We were lucky to catch up with Jenny Newman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jenny, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve known since childhood that I wanted to pursue a creative career. I was that kid that was always putting on little shows for my family and singing solos at school assemblies. I remember my earliest career aspiration was to be a ballerina- I started dancing at four and loved dressing up, performing, and feeling the spotlight on me. As I grew older, I did become very aware of my parents’ financial struggles and I also internalized my grandfather’s warnings to choose a “practical” job. The idea of pursuing an artistic path felt very risky and daunting. But as life went on and I went through college, trying to force myself into a non-creative career became impossible. Creativity wasn’t just a passion; it became a necessity to live and breath. So I’ve figured out how to make it work in my own ways.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an alternative/pop singer-songwriter and visual artist from Connecticut, now based in Los Angeles. My sound blends the raw, edgy energy of grunge with the melodic sensibilities of indie pop—think Lana Del Rey meets Nirvana meets Sky Ferreira.
Growing up with a bone condition shaped my early experiences and led me to find solace and expression in the arts. Because I couldn’t participate in traditional sports, I turned to dance and music, which became my passions. My full-time babysitter would take me to her gospel church after school which also had a huge impact on me; hearing the powerful voices in the choir truly inspired me. I’ve been writing songs and pretending to be Hannah Montana in my room for as long as I could remember, but It wasn’t until COVID started that I actually fully gave in and recorded my first record, Daydream, with my producer/neighbor at the time- Adam Castilla. That’s when I really knew for sure that this is my purpose.
I am most proud of my most recent record, “Love Languages”, not only because I put my heart and soul into it but because I feel it truly represents me as an artist. It is my own unique sound that I’ve solidified. Getting to then perform it at the Troubadour was genuinely a dream come true.
The purpose of my projects are to channel my personal experiences of emotional struggle and triumph into cathartic, genre-bending music that resonates with those who have felt lost or unheard. My mission is to build a community where people find solace, empowerment, and a sense of belonging through raw, authentic expression.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

These books aren’t exactly management or entrepreneurial at their core, but for artists like me, understanding how your brain works first makes it way easier to tap into that headspace. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert was actually recommended to me by a therapist, and it completely changed how I approach creativity. It helped me to stop chasing perfection, make peace with the unpredictability of the creative process, and see art as something to play with instead of something to control.
Quiet by Susan Cain had a similar impact on me. I used to think being introverted meant I could never be a leader or performer, but this book flipped that mindset for me. It showed me that introversion isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength, even in a world that rewards extroversion. Both of these helped me feel way more at home in my creative journey and embrace who I am- which has given me the confidence when approaching entrepreneurial thinking.
As an artist you can overthink and get stuck inside your mind. It can feel like trudging through mud oftentimes. But finding those resources that clear the pathway for you- whatever they may be will unlock each step and bring you closer to where you want to be- in my opinion.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

People do like sad songs, Mom! Growing up, I was always posting videos of myself singing my favorite sad songs with my guitar. And every time, my mom would tell me two things: 1. ‘Change the angle—I can see up your nostrils,’ and 2. ‘No one wants to hear these mopey songs you’re singing!’ That second one definitely got in my head.
When I made my first record, Daydream, I felt self-conscious about leaning into my love for emotional, darker music, so I tried to make it sound happier. I’m still proud of those songs, but they don’t fully represent me as an artist. My strength is in taking sorrow, anger, and darkness and turning them into something beautiful and powerful. Some music is for escaping and feeling happy, but some is for feeling the feels.
Unlearning that doubt wasn’t easy, but seeing artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Elliott Smith, Nirvana, and Lana Del Rey thrive made me realize there’s a real space for the kind of music I love to make. And as for my mom—she’s understanding my musical purpose (and even admits to liking some of my ‘mopey’ songs now 🙂).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jennynewmanmusic.com
• Instagram: @missjwow
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jennynewman/videos
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/missjwow
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@jennynewoman

Image Credits

David Sperring
Adam Castilla
Ethan Bartley