We were lucky to catch up with Jenna Marotta recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jenna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My most meaningful project would probably be when I wrote/produced a special song for the Songs of Love organization. I had one month to prepare a fully produced original song for a little girl who had stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. She was 4 years old at the time. I got my team together and we wrote “Zoya’s Song”. She listened to it on repeat to and from her radiation appointments. I’m proud to say she is now 13 years old and cancer free! Music heals!!!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born an artist. I’ve had a drive for creativity since day 1. My music talents began to show at age 3 with piano, and singing soon followed.
I studied music in school and privately as a child. Voice lessons, piano lessons, dance lessons privately, and then learned flute trumpet and a load of other instruments in school.
My love of theater started early with my first play at age 9. I continued to pursue musical theater through college, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts from the University of Tampa.
After college my drive changed and I began singing with bands and songwriting. This dream has been my center focus for most of my career.
I’ve had music on Tv and radio and also have been featured on Showtime at the Apollo. Currently we are working on my Sophomore album called “Can’t Break Me” and will be released under my stage name “jennapple”. My first album, “Gypsy” is available on all platforms , as well as a couple of singles.
In the meantime I am also a painter/artist. I was recently featured in the downtown Franklin TN Art Crawl, and am looking forward to doing that again.
I am born to make people laugh, so many of my songs are witty and humorous. However, I am also from the heart and have a message. My upcoming album is a cross of classic rock blues and soul. It takes you on a journey with me, a flamboyant loving bi female….
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.
Many people will never understand the sacrifice it takes to be an artist. I’ve chosen to not have the norm: house, kids, husband, etc. Instead I’ve chased my dreams for years and years. My friends have grandchildren and are beginning their retirement plans, and I’m just getting started!
I struggle financially, because every extra dollar goes into my recordings , and I have to be out and about in bars and clubs to network frequently.
I do not regret any of it, but the sacrifice is what has built me.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
When I first started there were not so many programs and schools for my business. You either went to school for music composition or to be a teacher.
Now a days there are college majors in recording engineering, recording arts, songwriting, you name it .
I’m not sure if I were to go back, I would have done much differently, but I always wished I had minored in business. No always felt like the business side of music has been a challenge for me, and now it’s a lot more prevalent in schools.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jennamarottamusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thejennamarotta also @thejennapple
- Facebook: /Jenna.Marotta
- Twitter: @thejennapple
- Youtube: /jennamarotta
- Other: http://www.artpal.com/thejennamarotta
Image Credits
Credits : Paul Levy, LA Made That,