strives to deliver a pure sound and positive messages with her songwriting: “The music we hear as young children shapes our view of the world in really unexpected ways. I have a strong suspicion that being exposed to doo wop at such a young age made me a romantic, somehow.”
While her musical influences today might be compared to Ingrid Michaelson, Sarah Bareilles and other current female indie pop artists, Penner’s sound developed over many years and is unusual in the children’s music arena. Inspiration for the songs “Imagination” and “Forever in My Heart” came from parenting her own two children. “I don’t really think of writing and recording songs for kids as being all that different from my usual work, except that I want to make sure that the messages I’m sending are wholesome and hopeful,” Penner explains.
It isn’t easy to make a living as a non-touring independent female songwriter, but Penner proves it can be done through hard work and experimentation. With her Songcents blog, Penner shares her knowledge of the industry with aspiring indie artists. Her YouTube channel features a homespun “Slice & Song” reality TV style series, where she demonstrates a favorite pie recipe and performs a song in her home studio.
The release of Imagination simply continues Jess Penner’s journey as an artist, role model and parent. “I want kids to dream, savor life, and know that they have the power to do anything they put their minds to. The world can be a tough place; why don’t we make sure that the messages kids receive on repeat lift them up and empower them?” says Penner.
Visit JessPenner.com for more news about the August 11 release.
Imagination
By Jess Penner
Track List
c. 2017 Jess Penner
1. I’ve Got No Strings 2:28
2. I Don’t Want To Live on the Moon 1:59
3. Imagination 2:36
4. Mr. Sun 1:57
5. You Are My Sunshine 2:35
6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow 2:25
7. Thank You for Being a Friend 2:48
8. Forever in My Heart 2:45
About Jess Penner
Jess Penner is a cheerful and cheeky, creatively ADD artist from Los Angeles. Raised on a banana farm in Hawaii, Jess is also a dinner party throwing, hen raising, people loving, thrift store shopping, self professed tomboy who hates musicals and tilapia but secretly loves painfully slow BBC miniseries and booty dancing alone in her bedroom. After signing her first record deal at age 15, Jess has spent the last 22 years making a career as a professional musician via touring, album sales, licensing deals, and working as a songwriter and producer.
“Imagination” is her first collection of songs for kids and families. She lives and works from her home studio in Los Angeles with her musical collaborator and life partner Kevin Penner.