Singer/songwriter Jenn Cristy has been refining her original sound for nearly a decade now as a solo artist, pushing in new directions with each album while always retaining the rock n’ roll soul that has brought audiences across the country to their feet.
For the latest album, Crawl, Cristy spent nearly two years working with her band members before even entering the studio. The result is her most polished and nuanced album to date, a blend of storytelling lyrics with pop hooks and dazzling instrumental work that is sure to please both devoted fans and first-time listeners.
Now on her fourth solo album, Jenn began her career with John Mellencamp, meeting the Hoosier rocker in Bloomington, Indiana, where she was in the midst of an all-American swimming career at Indiana University. During her stint with Mellencamp’s band she proved her versatility, playing flute, piano, percussion, organ, and violin in addition to singing. When she embarked on her solo career in 2003, she wanted to create a sound that both honored all of her varied influences – from Ben Folds to Pink and Bruce Hornsby to Queen – while creating something decidedly original.
It is clear that her music has found a hungry audience. Cristy has played around the country, sharing the stage with a veritable who's-who of artists – Shawn Mullins, John Eddie, Antigone Rising, Indigenous, Bree Sharp, Jeffery Gaines, Danielia Cotton and Michael Gabliki (Rusted Root) –or dominating it herself. Her songs have earned praise everywhere from blogs and small-town newspapers to The New York Times. The piano-driven rock is a platform for lyrics that encompass everything from matters of the heart to politics to straight-ahead fun…or murder. In Cristy’s world, every story has a melody.
Toured with John Mellencamp, ‘Cuttin Heads’ Tour, 2001-2002 (vocals, percussion, flute)
Performed on ‘Cuttin Heads’ featuring the Grammy Nominated song ‘Peaceful World’ (vocals, percussion, violin, organ, piano, flute)
Performed on: David Letterman, The Today Show, Concert for New York, Larry King Live, The Early Morning Show, and several more.