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Song Dissections

Dissecting Hearts For Bullets

Hearts for Bullets (cover)

Hearts for Bullets (cover)

This winter has definitely had many ups and downs.  I came back from a steady stream of European touring lasting from October – early January and once I had recovered, I found myself feeling a bit lost, which is a weird feeling when you’re finally home.  I am excited for a bunch of things coming up later this spring, but in January, I came home to not having a “real-grown-up-job” for the first time.  I had taken one too many leaves of absence at my last place of employment (which I completely understood since I was off for a total of  3 months in  2008 and 2 months  in 2009 before I even decided to leave in October).  I’m unable to hunt for work right now since I have a month tour coming up in June, I’ve declared 2010 a period to focus on myself and music!  My last CD “Hearts For Bullets” came out in the fall of 2008, meaning it’s been a year and half since my last release and until January, I hadn’t started working on any new music!  I was creatively drained for the year of 2009.  I really wasn’t feeling motivated musically, and wanted to take a necessary break while I focussed on my day-job (which was, when I was there, all consuming) and touring instead (I played close to 70 shows last year in Canada, the U.S.A., UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Greece).  I don’t regret any choices I’ve made as of now, and I’m not complaining about my current situation since I’m getting to do this thing I love to do, but I know it will  be a bit of a tough time financially  but I know I’ll be alright and I’m really looking forward to the future challenges and possibilities!

It’s now mid April, 2010 and I’ve been concentrating on working on demos for the upcoming CD which is still untitled.  I’m proud to say that I’m about 8 demos in.  Now these “demos” are all in various states of progress,  with some being  completely finished song structures and all lyrics and vocals and some only the first 1.5 minute loop with rough lyrics in place that I need to further develop,  but still, I’m happy and excited where the new stuff will lead me and where production (by none other than the amazing Seb Komor who also produced “Hearts For Bullets”) could take these demos.  I admit to myself  that getting this far on music this year would have never been possible if I were at my last job since I work on music slow enough as it is

Even though I find the process of creating music incredibly personal, I want to document parts of my journey and share a bit of what’s going on.  I think that in order to move forward,  it’s important to remember where I came from so, I thought dissecting the songs from Hearts For Bullets would remind me where I was at in my life and help me remember the work that went into the songs.  It would also give me a chance to let you into my world a little bit since I sometimes get asked what inspired certain songs,  and what they are about and I’ve been bad at posting stuff regularly.  It won’t be in any particular order and some songs will have more stories and explanation behind them than others, but I do want to try and post a write up weekly for the 12 tracks on Hearts For Bullets. My first song for this Friday will be the deeply personal and very stompy track: “1000 Transmissions”.. stay tuned.. yes, pun intended 😉

♥ Jenn

38 replies on “Dissecting Hearts For Bullets”

hey Jen
Its normal for any artist to dissect their own work and probably a healthy thing to boot! I wish you nothing but the best and I hope things go well for you in 2010. Too bad your not coming out this way again but hopefully we will have the chance to have you back in Saskatoon someday.
Just don’t dissect songs too much sometimes a rock is just a rock if you know what I mean..
best wishes
Chase Walker

I can’t really “relate” to how it must feel being “just an artist”… I gave up dancing in college for fear or becoming a starving one O_o but as of late I’m a member of two dance troupes, my boyfriend is in a band and has a solo project, and i work for two promotion companies outside of my full-time day job… Needless to say, i don’t really know what sleep is…

but I don’t get paid for any of those things, and as every full-time artist knows, there comes a time when your love of your art isn’t enough… It hurts my heart to even think about that stuff 🙁

I wish I had a magic genie lamp or a special power that let me grant wishes… If I (or I’m sure your fans around the planet) could give you one thing (okay lets say two) my first would be FINANCIAL SECURITY. In this genre and industry, it just doesn’t seem to exist… But the other would be that no matter what you always have that feeling of say, a fan who’s watching you perform, covered in stick-on tattoos and more pink than should be legal…

The feeling that somewhere, someone is being changed or uplifted in positive ways by the feelings/emotions/experiences you have chosen to share with the world. The feeling that, even with bills and slow days of nothing but the interweb as your friend you are doing a great thing, that as you said “You love to do” and now, THATS your JOB. You have a job you love, and trust me… We love you too! *^_^*

It’s your love and your job, so I hope a great feeling of fulfillment (and also free food) may come your way!

You rock girl, even if it’s in the pinkest way I’ve ever seen, and will never understand!

Forever wishing you the best!

~S.

this will be very interesting to hear! 🙂 i think it’s a great idea. any possibility of backtracking to Flicker or Debris afterwards? 😉

Hmmm.. not sure about doing “Flicker”. We’ll see how HFB goes first 😉 Let me know if you have a specific song you’d like to know about though. I’ll do my best to accomodate requests. I’ll have to set up an “ask Jenn” section 😉

@ all the other replies so far – you guys rule. Very moving responses and you don’t know how much I appreciate your support. Keeps me going. So thank you!

By Post Author

Awesome! I’m looking forward to the details on HFB tracks – what a cool idea. I’m thrilled to hear more about the upcoming album as well! I’m glad that you are able to share some of the personal sides of production. Thank you <3

Can't wait to finally see you live in Austin,

Rowan

Firstly, you are absolutely brilliant and i loved seeing you live in London.

Secondly, i’m really looking forward to the next album and it’s great news you are working on new material.

It will be really interesting reading about the songs from HFB. Personally i’d like to know more about Girl on the floor.

I wish you the best of luck with the new song making, i’m sure they will be first class as always.

Jen,

I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your music, even more so because of the special warmth and personality that comes through that is uniquely “Jen”. I find it mind-boggling that a woman of your tremendous talent and hard-working energy should have to worry about money; your art is so wonderful, hopefully just focusing on that will bring all the rewards you so richly deserve.
I am most definately *excited* about the prospect of reading anything you’re willing to share about the stories behind your songs – I always try to figure out what was behind each song for all of your music, so it’ll be fascinating to read the real inspirations! I can’t wait!
One song I am curious about (and asked you once after a show, hehe) is “Girl on the Floor”. I love the lyrics to that one, kind of heartbreaking, can relate to some, just so well put together.
Oh and to be selfish, if you wanted to score some easy shopping money, you could sell anything of yours on eBay that maybe you’ve signed or worked with or …. whatever… I’d bid! hehe.
In any case, this focus on your awesome music sounds like a great way to go, without worrying about “work” work (not that making music isn’t work! but i mean mundane work). I can’t wait to hear the new stuff, and meanwhile will keep soaking in the current Ayria songs.
Look forward to seeing you live in June! Be great, be pink!

Cheers,
– John

Jenn, you are amazing! I hope 2010 is everything you hope it’ll be in terms of creativity and inspiration!

Hearts for Bullets is incredible – and it is so rare for me to find an album I absolutely love from the very start to the very finish! I listen to it all the time! My husband and I danced to Analog Trash at our wedding reception last November and Winter Love Song, Six Seconds, and 1000 Transmissions are among my absolute favorite songs to listen to while I paint.

I’m eagerly awaiting the stories behind the songs! My husband and I have been pondering this for some time: we know it takes six seconds on all sides, but how many sides are there?!? It’s like an unsolvable math question!

I am *thrilled* to hear that you’ve got new music in the works and I’m already counting the weeks ’til your Seattle show this summer!!

Good luck in all you do – you are a huge inspiration and I can’t get enough of your music!!! 🙂 YAY AYRIA! 🙂

Mandi

Jenn:

Thank you so much for doing this. My appreciation and love for your music has grown exponentially because of this. I always wanted to know the motivation or inspiration that went on behind the scenes. You definitely are my favorite artist/musician by far.

Keep up the good work and best of luck with all that you do

<3

Jenn,

I’m happy to read all the songs meanings and how they’re broken down. I’m kinda interested in something completely random, that, with Debris, it had a blue theme; Flicker, was a green theme; and Hearts for Bullets was pink theme. Completely odd observation, but it had me wondering. 🙂 Is the next one gonna be, purple or something? haha

Greetings from Ukraine. I like you and your music very much! You are awesome! Style, sound, agressive bits. All this amazing.
Thanks for your music!

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