Congrats on the new release! ‘Little Thoughts’ expresses so much emotion lyrically. What was the songwriting process like?
Jenna May: “Thank you! I wrote this song about a friendship that I was worried was reaching an end. The writing process is kind of a funny story, though. I started writing it last July, about month after I had TMJ surgery. I had created the main piano melody and started putting the song together instrumentally, and then I got an idea for a vocal melody and some lyrics. I wasn’t allowed to be singing, or even talking too much, but I recorded a really quick voice memo on my phone so I wouldn’t lose the idea. That voice memo is titled “Shh…don’t tell the Dr.” After that, I mostly stuck to humming the melody and writing the lyrics until I was able to sing a few months later.”
Since your first release in 2020 ‘Soulmates’, how has it been navigating the music industry?
Jenna May: “Navigating the music industry so far has been trial and error. I got my Bachelor’s degree in music and learned a lot through that. Until recently though, I don’t think I was necessarily applying everything to my own career as an artist. What I’ve been learning since graduating in 2022 is to take more time with my releases and create fuller release plans. I think that’s a natural path for an independent musician who is their own manager, agent, etc. You have to figure out how to do everything for yourself and regardless of how many courses you take, you need to actually put what you’ve learned into action.”
When did you first know music was something you wanted to pursue?
Jenna May: “I started pursuing music in high school. Despite loving to sing to myself and make up my own songs in my head and in the shower, it didn’t occurred to me that pursuing music was an option for me. For some reason, I just assumed that I couldn’t sing..haha. But in the beginning of high school, when I wanted to be a doctor, I decided that I was going to marry Ross Lynch and that a doctor’s and musician’s schedules wouldn’t be very compatible. That sounds so silly, but it’s what got me thinking about the possibility of being a musician, and then I realized that it checked all the boxes on what I wanted to do in life: write, make a difference to help people, be creative. The rest was history.”
What effect do you hope ‘Little Thoughts’ has on listeners?
Jenna May: “Little Thoughts” is quite a sad song, but I hope it has a positive effect on listeners. For me, sharing this song with the person I wrote it about helped save our friendship. Even though I cried throughout the writing process, I can listen to it now without feeling the sentiment of the song anymore. So, I hope the song inspires listeners to express their feelings and communicate in their relationships, even if it feels impossibly difficult.”
Do you think your releases correlate with your own music taste?
Jenna May: “For sure. It would be difficult for my releases not to reflect the music I listen to because I’m so inspired by it. “Little Thoughts” was very influenced by Gracie Abrams’ sound, whose work I am endlessly in love with. I think all music borrows from its influences, which really is a beautiful thing.”
What has your experience been like performing your music?
Jenna May: “Performing in general has been a bit harrowing, haha. I have severe social and performance anxiety, so I’m still learning how to best enjoy performing. I haven’t had negative experiences performing my own music, though. It can be tough singing original songs to people who don’t know who you are or what you’re singing, but it’s really cool when someone comes up to you after your performance to tell you they liked your music. That’s the goal, is to have just one person feel something from my music.”
What can we expect to hear next from you?
Jenna May: “I’m working on a release for Autumn that I’m excited about, so you can expect some new music then:)”
You can listen to Jenna May’s latest single ‘Little Thoughts’ here: