Photo Credit: Tosh Peters
Past generations typically grew up and took one job and retired to Florida or Palm Springs after 50 years. Today, we’re a generation that likes to rock as many hats as we can at one time. Take Heather Jeanette for example. She’s not only rocking a producer cap, but also a dynamic country-pop artist who doubles as a songwriter with a lengthy resume. “Without a great song, you have nothing. I think once I have the basis of the song, then I start either thinking of it from an artist/producer perspective,” notes Heather.
We talked about not only how she balances writing for herself and others, but “Float,” a couple of local music scenes she’s well-versed in, and more in this back and forth.
Kendra: “Float” is your first new single in a couple of years. Were you working more behind the scenes during that time?
Heather Jeanette: I actually wrote and produced “Float” last year during quarantine, but with everyone on lockdown during the summer, I felt like it wasn’t the right time to release it. I also write a lot for film/TV and other artists, so I had a lot of writes over Zoom last year as well. Hopefully, you will hear lots of new music soon.
Kendra: Like you mentioned you’re busy, and your resume is stacked from writing for movies and commercials to working with the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Selena Gomez. When you are busier with projects like these, do you make it a priority to make time to work on your music? Like, carve out a handful of minutes each day to take a break and put your producer hat aside, and put on that artist cap?
Heather Jeanette: I try to at least carve out some time for my own music or even just to live life because that’s where you get inspiration. When I first started writing, it was easy to get caught up in wanting to write all the time but I have learned that you need to replenish yourself with whatever your heart craves at the same time. It’s kind of similar to someone who works all the time at a job, they will eventually burn out if they don’t take time for themselves.
Kendra: So “Float,” is a wonderful song that was meant for the summer months that you penned this time last year. Was this song a sort of wishful thinking scenario seeing as last year we weren’t quite living the best summer of our lives…
Heather Jeanette: Yes. I actually started the chorus on a drive from Nashville to Indiana (where my parents live) the first shutdown. I was working on the song there as the weather was getting warmer, stuck inside and wanting to be outside hanging with my friends.
Kendra: Now you work both in Los Angeles and Nashville. So as someone well-versed in both scenes, how do they differ the most from your perspective as an artist, and as a producer?
Heather Jeanette: Nashville still has the motto of three chords and the truth. I love how you walk into a session and you can just write a song with a guitar without the need for any fancy production tricks.
With that being said I still love challenging myself in Los Angeles to try to push songs to a new level with production, sound, and style.
Kendra: You’ve got “Float” out now, but what can we expect as we head closer to those Autumn months?
Heather Jeanette: I just released a song with Mickey Valen called “RIP,” and I’m hoping to release another song before the end of the year. In the meantime, I am still working on songs for film/tv and other artists.
