hey dudes.

oh man. i had a great day yesterday.
that’s kind of a side note. i went to this lecture at the frist, which for those of you who don’t know, is the art museum in nashville. it was so interesting. it was by this professor at vanderbilt and he was discussing emile zola and his works/how they related to the fashion industry/the second empire of france.
…all i’m going to say is that it confirmed my thoughts about wanting to study history someday.
oh, and i ate lunch next to nicole kidman and keith urban.

here are a few of my thoughts from last night. and i admit, there aren’t too many…i was dead tired.

for the past two months or so, my 9th grade obsession with vancouver has been reignited. i’m trying to convince my parents we need to just take a vacation there…but i’m just too busy at the moment. maybe sometime soon!

nashville predators hockey. i am SO READY for this. dying. missing. it. so. much.

CHRISTMAS! haha…okay, too early. but I AM ready to start wearing layers again. i bought the most rad leather jacket, now i just need the temperature to drop like 60 degrees.

WATERMELON
(need i say more?)

this is my wall of art. there are still a few missing things, but overall it’s fini! it looks so sweet at night, i moved my year-round christmas tree next to the keyboard…and when the lights are all gone, it glows

so, i think i’m wrapping it up. i’ll post more either tomorrow or the next day.

Have a great weekend guys! I’m still trying to make my plans. Any ideas (for those of you in the nashville area?! )

je t’aime
-jenny

hey guys!
i’m been having random flashbacks all summer. i guess it’s the whole “graduating from high school” sentimental mess, but i just haven’t been able to escape them! just now, as i was trying to come up with a title for this post, grease popped into my head. now, for most of you…this means nothing. but in sixth grade, i just wanted to be Sandy! i even fought with my best friend over who would be Sandy vs. Danny in the school show choir!

overall, it’s been a good summer. lots of creativity has been swirling around in my head. i’ve been doing my best to translate the creativity as best i can into fruition. many canvases, glue guns, paint brushes, and random objects have met their match with me. i always like to mix media when it comes to painting. i like to create something and throw it on a canvas. i suppose this is a good thing because my technical painting skills aren’t the worlds best. hah.

EXCITING NEWS! july 19th (7:30) -> Googies Lounge & july 20th (8:30) –> Crash Mansion! Two new NYC shows! The Googies show will just be me and my guitar & the Crash show will be a rockin’ full band show. eeeek! it’s going to be smashing!
AND if you’re in the Nashville area- July 29th I’ll be opening up for several bands that are on their cross- country tour right now. It’s another acoustic show @ 12th & Porter Lounge. starts around 8, very chill! Come hang!

Well, that’s all for now peeps!
je t’aime!
-jenny

Billboards

Hey guys! I wanted to include a link to the first song off Motion- called Billboards! I hope you guys like it!

I just wanted to say thank you to all the lovely people who have supported my dreams. Music is me, you guys. It’s what i love, without loving it. Does that make sense? Probably not. I mean that I just can’t help it. It’s not like I set out and said, “I want to be a musician.” It just sortof happened.. I write at the most inopportune times, hum a melody when I’m supposed to be quiet, have an urge to practice guitar when I’m in the middle of my run. Yet, even after all of that, music is what I come back to. Sometimes I rebel and tell myself, “I need to be *productive* and I’m not going to write today.” But I can’t help it. Music is like that annoying boyfriend that you always forgive no matter what and you love even though sometimes it frustrates you beyond belief.

So all this to say, I genuinely appreciate your help/ support/ words of encouragement/smiles for my genuine love of my craft. The only thing I can hope is that this continues on throughout my future and that my passion and my talents can grow. Thank you all! I love you guys!

je t’aime
-jenny

bonjour!

sooo much has happened in the last few weeks i don’t even know where to start. new york was simply amazing. but then again…of course it was. i’m going to post some pictures in a second for you guys.
i’ve got some video footage taken at the bitter end for the New York Songwriters Circle. that was one CRAZY experience. i NEVER thought i would ever be doing something like that. i’m forever grateful to everyone who made that happen.

i can’t wait to be in the city. i mean, really in it…not just visiting. it’s where i feel comfortable, most at home. don’t get me wrong, i will never forget or diminish where i was raised, but at the same time, life is about change. and change can be exciting. i’m finding that out!

in addition to music and physics, i’ve been painting a lot as well. anything under the definition of create- i’ve probably given it a try recently. my artsy side has just been rejuvenated! i just have this zest for life that i can’t put away. even when i get a new issue of travel + leisure, i just feel a passion to GO. you know? just to do SOMETHING exciting with my life.

I have a favorite quote, it’s an Emerson:

Break the MONOTONY. DO something strange and EXTRAVAGANT!
i just love that!

i also heard a girl last night at a drama awards ceremony i went to last night say something along the lines of “It’s about the art in you, not you in the art.” now, i’m paraphrasing, but i found that so inspiring and so true. so often people get caught up in trying to be the best instead of trying to MAKE the best. it’s about the art. i feel like a true cliche cheeseball right about now, but i felt compelled.

okay…here are the photos!

It\'s My Life on youtube- Derek Staebell

Cat & Mouse- NYSC Jenny Ray on youtube

okay- i’m off to do some reading. hope you guys enjoyed this little peak inside my life for the last few weeks.

je t’aime!

guys…
do you realize.
next Sunday, may 2nd, Rockwood Music Hall. 3 p.m.
SHOWTIME!

Monday… New York Songwriters Circle? HELLO?! What on Earth did I do to be able to live my dream?!

I am so blessed. Recently I lost someone very special. Marigail Mathis. She was one of the most inspiring and special women I’ve ever met. Her attitude radiated and was always looking on the brightside. She taught me that life should be about truly being grateful for each and every day. Living life to the fullest.

So, I hope you guys can take something from this.

I am writing new songs, practicing, playing, listening to music, buying music, working out, doing physics, and enjoying life.

je t’aime!
-jenny

may 3rd, 2010.
the bitter end.
new york city.
be there?

Bonjour à tous!

I hope everyone is enjoying spring as much as I have lately. unfortunately i’ve been stuck inside with a cold for a few days…but hey, a cold can’t keep me down for long.

i’m trying to rush my health because FRIDAY-

Yes, this friday. i’m going to be taking a ride on a large whale. no. that was a lame attempt at humor. instead, i’ll be doing something just as fun- playing an acoustic show at Rivertown Coffee in Florence, AL.

excitement.

what else is exciting, you ask?

I ADDED NEW SHOWS! whooop. yes, just go to my myspace and they’re all displayed. i hope to see you guys at a few!

i’ve been writing a lot lately, and we’ve been doing a lot of cool things at band practice as well. i’m really excited. with my graduation from high school looming, music is the only thing on my mind.

i’m off to practice for Friday night. I hope to see you there. and if you can’t make it, i’ll take some pictures, shoot some video etc. JUST FOR YOU!

Saturday night- i’m going to a mutemath concert. so i’m planning on pretty much getting no sleep whatsoever that night. i think i’ll just stay up and contemplate how awesome they are and just get inspired. yep.

je t’aime
-jenny

Bonjour!

I have decided I am going to start blogging. a lot. well, maybe not A LOT. but more than I currently do. I figure that some days I am so inspired in everything I see, why not share it with you good people?

Since this is the first post with this mindset, I am going to show you some things that push me to be creative, excited, happy or just moved.

The picture above is from Amsterdam. I am dying to go. I’m a real travel nerd in case you didn’t know that. I LOVE to experience new cultures and become a part of a new world, even just for a bit.

That’s F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of one of the MOST enticing books I’ve ever read. NEVER have I been so interested.

This is the newest edition to my “family.” My new Korg SV-1. Basically, it was love at first sight. With a little help from my bassist Brady, I have named it Julius.

That’s a member of my actual family…my mother. She’s pretty awesome. But then again, so is my Dad. He just doesn’t take pictures quite as silly.

last but not lease, brigitte bardot. I’m not sure what exactly it is…but she fascinates me. She’s my ultimate fashion icon.

I’m adding some more dates to the schedule soon! I’m going back to New York beginning of May for The New York songwriters Circle. I am JAZZED. I can’t wait to see my friends up there! I’m having NYC withdraws, I just stare at my many pictures and try to trick myself into thinking I’m there. Rarely does that work, it’s much too quiet around my house.

Well, I am off to the gym. Today is promising a lot of physical pain, physics, and music. Which is quite exciting in my book.

Je T’aime!

& just a little quiz for you guys. Since I am so obsessed (literally) with foreign languages… here’s a phrase I use frequently. brownie points for those who figure it out

musik är kärlek

I love anything creative, artistic, unique and excitingly refreshing. Photography tends to fall into that category. I love to take pictures that make me smile. Hope you enjoy these. I’ve got thousands (literally) of photos in my iphoto library, but these are the most recent, because they were taken either this morning or last night. ha.

<3

here are some oldies for you as well!

je t’aime!

Hey Guys!
I’ve been home for the past couple of weeks (crazy, I know). Because I haven’t been traveling as much I’ve labeled it as “downtime” although, in reality, it’s anything BUT downtime. I’ve been working like crazy!

Lots of school work has been accomplished in the last few week & physics is slowly becoming less of an enemy. My british literature course is very challenging. But luckily…I LIKE to be challenged. And strangely enough, it’s incredibly inspiring. It seems like everytime I sit down to read or write a paper I end up at my piano writing a song. Which leads me to my next point; I’ve been writing like crazy. I have several acoustic shows coming up that I’m completely jazzed about. I LOVE the simplicity and authenticity of acoustic shows. Now, don’t get me wrong…there’s nothing I love more than some good ole’ rock n’ roll, but it is nice to be able to do both.

The sun is FINALLY shining today! Spring is actually here…which is somewhat blowing my mind. I GRADUATE from HIGH SCHOOL in less than 6 months. That’s also unbelievable. I cannot wait to be able to focus on what I love (music…just in case you didn’t catch that) and to be able to devote myself to improving my craft! Conquering Swedish is also on my list. My Rosetta Stone is just calling to me!

Acoustic Show Dates:

March 27th- Mobile Street, Florence AL. Cancer Society Fundraiser 3-6 p.m
April 9th- Rivertown Coffee, Florence AL. Time TBA
May 3rd- New York Songwriters Circle, The Bitter End

It’d be absolutely awesome to see you guys at a show! More shows & details will be posted soon! So keep checking in! Also visit my myspace schedule!

The EP is coming soon to itunes, amazon etc., so stayed tuned for that as well!

je t’aime!