Jennifer Juan’s latest release, “First Love,” is a heartfelt exploration of romance and self-discovery, presented in various captivating renditions. The tracklist offers a diverse experience, showcasing Juan’s versatility as both a musician and a storyteller.
- “First Love” (03:45) – The original version sets the tone with its dreamy atmosphere and poignant lyricism. Juan’s vocals effortlessly convey the complexities of first love, inviting listeners into her intimate world. The melody, accompanied by subtle instrumentation, creates a mesmerizing backdrop for the emotional journey depicted in the lyrics.
- “First Love” (Spanglish Version) (03:46) – The Spanglish rendition adds a delightful twist to the narrative, infusing the song with cultural richness and authenticity. Juan seamlessly blends English and Spanish lyrics, expanding the song’s accessibility and resonance. This version not only celebrates linguistic diversity but also enhances the song’s universal appeal.
- “First Love” (Live) (04:14) – The live rendition offers a raw and organic interpretation of the track, capturing the essence of Juan’s performance prowess. The intimacy of a live setting brings an added depth to the song, allowing Juan’s emotive delivery to shine through. Listeners are transported to the heart of the performance, experiencing the raw emotions firsthand.
- “First Love” (Instrumental) (03:44) – Closing the collection is the instrumental version, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in the lush musical arrangement without the distraction of lyrics. The instrumentation showcases Juan’s compositional skill, highlighting the intricate layers of melody and rhythm woven throughout the song.
Overall, “First Love” showcases Jennifer Juan’s artistry and vision, inviting listeners on a captivating journey of love, longing, and self-discovery. Whether experienced in its original form, Spanglish rendition, live performance, or instrumental arrangement, the song resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impression on the heart and soul.
Juan has released several volumes of poetry, including the critically acclaimed “Home Wrecker,” and several musical projects, including her latest album Dream Girl, an alt pop exploration of identity and romance. Juan also hosts the podcast “Sincerely, Jennifer x”, an immersive look at poetry and modern life, along with the spoken word poetry radio show, Diverse Verse, as part of the award winning Soho Radio. We decided to catch up with Jennifer Juan with an exclusive interview on the National Post…
What inspired you to get into music?
My Grandad used to have a big collection of vinyls, with all kinds of stuff. Standards, pop, musicals, jazz, just everything, and I used to pick a record and lay down by the speakers, listening to it. I’d close my eyes and go so many places in my imagination with the songs, and it felt magical. I wanted to be just like all the people I heard. I wanted to sing and play, so that one day, I could write something that made me feel the way that those records did.I started singing at school, and also began lessons in composition and song writing. The first song I ever wrote was this awful, silly little thing about Star Wars when I was eleven, but playing and singing it all the way through got me hooked on songwriting.
How would you describe your music?
Lyrically, it’s very confessional, with a slight slice of life element.I aim to be familiar, and open with listeners, as if they’ve found my diary in the attic and can just step into my life and feel what I’m feeling.
The sound itself is ever changing, because I like to experiment and try new things as a musician, but there’s always elements of alt pop and lofi to it, because that’s what I love most.The current album I’m working on has a bit of an early 2000’s indie pop sound, inspired by the kind of things I was listening to when I was young, as a lot of the lyrics came from how I was feeling then and how my life unfolded from there.
It has a bit of a solo Mark Owen vibe, because at the time I’m drawing inspiration from, I was obsessed with his record In Your Own Time. I used to listen to the whole thing on repeat in the park, wallowing in my very dramatic teenage emotions.
What would you say is your recording and song writing style?
Everyone says not to, but I start from the lyrics. It can make it a bit of a pain, because I then have to compose around that, but I feel like the lyrics will really inform how I want the whole song to sound.I record at home, because it just feels like I’ll be able to do my best work when I’m comfortable.
Where would you like to see your music career in 5 years time?
I’d just love to be sharing what I do with people. For me, music is a very special journey that I get to go on with somebody else. I can share some of myself with them, and hopefully, they can feel understood, or at least entertained for a few minutes. That’s the relationship I’ve always had with musicians I love, and I want to build that connection with others too.
Where can music fans listen to your music?
My catalogue is on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. They can also find me on Bandcamp, where I tend to release extra special things like live albums, exclusive mixes and demos.
Listeners can find “First Love” and more of Jennifer Juan’s captivating music on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp, where exclusive releases and special editions await exploration.
Listen to “First Love” by Jennifer Juan on Apple , Spotify and Bandcamp
