We recently connected with Jennifer Alvarado and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
Ultimately no. There are times I wish I had the confidence that I do now to trust God and move forward with music. However, there are lessons I have learned that I believe have made me more grateful. I think too many people want everything right now. I was very much that way. I have always been a hard worker, but it wasn’t until I chose to pursue music that I ever understood struggle. The road has not been easy, but it has made my passion for music even greater. I think when you get too much too fast or too easily, you can take for granted the gifts you are given. I want to always remain grateful.
Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started making up little songs and singing around the age of 4. From there, I got involved in choir and church and school. My grandfather played multiple instruments so he was always playing when I was at his house. He was the one who first taught me guitar chords. I have always gravitated toward music. I knew I wanted to be a singer around age 4 or 5.
In middle and high school, I became even more determined to do music. I headed up a couple ensembles at church and started serving as a worship leader. That is really where I got my start with music.
After several years of working as a Worship Director or Creative Director for different churches, I took a break from ministry to work for a non-profit that focuses on women in recovery and experiencing homelessness. I was there for about a year and a half and decided I wanted to return to ministry as a Music Minister and pursue my music on a more full-time basis.
I released my first album, Hello Life, in 2015. It was contemporary Christian. In 2020, while I was furloughed from my job, I decided to start releasing my Country Pop material. I released several singles during 2020 and then my first Country EP, “Playing with Fire” in April 2021.
I am currently working on a project titled, “Songbird” that is more Country Pop in style. I am releasing it in two parts. The first part was released in July. The second part will be out in late Fall. The project tells the story of a narcissistically toxic situation I went through several years ago.
I was named ”One to Watch” by Nashville Songwriters Association in Spring 2021 and Spring 2022. I was named the “2021 Country Artist of the Year” by Indie Star Radio. My song “Curious” was a Finalist for “Best Pop
Song” for the Winter 2022 World Songwriting Awards and won “Best Pop Song” for the Indie Songwriting Awards in Winter 2022.
My latest single “Rock This Way” was just named “Best Pop Song” and “Best Overall Song” by the Indie Songwriting Awards in Spring 2022. In 2022, I was nominated for five International Singer Songwriter Association Awards, including “Female Vocalist of the Year”, a Josie Award for Female Music Video of the Year for “Filthy Water”, and a Carolina Music Award for Country Female Vocalist of the Year.
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I hope my music conveys that you can be honest and vulnerable about your hardships, the past, and any hurts. I fell in love with music because I was the shy kid that found comfort in the songs I listened too. I hope someone else can listen to my music and feel like they at least have one person that “gets them” and is in their corner.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I started dealing with severe performance anxiety when I was around 11. For several years, I would go to audition or even to sing and nothing would come out. My voice teacher helped; however, I still suffered panic attacks and fear for years following. I am a perfectionist, so I had to change my way of thinking about situations before I was ever able to combat the performance anxiety. I still have it on occasion, but now it is almost a reminder that this is still important to me instead of a hinderance.
Contact Info:
- Website: jenniferalvarado.com
- Instagram: @jenniferalvaradomusic
- Facebook: facebook.com/jemmusic12
- Linkedin: jema1984
- Twitter: @guitardiva12
- Youtube: youtube.com/jemmusic12
- Other: https://direct.me/jenniferalvarado Tiktok – @jenniferalvaradomusic Reverbnation – https://www.reverbnation.com/jenniferalvarado Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/jem1984 Bandcamp – https://jenniferalvarado.bandcamp.com/releases
Image Credits
Jennifer Alvarado Joshua Alvarado