Jenny Owen Youngs is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Montclair. Her music reminds me of the solitude of Jersey winters; her arrangements are unpredictable (in a good way) – veering from simple to multi-layered; but the best part is her unusual voice – it’s “nice” and “pretty” enough, sure, but there’s also something about it – a bit of a drawl -- that makes it seem like the words are just dropping out of her mouth. Her self-released debut CD, Batten the Hatches, came out last year.
Day job: Sales and marketing for an independent record label.
What's the worst or most interesting thing that's happened to you at work?
I hate to say it as a musician, but dealing directly with musicians is the stickiest part of the job. You can't reason with them! This leads me to believe I'm not a real musician.
Does work ever conflict with your band?
My employers are incredibly understanding and flexible, lucky for me. We work in the industry so they are sympathetic to my sometimes very sudden travel needs.
Do you have health insurance?
HELL yes. Thank god.
Who are the three people you'd most like to have at one of your shows, in terms of helping your music career?
Jon Brion, who is my favorite producer; and my parents (I get really excited when they make it out to shows -- and that helps my overall performance mindset). Two parents + one producer = 3 seats.
If Wal-Mart approached you about putting your music in an ad, for a large sum, would you do it?
No thank you.
Any additional thoughts on the conflicts and intersections of work/art?
It will be a sweet day for me when there's no differentiation in my every day life between the two.
On the Web: Jenny Owen Youngs
Day Job is a weekly column examining the contradictions, conflicts and convergence between “work” and “art.”
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