FOCUS: Jenny Dean

Sunderland-based indie pop songwriter Jenny Dean presents new single Valentine’s Day, the final track in a trilogy of songs which tackle the varying stages of the end of a relationship. With inflections of Britpop, and counting influences which include Lily Allen and Arctic Monkeys, Jenny’s forthright lyricism and catchy songs have earned her considerable praise. Here, she tells us a bit more about her music…

Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Jenny Dean and I’m an indie pop/rock artist based in Sunderland. 

What is it you do?

I write and perform original music around the north-east.

How long have you been doing it?

I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember but I’ve been an original artist since around 2015/16 when I started performing at the vocal school I went to when I was living in Melbourne, Australia. I kept writing and developing my music there until I moved back to the UK, coming up to two years ago now and have been gigging here for almost as long. 

What inspires you?

My inspiration can come from anywhere. I’ve written songs about stories I’ve heard, or characters I’ve invented, but most of my writing comes from my own experiences and emotions. I’ve written about situations and heartbreaks I’ve been through, and sometimes feelings that I can’t express any other way than through music. 

Tell us about your music

My music is very honest and comes from a raw place. I don’t try to sugarcoat anything that I write about as I want to be as authentic as possible, but I do often try to add clever double meanings or little jokes in my lyrics. The first single I released this year, Enemy, is about an initial reaction to falling out with someone, then Guys (Like Me) is a continuation of that feeling while you’re still going through the stages of trying to heal. My newest release, Valentine’s Day, is the final part of that trilogy which is the acceptance, and wrapping up of the story. 

What have you got coming up in the future?

Valentine’s Day is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, etc… or to purchase on iTunes. I will also be performing a set of original songs at the Newgate Social in Newcastle on 8^th November alongside three other local female artists so I’m really looking forward to that. And I’ve been writing some new music at The Bunker in Sunderland so keep an eye out for those coming soon. Hopefully in the new year I’ll be starting to put an EP together as well so it’s all very exciting and I’m looking forward to what’s to come. 

Where can people find out more about you?

You can find me on Instagram, that’s what I tend to use the most but I also have a Facebook page. If you want to check out my releases you can also find me on Spotify.