Jenn Weber

One of Christian music’s brightest young talents comes to us in the form of Jenn Weber. Her musical style is reminiscent of Nichole Nordeman while her vocals deliver a Bethany Dillon double-take. But it’s the heart behind it all that really begins to set her apart, and that’s what comes through in Jenn’s answers to some of our recent questions.

Her new album, World of Wonder, is ready made for radio - a smart, pop affair with the ideal blend of ups and downs, insight and reflection. The lessons she’s learned early in her artistic career are worth listening to, so we hope you’ll take some time to find out more about Weber in this Soul-Audio exclusive.

Soul-Audio: There seem a couple obvious points of reference after just a few listens to the new album, Bethany Dillon and Nichole Nordeman. Would you agree with that at all?

Jenn Weber: When most people try to explain my musical style to their friends, they usually find themselves using one or both of those women as a comparison, so I would agree! Still, we are three unique artists with different stories and varied passions that set our ministries and sounds apart; we do, however, share a similar goal: To follow hard after the Lord and set others on fire for Him! Personally, I can’t think of two other women in the Christian music industry I would rather be compared to so I’m certainly honored.

SA: Are you a fan of their music?

Jenn: Definitely! Nichole’s music has had more of a profound impact on my walk with the Lord than any other artist I’ve listened to. She breathes fresh insight and intelligence into every lyric and I have felt unbelievably challenged by the lessons she sings about on her albums. Both Nichole and Bethany, although I don’t know them personally, seem so authentic, which is something I love!

SA: When you first made the move from Cincinnati to Music City U.S.A., what were the expectations at that point? Looking back, were you ready for that move?

Jenn: I don’t know if I ever felt “ready” ; I just knew I felt called! I realize the word “called” seems to be thrown around a lot these days, and using it almost seems trite… but to use any other word, for me, would be to limit the living power of the Holy Spirit. Moving to Nashville opened up a world of possibility for me, and I loved the challenge of being out of my comfort zone. From the beginning I felt that something wonderful was going to happen, and I was right.

Seven months after the move I was signed with Creative Trust Workshop (Warren Barfield). I thought I was really something to be “signed with a label,” and I felt as though I had made it to the pinnacle of what success should look like for a musician. I didn’t understand this at the time, but looking back, I see that I had a skewed perception of what “success” really looked like. It took the label going under - along with my dreams at that point - for God to really refine my heart and gently teach me that success isn’t a #1 AC radio hit, but rather how closely I resemble Jesus Christ. I can see now that Christ was more concerned with my character than my comfort. Is anyone really ever ready for that?

SA: Can you tell us about your working relationship with Gary Sadler? How did that start?

Jenn: Gary is an unbelievable friend and mentor and the whole Sadler family has really adopted me these past five years and taken me in as one of their own. Gary was one of the first writing sessions that was set up for me by John Mays, a wonderful A&R in Nashville who took me under his wing my first few years there. From the minute I walked through Gary’s front door, I could tell there was something different about him; this was a man unconcerned with accolades and success, his sole focus was on one thing: Christ.

I’m so thankful the Lord gave me such a refreshing atmosphere in which to create and worship and Gary’s spirit is all over the record and he has truly impacted me eternally. I’m humbled to get to work with him and blessed to be his friend!

SA: Do you have a mission of sorts as a songwriter and performing artist?

Jenn: I’ve always felt that A.W. Tozer best sums up my mission statement, “Though my fire is not yet large, it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame.” Most days, I feel incredibly inadequate for this ministry, but I know God uses ordinary people all the time to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom. There is such great need for hope and restoration; Christ alive in me compels me to build a living fire in the hearts of others.

SA: It’s great to see that you seem to be well read. Do you have favorite authors or works to recommend?

Jenn: Well, I mentioned A.W. Tozer earlier, and no list of books that are special to me would be complete without Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God,” which has affected me profoundly. Another book I recently finished, “A Severe Mercy” by Sheldon Van Auken, is a wonderful autobiography that depicts the love story shared between him and his wife and describes how they came to know Christ in Oxford through the help of their friend, C.S Lewis. Yet another amazing book is “The Call” by Os Guinness, which would be a great addition to any bookshelf in my humble opinion!

SA: How does that inform your own songwriting?

Jenn: Many of the books I read give me insight into different facets of who Christ is and cause me to draw nearer to Him as these truths are revealed and the outpouring of that is typically a song! For instance, one quote in “The Pursuit of God” exclaims, “What a wide word to roam in, what a vast sea to swim in is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; He is Eternal!” From that the song, “Eternal” was born; a lyric wrestling with the concept, “How could a simple poet write about what has already written him?”

SA: Can you tell us about writing World of Wonder ; did you come to the studio with everything already written?

Jenn: Almost! I’ve been writing the songs for this project over the last four years except for “Lullaby,” which was written when I was 13. It’s exciting to finally have these songs recorded, and it seems, to me, this project is more a documentary of Christ’s faithfulness over these past four years than a compilation of musical tracks. The single “Bride” almost didn’t make it on the record, though!

The CD was ready for mix when I felt compelled to write it one Sunday afternoon after I had been sharing with a friend about dealing with anxiety and how sometimes it just seemed so obvious that “this” is not our home. When I got back to my apartment, the Lord just poured out the words to this song on my heart and I finished it in only an hour or so. The very next day, I opened my Bible to Revelation and read, almost word for word, phrases from the chorus of “Bride” that I had written the day before!

It was such an affirmation and I played it for Jeff Pardo (who produced half of the album) soon after, and he was like, “I’ll call the band back up today and get them in here. This needs to be on the record!” Recording is such an imaginative and liberating experience and working with wonderful people like Gary, Jeff, and the rest of the band, just makes it that much more meaningful!

SA: Finally, what’s on your current playlist?

Jenn: Andy Gullahorn, Brooke Fraser, Jason Morant, The Weepies, Colbie Caillat, Sarah Sadler, Jaime Jamgochian, Billie Holiday.

• www.jennweber.com
• www.myspace.com/jennweber

↓ One comment

#1 MattConner.net » Blog Archive » S-A Interview: Jenn Weber on August 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pm

[...] can read the rest of the interview here. Posted in Soul-Audio | Leave a [...]

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