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JANUARY NEWS 2005 Hi all A girl named jaen and co-writers just received great news from the John Lennon Songwriting Competition: "Betcha Can't Say No" sung by David (DK) Kater, written by jaen, DK www.madtastymusic.com and Jeeve has been awarded the grand prize in the R&B category. Asking you all to send more good energy vibes out there for this song as it has a 1 in 12 chance now to win Maxell Song of The Year. "With The Light On" sung by a girl named jaen, written by jaen and Simen Fjeld http://www.homebrewprod.com/ has placed in the top 3 finalists in the Electronic category. Woohoo! For more details and a complete list of all the winners visit: http://jlsc.com/. HAPPY NEW YEAR END REFLECTION and HAPPY NEW YEAR DIRECTION I know all our time is short especially this time of year. But I'd like to mention two cool music items that end my year on a great note. 1. I have been awarded first place in the dance category for the USA Songwriting Competition for the Dr. Brooks Frantic mix of "Freaks." I celebrate this honor with my co-writers John Scott, Jeeve, Mark Nubar and the one who mixed it up, Sean Brooks. Thanks guys! The song will be included on a winners compilation that will be sent out to press and music publications in addition to being played on XM Satellite Radio. More info on the contest visit www.songwriting.net.They are a great supporters of indie music. 2. I've also had the opportunity to co-write with lots of cool musicians for different artists and different genres over time. One of those songs entitled "I Will Be" written with Jeeve will be featured in the ongoing DVD life that is "Dawson's Creek" in the first episode of The 5th Season. Yep, the show has long since left the t.v. airwaves but can still be revisited by the fans who purchase their shiny little discs. I have much to be thankful for! Thank you to all of you in ThejaenChain for a great year. I wish you all great energy, inspiration, passion and love in the coming year. Remember "Fortune Favors The Brave" Kick Ass in 2005 QUICK NEWS > FREAKY: The instrumental version of a girl named jaen's song from Dusk will once again be featured in this weeks episode of "Top Model" 11/03/04 and repeated on 11/05/04. Listen early in the hour (Dr. Brooks Frantic Remix) of "Freaks" setting the mood for a fast moving street scene and the girls jumping on the beds. > MORE TOP MODEL SPINS: The instrumental versions of a girl named jaen's songs from Dusk will once again be featured in this weeks episode of "Top Model." Listen for "Obvious", "Navy Sweater" and Dr. Brooks Frantic Remix of "Freaks." Thanks Sean! :) And all the other fun sights and sounds airing Wednesday October 27th, 8pm (check your local listings) on UPN with an encore broadcast on Friday October 29th. If you're already acquainted with the tunes, you'll recognize them adding drama to the drama. If not, pick up your very own cd copy today. Have a safe and fun Halloween! FALL 2004 NEWS > jaen IS CRUISING: a girl named jaen is being featured in the latest addition of Mooncruise Online Magazine. Mooncruise is on online magazine featuring and promoting photographers and musicians. a girl named jaen's playlist is in the lower right hand corner Click on playlist pull down menu to browse through different tunes. Songs from Dusk are streamed as well as tunes with Simen Fjeld of Homebrew Productions and Marcel and Greco of Shotgun Radio. > MORE TOP MODEL: UPN's Top Model kicked off it's new Fall season tonight September 22nd, 8pm, featuring the instrumental of a girl named jaen's song "Dear Jane" from jaen's album Dusk. Check it out.. > VEGAS DVD: The first season of Vegas will be releasing late 2004 on DVD and featuring "Spoiled Brat", a song co-written with Jeeve from Where's My Cut Publishing and Qua Qua Qua Music, a girl named jaen's publishing company. SUMMER 2004 NEWS > PROXIMITY EFFECT COMIC "Freaks" has been chosen to be included on the promotional cd compilation for Top Cow's new comic Proximity Effect. For more about Top Cow ck out "Proximity Effect" and for how you can get your free comic copy check out: www.proximity-effect.com. "Proximity Effect" was introduced recently online for it's two debut issues and at this years world famous San Diego ComicCon Convention. > JPF SONGWRITING NOMINATIONS a girl named jaen has been nominated for 3 songs in two categories for the JPF Songwriting awards after JPF received over 10,000 albums and 140,000 songs from 85 countries. for: >> "Under The Mistletoe" (A Christmas Song) performed by and written with Ali Handal >> "A Girl Like Me" performed by Dre and written with Ross Hanover and Jeeve - check out Jeeve's band and the boys of "Hypnogaja." >> "I Just Wanna Hold Your Hand" performed by Dre and written with Jeeve The Awards will be held Sunday, November 7th, 2004 in Hollywood at the Avalon. www.jpfolks.com. SPRING 2004 NEWS > LIVE365.COM: a girl named jaen's music can now be heard playing on several Live365.com radio stations (The world's largest radio network) such as:
> MORE OPTIONS: a girl named jaen's debut album is now also available at the following locations: Tower Records Sunset, Hollywood, Amoebe Records Sunset. Hollywood, Poobahs Records, Pasadena & Musician's Institute Hollywood Record and Book Store. > SQUASH RADIO: Selected songs available for download at squashradio.com. > COLLABORATIONS: a girl named jaen has co-written 2 songs with award winning songwriter Ali Handal to be featured on her new album due out at the end of August, 2004 . She totally Rocks! a girl named jaen is also working with Marcel "Sven" Sax and Greco of Shotgun Radio for songs on their debut cd coming soon, with Nard Berings of Freshbeat Studios, Simen Fjeld of Homebrew Productions and Seth Hartman of White Fire Music. > NEW ALBUM UPDATE: Lastly, a girl named jaen is very excited to be in the studio right now with Barrett Yeretsian from "Aviatic" working on her sophomore album due out by year end. It's gonna Rock! Pasadena Star News "No Plain Jane Here" By: Paul Andersen When you think of the term singer/songwriter, does the image of a denim-wearing, sandal-clad guy or gal sitting on a stool, strumming a guitar, come to mind? It's a generality that I admit I have a tendency to fall back on, especially given the number of CDs I get in the mail, all featuring the words and music as written and sung by the names emblazoned on the covers. No wonder Lucy Kaplansky, a singer/songwriter herself, who came through Pasadena last week for a concert at Throop Church admitted that one of the reasons she gave up music for a while was the fact that she only interpreted other writers songs. "I feel much better now being a songwriter too, she told me. Mind you, there is nothing wrong with being a guy or gal on a stool, playing guitar and singing his or her own words. Some of my favorite artists do just that, and more often than not, the thrills of discovery I tend to come across fall in this simple format. With all that said, there will be 13 tunesmiths playing their trade this weekend in Old Pasadena's Central Park as part of the Pasadena Spring Art Show, on a stage dedicated to acoustic music. And if you pick up their CDs, you will find a high degree of artistry inherent amount the slivery discs, But there will be one artist whose CD will not conform to the expected format. "Dusk," by a girl named jaen (the small letters and the odd spelling are intentional) is not your standard singer/songwriter album. Full of electronic effects and tape loops, shimmering strings (as well as a host of other organic instruments) and set to rhythms that are sometimes closer to hip hop than folk, jaen has created a stunning work that is extroverted and introverted, atmospheric and sensual, moody and popping. But while on stage Saturday at 1p.m. She will be backed by, you guessed it, an acoustic guitarist, Nard Berings, as well as percussionist David Leach. "The live shows are are acoustic, because I'm still putting together the best band that I possibly can" jaen said, "and people tell me that they don't sound like typical folk songs, but it still feels good doing them this way, with just the simple backing of a guitar and percussion. After all, a good song should still be good regardless of the format." Though she has always been around music, jaen doesn't play an instrument, but that hasn't stopped her from writing her own melodies. "Often they come together, the words and music, "she admits, "and I've learned to keep a mini-tape recorder handy, because you never know when something might strike you. I'll hum a melody on to the tape, and listening back, I'll know pretty quick whether it is worth saving." She started out as a dancer/choreographer, but a couple of injuries after high school caused her to change her course. "I was pretty depressed, and then on day a friend of mine was hosting a showcase for singers and he asked me if I knew any that might like to take part." she said. The only other time the singer had performed in public was at her Bat Mitzvah. "I was scared but I did it, and I started doing more, getting encouragement along the way from other singers. And besides, dancers have that internal rhythm," she said, "Anyway I began singing everywhere, charities, showcases, just about anywhere. I even followed a mariachi band once at a Mexican restaurant here in Pasadena. It was terrible I was standing in the corner and I had to duck every time a waitress would go by with chips and salsa!" Now she as a CD out to rave reviews, and she has begun getting courted by various labels while many of her songs are making appearances on TV and in films. But she is in no hurry to quit doing it on her own. "I've had a lot of friends get that big break, and they end up losing control of what they're doing. "she said. "For me, its a total feel thing. I want to do it organically and go with the flow. So far, the only criticism has been that I'm diverse," she said. "But whether it's electronic or not, there is a thread running through it. I just hope I can provide the glue with my voice." So far, it has all be sticking together quite well.
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