Meet Jayna Jennings | Musician, Singer/Songwriter, Designer, Mental Health Advocate, Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jayna Jennings and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jayna, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As an owner/co-owner/operator of 3 independent businesses (my music brand, ERA Bridal Collection, music lessons), I have found that work/life balance is SO important. Otherwise, you will never get sleep, and you feel unfulfilled and drained. Taking the time to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy your hobbies and creative outlets is what will help keep you going and make you excited to do the work that you have ahead of you. My work/life balance has changed over time in a good way- in the beginning as I was trying to get started in the music industry and develop a brand, I was not sleeping, not taking time to eat, and not taking time for myself at all. Now, I set time for myself to do what makes me happy. Whether it’s painting, spending time with my little ducks and my fiancé, taking a walk, or even just scrolling through my phone, I let myself have that time because these moments are what inspire my art and my creativity. My songwriting has always centered around storytelling and these moments in “real life” are what put me in the right headspace to keep making music in that organic sense. It is easy to forget why I’m making music in the first place when I’m stressing over spreading the news about new music and trying to beat the algorithm, or stressing about whether a new track will do well on radio, but focusing on the joy of creating reminds me why I wanted this in the first place.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would describe my music as dreamy Americana music. My songwriting really is a compilation of my life experiences related in some way to literature. I like for my work to be storytelling and timeless and hopefully someone can relate to it in some way! I am most excited about my newest release, Eliza, because I feel like it is so representative of what my next project is like. So much hard work and a lot of prayers got me where I am today. It was anything but easy, and I am not where I’d like to be YET, but I have overcome many challenges like being a female in a male dominated genre and starting at ground zero with few connections as a kid with a dream.

I have learned that musicians are a musician’s best friend. Make as many friends as you can and do not forget that what goes around comes around. When you support your fellow artists, you will receive support, too. There are always enough blessings for everyone and the second you stop looking at other artists as “competition” and start viewing them as “community,” you will see an epic change in your art. Musicians are the only people who will understand you as a musician, so integrate yourself in that community and create with them as much as you can!

My mission statement for my life is to spread hope. I want everyone to know how loved they are and that each person has a unique purpose that is so valuable and important to this world. It is my sincere desire and prayer that everyone I meet and everyone who hears my music, will feel loved and heard.
Life is hard, and there are complex feelings, situations, and emotions that we will experience as we navigate through this world. I put into words what situations and emotions I have experienced in music with a communicative quality. Listening through my art will hopefully offer insight, hope, and relatability and I am so thankful for the opportunity to communicate through music.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would have so much fun! We would go eat at CM Chicken and Café Intermezzo! Piedmont Park is a fun place to hang out as well. The Georgia Tech campus is pretty cool, too. I love visiting my friend, Leah, who is a student there, and we always have a blast. I also love the more conventional places like the High Museum and I love visiting the Alliance Theatre! The entire atmosphere around the Alliance is amazing. There were so many fun things to do pre-Covid, like visiting Centennial Olympic Park and riding the Ferris Wheel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who work with me in many of my different outlets. I am blessed to have the most incredible family who are always so supportive. My parents and my fiancé are so helpful and supportive and make an amazing team. I also am so thankful for the partnership I have had with Change in our World, a community outreach working to prevent suicide through socialization, training, and education. I have worked with Mark Mundy at Flossymonk Studios so many times, it’s basically my sound at this point. I am thankful for the musicians who have lent their abilities to my music- George Sandler, Matt Mundy, Ethan Hounslow, Diane Sharp, Jim Van Cleve, Don McCook, and so many others. I am so blessed to have been able to work with these amazing artists. I am also so thankful for Francis Mooney of Fontana Sunset. She gave me my first performance opportunity at her music store when I was only around 10. That sparked my interest in performing and helped me meet so many other artists who helped me along the way like my guitar teacher, Jimmy Loudermilk. It was a life changing moment for me and I know it formed my art in a big way.

Website: jaynajennings.net

Instagram: @jayna__jennings

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayna-jennings-b47836186

Twitter: @jayna__jennings

Facebook: @jaynajennings13

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOCepPr_Za830Rplef7jfjw

Image Credits
Joey Jennings, Bradley Smith, Jonathan Wayne Adams, David G. Baker, J.A.D./White Door