Since she released her first single barely two years ago, indie pop artist Jett Jenkins has grown as a person––and the Texas native moved across the country to Brooklyn, New York.
Her newest project, an EP of original songs that’s her first work since moving to New York, reflects those personal changes, and an evolving sound for the singer and songwriter who’s been described as part Billie Eilish and part Blondie. And she’s been listening to a lot of Sky Ferreira, she says, whose music and independence has been a big influence.
“Being in a walking city is definitely a big difference and I’ve found that I listen to music so much more and kind of in a different way,” Jenkins says. “I used to listen to music in my car in Texas, but now I’m on these walks to the subway and I’m just always walking so I’m constantly listening to music and I think having that surrounding me so much and being in a city that’s really fueled by music, where I can go to concerts and see artists like Sky Ferreira, it’s definitely made me fall in love with my music and want to pursue it even more.”
Jenkins will release the first single from the new EP this spring; it’s called “What You Want From Me” and Jenkins describes it as having a bedroom pop vibe with synth sounds. She liked it so much, in fact, that the song was the primary inspiration for the whole project.
“It’s definitely a more upbeat type of sound,” she says. “When I started on it I was definitely doing it for me. I wanted to create a new sound and experiment just to see what I could do. I wanted to create something new that meant more to me and had something to do with my life now. Along the way I kind of fell in love with these songs so much that I wanted to release them so other people can enjoy them.”
Jenkins, who grew up in the Dallas area and was involved in musical theater, dropped her acclaimed debut EP Through My Eyes in 2022. It was a cathartic project as Jenkins focused largely on grief.
Now, though––after releasing an EP in February on which she covered five songs from women artists who have inspired her––Jenkins is focusing more on herself, and her personal relationships, along with that new, more upbeat sound.
“What You Want From Me” is the focal point, she says, because it shows her growth and examines friendships she’s perhaps moved beyond.
“I learned how to be my own person, have my own opinions and feelings and not depend on other people in that sort of way,” she says. “I think that’s highlighted in the title. I’m moving away from what people want from me and moving towards what I want.”
The new EP isn’t all synth pop, she says, but the songs work well together and tell a story together as one listens. She addresses not only personal growth and the breakup of friendships, but feelings of unreciprocated love, and says the songs––and the project as a whole––make her feel as if she’s broken free.
Jenkins and her band will perform at The Bowery Electric in New York City on April 25, and plan to book more shows for the months ahead.
“We’ve already done a few shows together and it was really fun because we just found a groove together,” she says. “They’re some really fun people that I’ve gotten really comfortable with playing.”
Stay connected to Jett Jenkins on all platforms for new music, videos and social posts:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jettjenkinsmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jettjenkinsmusic
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/_jettjenkins
- Bandsintown: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/15501609-jett-jenkins
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhrq3wUCitYxyIeeV1sY6A
- Website: https://jettjenkins.com