"She has a way of writing songs for anyone who has ever been at the short end of the stick and turning it into a victory. Lyrically, her details are very poetic and brave. Most songwriters hide behind oblique imagery. Jen revels in baring her heart."
-Jeff Trott, Producer, 'The Underdogs'
Known for her direct, honest lyrics, Texas-native Jen Foster is an award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist who writes from the heart and performs from the soul. Her songs evoke concrete images we can all relate to, weaving everyday events into memorable melodies. Ultimately it's unwavering frankness and honesty which define Foster's songwriting. "My agenda is not to change people," she says. "I do want to affect them, though, and I think you have less of a chance of doing that when you preach to them. I like the subtle approach that's personal. I want to involve people, not isolate them."
This desire to make a personal connection is evident at Foster's live performances as well, which have become known for their spontaneity and visceral charge. "The best part of this for me is still playing live," she says, "interacting with an audience and feeling like you moved them, even for a minute."
After graduating from her small Catholic girls' school, Foster attended Whittier College in Los Angeles, but got her real education listening to the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles and performing in the clubs and coffee houses of Los Angeles.
On her sophomore CD 'The Underdogs,' Foster gives voice to universal themes with tales of heartbreak, escape and self-awareness. Working with acclaimed producer Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks,) Foster creates a cohesive landscape of personal struggle and internal drama. Singing of mistrust within relationships, she creates a palpable sense of being uncomfortable in one's own skin.
'The Underdogs' follows 'Everybody's Girl', Jen Foster's debut CD, which was released to consistently favorable reviews in 2003. Critical praise ran from coast-to-coast for 'Everybody's Girl', with press comparing "rising star" Jen Foster to Sheryl Crow, Joan Osbourne, Bonnie Raitt and others. Reviewers described her no-frills approach and straightforward lyrics as "captivating," "impressive" and "consistently engaging". And, with 128 shows in 43 cities in 2004, she proved her live chops as well in cities large and small. Jen performed at South By Southwest, the Calliope Festival, BMI Showcase, AIDS Benefits, PrideFest events and on the Yellow Umbrella Tour. She headlined, opened for such diverse acts as Sophie B. Hawkins, K's Choice, Crash Test Dummies, Lisa Loeb, Allison Moorer, The Samples and more. Texan Even now, Foster continues to build her fan base the old-fashioned way…on the road. “It’s really the only way for a new artist to spread the word. I happen to love touring…so this has been great.”
In 2004, Mainstream and Alternative press from The Boston Globe to The Cleveland Scene helped establish Jen as an 'artist to watch'. From OUT Magazine to Nashville Rage, from HX to SHE Magazine, the impact of the GLBT community's support was evident as well. Foster's debut CD included "She," a same-sex love song which put her on the map as a finalist in the Pop division of the John Lennon songwriting contest and a First Prize recipient in the Great American Songwriting contest's Pop division, and no doubt played a part in her winning 'Best Debut Recording–Female' at the 2004 Outmusic Awards (her entire album was honored.) Also in 2004, her first single, "Used Black Cars," showed surprising strength at AAA Radio, debuting as the 3rd Most Added track in its first official week of release, trailing only Dave Matthews and Lyle Lovett.
Jen Foster is all about 'forward motion'. With February, 2006 release of 'The Underdogs', she intends to build on the successes of the past, reaching out to new fans song-by-song, show-by-show and day-by-day.
8/05
Source: http://www.jenfoster.com/
