We love it when you listen to an artist, and you can instantly hear the passion they have for what they do. It makes the musical experience so much richer and makes us even more excited for what’s next! One of the best examples of that feeling is listening to Jen Fodor, an artist, manager, and mentor who’s been rocking our playlists with her most recent single, ‘Further.’
‘Further’ is an anthem for the dreamers who will push to make their goals a reality no matter what, especially in the music scene. It’ll definitely get you motivated to work towards your dreams, regardless of what field you want to go into! We’re honored to be premiering the ‘Further’ lyric video today, and we also got to ask Jen about the song, her music industry experience, and more. Check out the video below and keep reading for our interview!
Hi Jen, congrats on your new song, ‘Further!’ How does it feel to finally share the song with the world?
It feels amazing! ‘Further’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve written to date. I wrote it with a friend of mine, Nathan K., who was on the Vans Warped Tour with me back in 2012. The song idea came together when we were reminiscing about youth and optimism of starting out, and the non-glamorous life of touring.
‘Further’ has so many awesome lyrics that we love, with one of our favorites being “empty rooms and open hearts.” Is there a certain line that you’re especially proud of?
I love that line too! When you are young, there is no stopping you. Bands and artists go wholeheartedly after their dreams. On tour, you never know what’s going to happen. Are the local bands gonna help bring a crowd so you aren’t playing in an empty room? Sometimes they do… other times they don’t, and you still have to sing your heart out like it doesn’t matter. A show is a show if two people show up, hundreds, or thousands.
‘Further’ is dedicated to young artists who are passionately pursuing their dreams, which we absolutely love! Who are some of your favorite rising artists at the moment?
I’ve been Los Angeles based for a long time now, but I do take inspiration from my roots of growing up in Michigan. Some of my favorite artists who are based in the mitten are Brie Stoner, Michigander, and Hollywood Makeout. My L.A. favorites are Nadia Vaeh, Ruby Sparks, and Number One Popstar.
In addition to your own songs, you’ve also been an artist manager and a GRAMMY U mentor! How do you feel being on the business side of the industry has helped you with your career as an artist?
If you would have asked me ten years ago if I would have been writing music, I would have probably laughed and thought you were crazy. Understanding the business side first and then having the music comes second, I think, helps me understand my goals of what I need to do next. I dream big but try to have realistic expectations of my plans. I want to share my experiences in the entertainment industry, so when the opportunity came to be a GRAMMY U mentor, I knew I wanted to give insight to the up-and-coming generation. Sharing what we have learned along the way helps make the path in the music industry seem less overwhelming.
On a similar note, do you approach promoting your own music any differently than you approach promoting a client’s music?
No, I don’t think it’s any different promoting my own music from my clients. I try to always look at it from the perspective: What would you tell an artist you are managing? I have to be my own cheerleader and remind myself to: Send that email! Don’t take it personally if they don’t respond. Follow up! Keep connecting and meeting new people! You never know when that one “yes” will come and will lead to the next thing in your career.
You’re a dedicated lover of live music, so we have to ask: if you were planning a show with all the songs you’ve released so far, what would the setlist be like? What kind of stage setup would you have?
I’ve been working on my EP and plan to start performing this fall with the songs that my vocals are on, which include: ‘I Miss LA,’ ‘Further,’ ‘Love Struck Baby,’ and many that are not released yet. I’m going to have a drummer and then do backing tracks with fun visuals in the background. When I gain more momentum, I will have a full backing band. I got to think about the overhead and how to best get my music out there. When I start performing (getting through all the stage fright and jitters), my intent on stage is to throw a fun party!
Speaking of live music, we saw on your Instagram that you got to see Beyoncé’s iconic Beychella performance live at Coachella! Beyoncé is, of course, one of the most influential artists and performers of our time – is there a certain artist who has really influenced you in your music or performances?
Beychella changed my life! Getting to see Beyoncé’s iconic performance in person was so inspiring. My hope with my upcoming shows is that it has good vibes all around. Lizzo meets The Flaming Lips is how I picture it in my mind. I’m getting excited about it, and I have a music director on board to help me shape my show, and that helps put me at ease. I’m a bit nervous about performing live, but I know it’s just gonna be a huge party!
How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist since releasing ‘Front Row’ in 2021?
When I first started songwriting, I wasn’t ready to put my vocals on songs. Sometimes the songs I write, I picture that the song is meant for another artist. So I wanted to showcase my songwriting abilities in different genres, including indie pop, country, and rock. Now I’ve worked with a great vocal coach that has helped me break bad habits and work on my sound, so I’m ready to perform live.
At THP, we’re all about discovering new talent and finding the next big hit before it blows up. Who are some up-and-coming artists you’re digging lately?
Brie Stoner is an amazing indie dream rock artist. Yes, I’m partial to what she is doing since I manage her. Stoner’s sound is Mazzy Star meets Sharon Van Etten rock. She will release a full-length album later this year called Me Veo. She has a stellar live show, a fantastic podcast, and many more things are coming together in the next year!
What can your fans look forward to in the rest of 2023?
My fans can look forward to a new EP that will be released this year and performing live! I cannot wait to throw a fun party for everyone.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans that the questions didn’t touch on?
Keep going after your dreams. Don’t let age stop you, especially if there’s that voice in the back of your head that you should try something new. You never know where it will lead and the good things that might come out of it!
We love that message and Jen’s positive outlook! Thank you so much to Jen for answering our questions. We had so much fun learning more about your music and how passionate you are about what you’ve been up to.
Now we wanna hear from you! Which lyric from ‘Further’ is your favorite? What’s a dream you’ve been chasing that you’ll happily pursue no matter how hard it might seem? Let us know in the comments below, or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JEN FODOR:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE
