We recently connected with Jennifer Alvarado and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

I used to work for a Fortune 500 company before going into full time music. I thought being successful meant constantly chasing the dollar. I was in a luxury hotel room overlooking Central Park several years ago for a work event. I had just gotten back to the room from a nice dinner and all my co-workers living it up in a hotel bar downstairs. I was missing my wedding anniversary for this business trip.

On the way to dinner that evening I was talking with the CEO of the company. I was asking him how he felt about all his success and it must be so nice to see his achievements on a Time Square mega screen. He very nicely answered me and said it should be, but there was no one to share these mountain top moments with….his wife and child had both passed away earlier in the year.

That was the night I realized money isn’t everything. Monetary and worldly success often comes with a hefty price. In his case, his career was that of legends, but his personal life was one of loss and heartache. I think you can have both career and family in life, but balance is everything. I saw firsthand during that trip that monetary/career success means nothing if I am constantly putting my family, my health and my happiness on the back burner.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My name is Jennifer Alvarado and I am a recording artist and songwriter based in North Carolina and Nashville.

I started out as a Contemporary Christian artist in 2015, but transitioned over to the Country Pop genre during 2020.

My first Country EP project titled ”Playing with Fire” was released in April 2021. I released a country pop EP titled “Songbird: Part One” in July 2022 and released “Songbird: Part Two” in July 2023.

I am currently working on a new Country project and a holiday project that will be out this December. I have been recognized locally for my songwriting and was named ”One to Watch” by Nashville Songwriters Association.

I was named the “2021 Country Artist of the Year” by Indie Star Radio and several of my songs have been awarded songwriting awards. My song “Catfish” won a World Songwriting Award for “Best Modern Country Song” and I was awarded Rampage Music Awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Album of the Year and Single of the Year in 2023.

In August, I was awarded the honor of Silver “Entertainer of the Year” at the 2023 International Singer Songwriter Awards, with a total of seven nominations. In 2023, I was also nominated for three Josie Awards, including “Female Rising Star” and a Songwriter Achievement Award; a WVIU Music Award for “Favorite Christian Country Song”; several Who’s Hoo Country Awards, including “Country Rising Star” and “Entertainer of the Year”; and a Carolina Country Music Award for “Female Artist of the Year.”

Songwriting has always been my go-to form of therapy. I have been writing since I was a kid. I like to say I write in order to avoid any awkward conversations. I have always found comfort and clarity through writing and music.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think people sometimes underestimate the importance of music and creatives. Because it is so readily available and easy to find your favorite artist, most people tend to take local artists for granted. If you like what someone is doing, let them know. It may sound really simple and dumb, but liking a post on social media or sharing a new song are both ways of supporting someone’s art. Showing up at the local coffee shop or pub to cheer on your artist friend is something else that helps tremendously. It doesn’t have to cost you a single penny just to show a local creative some love and encouragement.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think a lot of non-creatives or just people in society think that one piece of press or one appearance on a show equals success, money and fame. That’s not the case. I saw an article several weeks ago about an independent artist that appeared on one of the reality music shows. People were slamming this person because they had started a go-fund me to help with the creation of new music. Many didn’t understand how this person could possibly need funding.

Independent artists for the most part are a one-person team. They create, they book, they setup and tear-down, they market, they fund…everything. Just because you may have spent fifteen minutes on a reality show or even toured for ten years, does not mean you are monetarily loaded. There’s a lot of budgeting, falling flat on your face, sleepless nights, etc. that goes into this crazy journey. Playing on a stage is about ten percent of the journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: jenniferalvarado.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jenniferalvaradomusic
• Facebook: facebook.com/jenniferalvaradomusic
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/jema1984
• Twitter: twitter.com/guitardiva12
• Youtube: youtube.com/jemmusic12
• Other: Bandcamp – jenniferalvarado.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Nashbash Collective Joshua Alvarado WDVX Blue Plate Special