Welcome to The Truth in His Heart, your source for conversations at the intersection of arts, culture, and community. I am your host, Rob Lee. And today, I am super excited to be in conversation with my next guest, a Baltimore based Filipina musician and producer as well as songwriter known for her layered and transcendent sound that blends indie pop, jazz, R and B, and folk. Please welcome Jenna Balderson, also known as IS. Welcome to the podcast.
Jenna Balderson:Hello. So happy to be here.
Rob Lee:Thank you for being here, and, you know, usually, you know, this would be the the reverse. Like, generally, when someone comes on and they're wearing glasses, you're not wearing glasses, but when they're wearing glasses, I shout it out. I acknowledge it. But when someone is is smiling as much as I do in the beginning of a podcast, I gotta give them points. So shout out to you.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. Yeah. I'm pretty pretty smiley for the most part.
Rob Lee:See, it's the right type of energy to start off a conversation with. So and and and thank you again for for coming on and making the time. And before we get into the deeper questions where, you know, we're we're we're diving into the the the artist mindset and the lifestyle, I wanna invite you to to introduce yourself and, tell us a bit of where your your journey with music began.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. Sure. So, like you said, my project's called Aias. I'm a Baltimore based musician, singer, songwriter, producer. My journey with music.
Jenna Balderson:Apparently, I've been singing for a really long time since before I could even form sentences according to my family. And so that was encouraged from a really young age. They got me in, like, vocal and piano lessons from a really young age. And and then I started doing a bunch of musical theater, but in terms of self expression, I felt like that was pretty rigid because, you know, you have to, play a certain role and you have to follow the script. And, yeah, it was just rigid because I couldn't do what I wanted to do or express myself in other ways.
Jenna Balderson:So I started, songwriting, started playing the guitar and songwriting, and that was my first intro, the first instrument besides the piano, but I really took to the guitar when I was in, middle school and early high school. And then later in high school, I started producing. There was this kid that I had a crush on, and he was really good at producing, and so I wanted to impress him. But then the band just turned into a a genuine love for production. And, Yeah.
Jenna Balderson:Now I'm here. I've just been doing that for since then.
Rob Lee:No. That's that's great. We we've all had those moments where we we have a crush and we're like, alright. I'm gonna use music to impress them. And I've I've mentioned it on this podcast before.
Rob Lee:There was a girl back in the day at at City College High School. That's where I went. And, this is so nerdy, but I did a rap song as, I believe, Macbeth.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, wow.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And it was very much like DJ Clue ad libs. I'm dating myself, but all of that stuff is in there. And I recorded it on a dubbing machine and brought it to class one day in this advanced English class and made an ass out of myself, but she thought it was cool, which is a win for me. She was like, fine, Berta Mac.
Jenna Balderson:It's giving it's giving Hamilton, honestly, but but it's Macbeth instead.
Rob Lee:Yes. And, yeah, that that was when I thought I was gonna be a rapper very briefly, and it didn't it didn't pan out. It didn't pan out. It wasn't a long term solution.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, well, you can always do it if you want.
Rob Lee:40 year old rapper won't work. But, so one of one of the other things I'm curious about when we we talk about some of those those earlier things as we've gone backwards. Right? You you said singing, you know, or or music, piano, and instrumentals, instrumentation early. Is there a musician?
Rob Lee:Is there a piece of art, maybe not even music related, that sticks out maybe from your youth that you look back at now as to be maybe maybe something that you aspire to be, maybe something that you really enjoy that kinda helps set you on your path? Is there anything that comes to mind?
Jenna Balderson:Well, Barney is what got me into singing, so maybe him, but
Rob Lee:Go on.
Jenna Balderson:That's mostly just a joke.
Rob Lee:Please continue. I love you. I love me.
Jenna Balderson:But, more more seriously, in high school, I would say my biggest influences were Fleet Foxes. I really liked Robin Pecknold's Pecknold's voice in songwriting, and just the way that that music sounded and the way it was produced. And just a lot of indie folk in general was pretty influential for me. And, you can definitely hear that in my music today, but it's, but it's not just in that vein. There's a lot of other influences as, like, my tastes and the people that I listen to expanded.
Jenna Balderson:But early, early influences would be like Fleet Foxes and Bibio and Bjork. I really looked up to her a lot too. Just, fearless self expression, and always staying authentic and true to the art and the person that she wanted to be, and that's, you know, inspiring to me in a lot of ways.
Rob Lee:You know, authenticity is the name of the game. So, you know, I'm I'm I'm here with you. So and since we're talking a bit about those those influences, and I I, you know, touched on it in the the the introduction, but if you will, could you describe your sound for folks who are untapped, unfamiliar? Could you describe your sound? Because I I I see indie pop.
Rob Lee:I see jazz. You you referenced a few, you know, influences there. R and b, folk, obviously. So talk a little bit about that.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, yeah. It's that's always such a hard question for me to answer, but I would say that it's pretty genre blending and multi genre influenced just because I I listen to a lot of different stuff and I have over the years, and I think the music I make is just a natural consequence of that. And, yeah, it's it's it's all over the place. The lyrics are really sad. That's probably something that connects all of it, because I use music as a way to kind of explore those feelings within myself.
Jenna Balderson:And a lot of the times I use it as a, like a coping thing, I guess, a coping mechanism for those harder and more uncomfortable feelings. So that is one of the things that ties it all together. Yeah, I, there's a lot of jazz. There's a lot of indie pop. There's a lot of, folk influence in it.
Jenna Balderson:It it it's just a a collage of all those things, I would say. It's the sonic equivalent of some kind of collage.
Rob Lee:I like that. See, I mean, see, that that might be the title, the sonic equivalent of a collage.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, wait wait until you see the EP album cover too because I think it you'll it'll make sense.
Rob Lee:Well, with that, a natural progression, as one might say, let's let's talk about the EP a bit. Give us the details. Like, what's the name, you know, release, things of that nature? Let's let's start off right there. Tell us about the EP.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. So the EP is called Quiet Loud. Quiet Hyphen Loud. That's a word that I made up. It comes out, November 22nd and it is produced by Barti Strange, who is another, now based in Baltimore artist, who I was very fortunate and feel very honored to have worked with.
Jenna Balderson:There's a lot of coproduction from me as well. He took a lot of the demos that I had produced myself and just gave them new life and really polished everything. And, yeah, it comes out on November 22nd, and I'm really stoked.
Rob Lee:So as as we were talking a bit about some of the, maybe touching on a a bit there, some of the the themes and some of the feelings that kinda go into the the work or what have you, could you touch a bit on sort of, like, what can one expect? Because, you know, I I was able to do it have an advanced listen, you know, as Paulers out here, and I I really like, I was craving for more, And, and that's that's a good thing for me. That's a good thing.
Jenna Balderson:Thank you.
Rob Lee:So flowing this between sort of, you know, high energy and these more introspective moments, could you share some of the inspiration behind, like, the overall feel, you know, of the EP and and even, like, the lead single, Faded, which really sets the tone. I'm like, alright. I I do that thing where I keep playing the same track. I was like, I gotta get through the whole joint. No.
Rob Lee:No. No. Let's go back to Faded. Play it?
Jenna Balderson:Well, Gosh. Okay. That was a lot. No.
Rob Lee:No. I'm sorry. Sorry. Yeah. I I can I can reset?
Rob Lee:So so if you will, like, with the the sort of, you know, sort of the high energy, sort of, like, high energy involved in it and sort of the introspective moments within songwriting and the, and the subject matter, could you speak on sort of the overall feel of, of the EP? I'll I'll stop right there and then go into the second part.
Jenna Balderson:Okay. Yeah. I think it's a a bit of a roller coaster for sure because it it does oscillate a lot between these louder, more intense, distorted sounds and then very quiet soft, those more introspective moments like you were saying. And I think there's something for everybody on it. I mean, there's like a house song.
Jenna Balderson:There's a more there's like some break beats in there. There's the the indie folk stuff, like fairy fleet foxes esque layered coral vocals. Just there's a song with just a Rhodes and my voice and, yeah. I I think I'm not sure if you'll quite know exactly what to expect the whole way through. So it is a bit of a roller coaster.
Rob Lee:Roller coaster is is definitely because I think I I think I listened obviously I listened to Faded multiple times, but I listened to like the full EP all the way through maybe twice. And I'm sitting there like taking some notes down. I was like, I don't want to do that. I want to do the ghost thing. And then it's in the playing Faded again, obviously.
Rob Lee:So so talk about how, like, setting the tone with the EP and using Faded to to set the tone and especially with sort of the themes and, like, starting off that that roller coaster as you described.
Jenna Balderson:The first sound that you'll hear is, almost sounds like a cinematic impact kind of sound, I guess. It zooms you right into situation. And then you'll hear my voice. I'm talking about this situation in which I was with somebody, when they were expecting a lot from me, and it was very intense and, me having to kind of deal with those more obsessive tendencies from the other person and feeling this pressure to live up to those expectations and feeling very, strangled by it in a way. And then it gets into this breakbeat.
Jenna Balderson:So I don't know how else to describe it.
Rob Lee:No. No. No. No. Like, it's, you know, it's it's definite and that's probably why I was like, let me let me go back, and I'm like, why am I thinking about these relationships?
Rob Lee:You know, Rob, we need you to be this. I'm not that. That's not me. So so with with that, like, describe some of those those feelings that maybe that maybe is catharsis, maybe is sort of like in in unburdening is not necessarily a word, but I think catharsis is a little closer of when you're writing something that that's vulnerable, when you're writing something that definitely is like, oh, this is this is real. And then sort of maybe perform it, maybe going through the the process of maybe editing and and figuring out, like, what stays in, what comes out, what's a little too close as far as, you know, per real life, you know?
Jenna Balderson:Mhmm. I know that it's a good song when I'm crying, when I write it. Because I know that I've hit something within myself and I've explained it to myself, in a because a lot of this is like I said, me kind of exploring these feelings within myself. So if I'm like getting myself a little worked up through the writing process, then I know that it's it's striking some kind of chord. And I I think that's a good navigator for how it might land for other people as well.
Jenna Balderson:I'm like, oh, that that hit for sure.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Yeah. I I had to I had to give you the the side face. He's, like, striking a chord. I was, like, is that a musician pun right there?
Rob Lee:I was I was my face changed because I'm a pun guy, so I'm, like, oh, okay.
Jenna Balderson:I didn't mean it to be, but we'll say that I did.
Rob Lee:It was intentional. Everything is intentional here. Yeah. Thank you for that because, you know, I think when we're when we're making something, when we're doing, a creative expression and whatever whether it's like, this is my creative expression, I suppose. And, you know, what I'm aiming for and I always love getting feedback from the guests before we get on.
Rob Lee:It's like, man, you really made me think. I gotta think about what I'm talking about. I can't just BS it. That's sort of what I'm going for, something that's deep, something that gets into the person that really make them go deeper into maybe the reasoning and the thinking behind it. And part of my message is to to go deep, to really think about it, and it ties to the city, who's making interesting stuff in the city, and what goes into the the output that's in the city.
Rob Lee:Outside of sort of, like, what's what's there as far as having, you know, sort of this catharsis as I I was touching on or, you know, certain things that you wanna cover in the music. Is there an overall message through the EP as a full body of work that when someone's listening to it, try and get people cry too? What do you what do you what do you what are you aiming for?
Jenna Balderson:Half of it is, exploring the feelings within my myself and turning those more painful moments into something beautiful in a way. And then the other half is definitely sharing that with other people in hopes that maybe they can recognize something in their self in that and because a lot of these feelings are like you you might not feel like anybody has ever felt that way before. It's really nice to know that maybe somebody has, and it I think in quell a lot of that loneliness. And then through music, I think you're also creating a culture when it comes to, like, how many people are listening to it and what they all resonate with. And if there are multiple people that are resonating with the song or things in it, then it it's creating a community of people that feel seen within each other, and that's, I think, my ultimate goal for sure.
Rob Lee:I love that. Making community. I like that. I like it. So we we touched on some of the influences.
Rob Lee:Now I like to go deeper than, like, purely like that surface thing. Like, you know, we think about sound or what have you, and and that's great. And that's obviously there. You can point at certain things, but maybe outside of sound, beyond sound, who or what are some of the other maybe influences or inspirations that are there? For instance, let's say there might be the way that this person conducted themselves in interviews or the way that this person, like, manage their their business side of things or even performed.
Rob Lee:Is there, you know, folks that you look at like, yeah, you you're you're good at this or even, you know, something that's just like kinda out of the blue that you're getting inspiration from.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. I really, really like this artist right now called, her name is Saya Grey. Maybe it's Saya, s a y a. Okay. She's a Canadian Japanese artist, and she is I think she's getting a lot bigger in the more, like, jazz, indie, experimental realm.
Jenna Balderson:But she's just awesome. I love her music. She produces, I think, all of it herself, which is I love seeing other, femme or women, producers out there. It's very inspiring. And her live stuff is just incredible.
Jenna Balderson:I've I haven't seen her live in person, but I've seen a lot of the videos that she does, and she's just a shredder. Like, she's just awesome. And in, similar to Bjork, she like, her main thing is just being as authentic to herself as possible and not, selling out to label influences or, the powers that be in the music industry, just keeping true to herself. Yeah. But she's a badass, and I think she's awesome.
Jenna Balderson:And her music is awesome and incredible. So she's a big influence and inspiration to me right now.
Rob Lee:I like the I like degree of difficulty. I try to make things harder for myself. I guess that's what I'm getting at. And but I I think when I look at different people who and I use and I use creative in that it's not just one particular lane, like, they've kind of bifurcated, I suppose, where, like, I really like Donald Glover because he's in multiple areas. I really like Tori Roy because he's in multiple areas or what have you.
Rob Lee:And
Jenna Balderson:I love Tori Roy.
Rob Lee:You wanna say He's he's a big influence too. Yeah. Oh, yes.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. I posted it out.
Rob Lee:I wasn't there. That's great. And I I I look at that. I look at people who are doing multiple things, like, even outside of maybe it's media related, but even outside of like podcasting because we get held into this very sort of narrow view. You do this.
Rob Lee:So this is the only influences you're, quote unquote, allowed to have. But I think being able to look more broadly at who is an influence, like I'm influenced by Issa Rae. Like you're doing a lot of different stuff and it's great. And being able to keep it all together while while it appears that all of these folks that I'm mentioning, they're keeping themselves in it, you know, that they keep in like you were touching on not getting caught into like the business side that you're losing a bit of yourself and being being ourselves, being vulnerable, being authentic. That's a commodity right now, especially when it comes to sort of the social media thing and how, you know, online and how we're being discovered through algorithms.
Rob Lee:So I just like what I'm hearing from you of being like being authentic and being influenced by folks that are authentic. That's a true line that I'm hearing.
Jenna Balderson:Mhmm. Yeah. That's a a big, thing that I wanna keep doing. Right. I try to try to do.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:So going back to the genre blending, you know, this what what what did you describe it earlier as? Because I wanna keep that theme rolling.
Jenna Balderson:Well, the sonic the sonic equivalent of a a collage. Yeah.
Rob Lee:So talk about how that works into your creative process, whether it be writing, whether it be producing, the sort of, like, ideation of it all. How does the the notion of genre, blending, like, play in there? Like, you know, they're I I would imagine different styles of music. I'm not a musician. Like, I tried to rap, as I said, you know, they require different things in the sort of ideation process.
Rob Lee:So talk about sort of, you know, having interest in exploring various genres, how that plays a role into your creative process?
Jenna Balderson:This might be hard for me to verbalize, but I I feel like, yeah, each genre brings something different, and something interesting. Like, for example, if I'm bringing more jazzier elements into a song, I want the chord structure to be more interesting than, like, say, like a pop chord structure would be, just to give the listener something extra there. And then if I want something to have a little more energy or I want it to sound cool, like, I'll throw up throw some kind of, like, hip hop beat onto it or break beat or something. So I don't really I don't really know how it all comes together. It's kinda hard to say.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. And, and I really only, and also songs evolve. Like I never go into a song knowing exactly how it's gonna sound when it comes out. It just kind of takes its oh, it takes a life of its own as it's being developed and kinda tells me, like, where it wants to go or what feels right.
Rob Lee:Because I excite because I hear it on occasion when, you know, you know, the people that you like. There's very few people that I like and enjoy their stuff. It's just I just I just listen to and enjoy the stuff that I enjoy over and over again. Right? And I find, like, when I'm I I remember this quote from a rapper, Currency.
Rob Lee:He was talking about different musicians he's listening to at a time when he's working on his stuff. And he made a point that I'll listen to anything current because I'm trying to create this sound that might be from this era. So I'm only listening to stuff from that era, this the sort of osmosis thing. And I find when I'm really into the writing process of coming up with questions and just trying to get into the head of folks, I will put that audiobook back on that. I get a lot of, you know, insight from, you you know, back to Still Like an Artist, back to Show Your Word, back to Death of the Artist, just to get a certain vibe.
Rob Lee:But I found that when maybe I would insert maybe a different, you know, book in there that I'm just getting a lot of juice from and just is helping the mindset, you know, it might be more business oriented and getting into the sort of the business behind art. I find that the questions are more in that vein and the way that I'm talking about things are more in that vein, and I see that sort of delineations and that and that difference that's there. So does does that is does that come to mind at all? Does that play a role in there at all? Like, are you listening to when you're looking for that more of that hip hop feel or that more jazzy feel?
Rob Lee:Is there, like, I'm gonna listen to jazz today because I'm working on these tracks.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, yeah. Definitely. Like, while I'm working on a song, if I do have an idea of some different elements that I wanna add to it, I'm gonna definitely be listening to to some references that I think sound like that. Or I might hear something just in general with, like, the music I'm listening to at the time and be like, oh, I wanna take that thing and put it in here or something similar because I like how that feels or how that sounds. So it's just, I guess, taking all of they're using all of these different sources and inspirations as, like, a palette, and we're just picking and choosing different things from each one that I like and putting it all together.
Rob Lee:Yeah. It's tight. It's almost like, you know, how people make their, especially when you watch, like, shows that have an accompanying podcast or over playlist or something. It's like, here's the playlist behind the EP. Here's, you know, here's the some of those references there.
Rob Lee:Here's the accompaniment. Yeah. But it's like, listen to the real thing, obviously. Like, listen to my work, but also, you know, here you'll see maybe some of those through lines, what have you.
Jenna Balderson:The reference playlist. Yeah. I really like listening to those when artists do post them on Spotify or something. Like, there's this, this artist I was really into called Ghost Orchard, and they released an album called Rainbow Music, and they had, a playlist of all of the inspirations for Rainbow Music, and I I really like that playlist. Probably don't it's probably still on Spotify.
Jenna Balderson:So yeah.
Rob Lee:Because I because I know how much, like, people and and, again, I fight with sort of social media all the time, but I I know how much especially with, like, artists because, like, you know, things have become deprecated. Like, when you talk about Spotify, we talk about Instagram. It's like sometimes I feel like Spotify hates musicians. Sometimes I feel like Instagram hates people who have really good images. And it's almost this other thing you have to do, which I think makes it interesting of maybe showing some of the work that goes into the the BTS sort of stuff, the behind the scenes and sort of this is the making of it to give sort of that that extra layer of insight.
Rob Lee:So there may be something that I don't know, but it's something that I like because, when someone has good music taste as an Aquarius, if someone has good music taste, I'm like, we gotta be friends. That's just that's that's straight notes.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. This is cool too.
Rob Lee:So I got 2 more real questions I wanna ask you before I go into those great rapid fire questions that you probably forgot about because I've been luring you into a false sense of so you've worked with artists like, you know, previous guests and soon to be coming back on Mica e Wood and JPEG Mafia, who are big in the Baltimore music scene, obviously, and even ex outside of the Baltimore music scene. Could you share, like, your experience collaborating with them or or anyone else that comes to mind that's been a big part of, like, your development as an artist and just, like, an experience that really stands out to you?
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. Sure. So I I'll start with Micah. Micah and I, gosh, when did we meet? It's been almost 10 years.
Jenna Balderson:But we
Rob Lee:started
Jenna Balderson:off, as coworkers, and then we became musical collaborators because we were both making our own music and everything. And all throughout the years, I've just always admired his he's so prolific. Like he just, he's able to make things and so, so much content so fast. And I've always struggled with that because it takes me forever to make anything. So, recently he's been just helping me be more productive and kind of get some things out because like he believes in me and wants the world to hear it and it can't take several, several years to do that.
Jenna Balderson:I mean, it can, that can work for some people, but like I need to, I need to get it out. So, and then he's also helped me so much with connecting to other people in the music scene. Cause he knows everybody and he's just so charismatic and popular. One of those people is JPEG mafia and we met when I was like 19 or 20. And at that time I'd only been producing for, I don't know, like 2 or 3 years, something like that.
Jenna Balderson:And he was listening, I showed him some of my early productions and he, he saw a lot of potential in me. And that was very validating because I looked up to him and because he, I mean, he's a crazy producer and a crazy artist. He's always been like that. Also super prolific too. And like we were working on things, I guess, before he blew up, so to speak.
Jenna Balderson:But then after that he continued to support me and continued to believe in me and just having that validation and that support and encouragement from somebody that I really looked up to musically, was so paramount for me and just keeping going, keep, for me to keep going and believe in the stuff that I was making. Yeah. I mean, he's a genius. There's I can't say anything else.
Rob Lee:It was great. It was great. Thank you. Thank you for that. So here's the here's the last question, the last real question.
Rob Lee:And I'm very curious about this because, I have my my take in this area, but I definitely wanna hear what you have to say because, you know, you have folks who maybe tinker. You have folks who have that sort of getting closer and closer. The minutes are ticking away until, you know, for you, your debut EP. That's what this is. It's a debut.
Rob Lee:You know? Mhmm. Quiet loud is approaching. That that release is approaching. It's gonna be shared with the world.
Rob Lee:I mean, not everyone's exclusive like me that already listens, listens, listens. But as as we wrap things up, could you describe sort of the feelings, and sort of I don't know if you're a person that wants to go back in and tankers. Like, maybe I should put this in there. I was listening to this. Maybe I'm gonna change this track a little bit because I know some musicians, like painters, are not quite done yet.
Rob Lee:I don't wanna touch it again. I wanna change something in here. Talk about what's going through your mind as you prepare for the release.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. Well, I can't at this point, I can't change anything.
Rob Lee:You're done. Nothing else.
Jenna Balderson:It's it's coming out and it's gonna, it's gonna be the way that it is. In terms of changing some things, I guess maybe there are some like small production things that I would have changed. It's different when it, when you produce everything yourself and it's another thing when you, work with another producer because a lot of those things, it's like their baby as well, I guess. So it is more of a collaborative process. So anything that I would change, I would have to, I'd have to consult with the other person that worked on it.
Jenna Balderson:But no, I mean, I I'm really proud of the way that everything turned out. And I mean, these songs have been in the making for such a long time. Like the oldest song or the song that I wrote first for this EP I wrote when I was like, 20 years old. So that was a long time ago. I won't say how long, but it was.
Rob Lee:That was 1 year ago. What do you mean? It
Jenna Balderson:was a long time ago. So, yeah. It's it's just I'm just really happy that it's finally all coming together and coming out, and that I get to share these things with people. So, in terms of things that would change, I mean, maybe some mixed things, but yeah, that's, that's probably it.
Rob Lee:I'm I'm I'm I'm hearing there's there's excitement though. I'm ready for it to be out there, and I I feel that that same way there's this sort of I have I always have 2 things that are going when I work on because I usually record in batch, and I treat it like, you know, production cycle. I'm like, I'm gonna do this interview. It might come out, let's say, a month later, and I still remember it. I still, like, do I wanna redo that interview?
Rob Lee:Did I screw that question out? Should I? And, you know, but when it comes out and one, I'm always, like, did the guests like the way that they came across? Did I like the way that the interview went? Like, I'm usually feeling that throughout the conversation.
Rob Lee:And when that release is out there, because people come to me, I guess, this sort of that real life person thing of, hey, man, Rob, good one, or, you know, should have been a little bit more there.
Jenna Balderson:People tell you that. Or
Rob Lee:Oh, yeah. Oh. But it's but but more often than not, it's always really well wishes and and appreciation and really kind words, but it is sort of like that you're putting something you're putting a creative expression out there in the universe. And when, you know, I've been I've been to podcasting for 15 years. So in doing this particular one for 5, that's a newer sort of experience.
Rob Lee:Beforehand, it was just like, I did it in is out there. I don't care if anyone listens. Now I'm kinda like, this is a collaborative thing. We're sitting here. You're sharing your story that goes into the making of your EP with me.
Rob Lee:So I wanna do, you know, justice in helping you get your story out there. I'm helping to facilitate you sharing your story. So right there is already a collaborative thing. Like, if you come back, take this question out, take that question out, I'm like, yes, ma'am. Every time.
Rob Lee:But it's definitely this anticipation and this, you know, sort of feeling when I talk up interviews with folks. I'm like, guess who I have coming on? You know, I brag it out. I I talk about it a little bit, and, you know, it's definitely that that feeling of release, that anticipation.
Jenna Balderson:You got yeah. It's, relieving in a way to to get it out there.
Rob Lee:Oh, yeah.
Jenna Balderson:And so nice to get the feedback too. Because maybe you can't change the episodes that are out, but you can use the feedback to influence, like, what you do in the future.
Rob Lee:Yeah. There was one thing that I I had a had a, it was like a podcast release party that I was there, and I was the second guest that he had on in the series, and it was at the Revival Hotel. It's called Pod Cookie. And I remember sitting then on no one knew that was me. Right?
Rob Lee:Because I was doing this anonymity thing. It's a cartoon logo, and, no one knew it was me. So I'm sitting there getting live unsolicited feedback from people listening to the podcast, and I'm trying not to do a tell that, like, I'm trying not to laugh at my own jokes, and and when people kind of laughed at certain things that are in the the episode, I'm like, okay, that landed. I'm like, take it like you said, take it easy, and I was like, okay, that was good, more of that, And it was all like positive feedback, and it was very affirming. It was very cool just to get it without, hey, you know, the guy is here, and when he did the reveal that, oh, no.
Rob Lee:Rob is here sitting here with you guys, and they were like, oh, that was really good. That was fun. That was a good interview. So it's I don't know. Yeah.
Rob Lee:It's it's cool.
Jenna Balderson:Awesome. To get the feedback anonymously is yeah.
Rob Lee:Hey, guys. Rob Lee here, chiming in the middle of the podcast, and we'll be right back to that in a moment. But I wanted to remind you that if you're following me on Instagram, and I hope you are the Truth in His Heart, make sure that you explore the links, the link in bio. I know that people always talk about follow me, link in bio, and all of that, but there's some valuable stuff in there such as a survey for my newsletter. You've probably received the newsletter, and if not, definitely sign up for it.
Rob Lee:There's some interesting stuff there. We have profiles of certain guests. We have sort of, you know, curated episodes because we're around 800 right now and, it's a lot to go through and all of them won't be available on every platform all the time. So being able to revisit and go back there, to check out those episodes is important. So definitely check out the survey.
Rob Lee:Let us know what you think of the newsletter and what you would like to have included in there, and, continue to make this podcast, yours as well as mine's. And, yeah, back to the podcast, Rapid Fire. I got now 4. It was 3 when we started, but you gave yourself more work to do with these rapid fire questions. There was 3 initially.
Rob Lee:You made me add another one because you said something that I needed to, you know, include. But, you know, as I tell folks all the time, don't overthink this. Don't overthink this. These questions, there are 4 of them. So here's the first one.
Rob Lee:Again, I'm curious about I like weird stuff. Right? Like in a choir, we we like the weird things. What is the weirdest and most unexpected place that you found inspiration for a song?
Jenna Balderson:The weirdest and most unexpected place I found inspiration for a song. Oh my gosh. What the heck?
Rob Lee:Because people talk about, like, they get those shower thoughts all the time, and I was like, la la la, and it just turns into a song somehow. Or I've mentioned this before. I take these these walks whenever I go to a new city and it didn't turn into a podcast per se, but it turned into a couple of questions that showed up in a podcast that day. That's a bumper sticker. I look at bumper stickers.
Rob Lee:That is a I look at bumper stickers. That is a weird quirk that I have. I will read a bumper sticker and I always have a notepad with me. So I'm seeing this bumper sticker and I'm thinking of like, I need another question for this interview. And the bumper sticker said that art is the new magic.
Rob Lee:I wrote that down, worked it into a question, and I was like, as I was exploring Austin, Texas, I read that art is the new magic. So and I sounded like I was really smart, like I really had a good insight. I was like, this came from a bumper sticker, bro. I think it was a taco place. I don't know what you're saying.
Jenna Balderson:Okay. I noticed that, so there's Baltimore Penn Station, the train station, but then there's also Penn Station in Moynihan Train Hall in New York. They have a same name. So I was like, I am currently writing a song about that. And now Gil is I'll take the train from pen to pen, wear all your clothes, meet all your friends.
Jenna Balderson:And it's like a, like a romantic song about traveling back and forth between New York and Baltimore. And I just I don't know. I thought it had, like, a nice ring to it.
Rob Lee:I like it. I like it. That sounds good. It's good. As a person that rides from pen to pen, you know, like, look, let's just let's just make it a hit.
Rob Lee:Let's do it. Here here's the next one. If your music because of the genre blending nature, I think this this is apropos. If your music were a cocktail, maybe you can name a specific song that comes to mind, What would the ingredients be?
Jenna Balderson:My music was a cocktail. What would the ingredients be? It's a great question.
Rob Lee:It depends on how you answer that. That would determine what the next rapid fire one is gonna be because the next one I have in mind is kinda funny, and I think it relates.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, oh my gosh. Okay. So I really like these milk punches. Have you ever had a milk punch? It's like a clarified cocktail.
Jenna Balderson:Mhmm. I love clarified cocktails. I'm cocktail.
Rob Lee:Mhmm.
Jenna Balderson:I love clarified cocktails. So normally with that, you put in all kinds of different ingredients, like like a tea or something. So maybe I do like an Earl Grey tea, because I like earl grey tea. It's a kind of what what does earl grey mean? It's like, like cold, cloudy weather.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. Something cozy and, like, intimate in a way. And I feel like there are a lot of moments like that in my songs and in my music. And then I put, like, tequila in it because tequila's, like, fun and
Rob Lee:I I like it.
Jenna Balderson:Kind of a party a little bit. And it, maybe even a mezcal because the flavors are pretty intense and kind of smoky, but it's also like fun and, tequila y. And then with the milk punch aspect of it, I just my music goes through such a filtration process, a refinement process. If you know anything about milk punches, you add this milk, and then it makes everything curdle. And then the curds strain everything until you're left with this, like, really smooth, velvety mouthfeel Yeah.
Jenna Balderson:Of, like, a cocktail. And I feel like the refinement process is really a huge part of how things sound in the end. Just kind of blending, melding all of those flavors together and but it still has like a depth and a smoothness to it. I don't know.
Rob Lee:No. No. No. No. No.
Rob Lee:That was that was actually a little too good. No. No. No. I'm gonna retool my rapid fire question.
Rob Lee:That was too good. Yeah. So, you know, so much like a milk punch. There's a refinement to it, much like the filtering that goes. It does, like, what are you saying?
Rob Lee:And it works so well. I was like, oh, go off. Go off. Let it cook.
Jenna Balderson:Thank you.
Rob Lee:So so in that vein, you you said this earlier, and I thought of the intro for this particular piece of, IP. Who's your favorite Powerpuff Girl?
Jenna Balderson:Buttercup.
Rob Lee:That's that's really funny.
Jenna Balderson:She's just like she's such a she's a sweetie and a softie at heart, but she's also a badass and, a little chaotic, and I like that.
Rob Lee:I feel like and maybe I'll test this out in the in the lab of life, but I feel like back in the day, folks of a certain age, like, you know, for boys, it's like, which ninja turtle are you? And maybe for girls, it's like, which, like, Powerpuff Girl are you? I think that might be the thing.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:And depending on what the bridging thing is because it's been around for so long, it's like, which Power Ranger are you? That's another thing that presents itself, but that's a whole different conversation.
Jenna Balderson:Yeah. I used to love power rangers.
Rob Lee:Likewise. And I mean, it's been all for, like, 30 years, so it's just crosses crosses like age groups. Alright. So this is the last one I got for you. And I'm and and this goes this goes back to something more professional.
Rob Lee:For you, what is, like, the ideal time or or setting in which you write, which you're writing your music?
Jenna Balderson:Ideal timer setting is at a piano when I'm feeling a lot of things.
Rob Lee:Nice.
Jenna Balderson:And it maybe even in the nighttime too. I think I I think I write a lot of these songs at night when I'm just ruminating. Yeah. Yeah. Nighttime piano, near piano, and if I I'm just in kind of a sensitive emotional state.
Rob Lee:That's good. It's like being there. It's like the environment is set. The creative tools are within arm's reach. And then it's something about, especially this this time of year or leading into this time of year where it gets dark earlier, they would have started ruminating a bit more.
Rob Lee:I try to do most of my interviews later in the day because it's like, you know, it's like I'm not at it's am I freshes in that I'm just up fully caffeinated. It's like I'm running the battery is down, but it's at a good spot. It's not a good 30%. It's a good 30% that I can, you know, tap into sort of the creative thing, but it's not super taxing. And it's it just works, and having the home studio helps as well.
Rob Lee:So it's not like, let me run to the studio and do something that's just like, no. I'm gonna do some stuff on the board and, put together some audio. So I definitely feel that.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, yeah. It helps so much when you have everything you need right there in front of you.
Rob Lee:100%. So that's kinda you're off the hot seat. You you survived. Not not everyone survives. So there are some people that don't make it out.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, yeah?
Rob Lee:No. Not not at all.
Jenna Balderson:They just stay in the podcast forever. Like, they can't.
Rob Lee:It's just a loop. It's like in the longest episode that's ever created.
Jenna Balderson:It's just
Rob Lee:so there are 2 things I wanna do as we wrap up here. 1, I wanna thank you for coming on and and making the time to, you know, tell us about your your debut EP and some of the insights that go into it. And, also, I wanna invite and encourage you to share with the listeners any of those final details, social media, website, you know, plug that release date yet again. The floor is yours.
Jenna Balderson:Alright. Yeah. So the EP, Quiet Loud, it comes out November 22nd. You can stay updated with everything about that on my Instagram, which is aka.eys. Yeah.
Jenna Balderson:But I haven't, actually officially announced well, oh, but by this time, when the podcast comes out, it'll have been announced. And then there's also going to be a release show for the EP on January 10th at Metro Gallery. And, yeah. Quiet Loud. Let's go.
Jenna Balderson:Oh, yeah. I was gonna say quiet loud is a word that I made up. But it's meant to express those like more quiet, solitary, lonesome moments where the feelings attached to them are felt very palpably. Like, a deafening silence would be an example of something that's quite loud. And that's kind of what I was going for with the EP.
Jenna Balderson:But, yeah, that'll be out November 22nd. So
Rob Lee:The definition that you're making your own words. So right there, that's that's another thing. It almost has that you know, every now and again when I because I've been I've been studying Japanese for now 400 days. I hit my anniversary today of 400 days. And Sometimes you get those definitions of terms.
Rob Lee:I'm like what and that felt like one of those words a state of quiet loud is when that's a coin by And I was just I was just waiting for it. So you're you're you know, you got the sonic collage. You got, you know, quiet loud. Just wordsmithing. I love it.
Jenna Balderson:It's making stuff up.
Rob Lee:And there you have it, folks. I'm gonna again thank Jenna Balderson IS for coming on to the podcast and talking about her debut EP out on November 22nd, and it is called Quiet Loud. And for Jenna, I'm Rob Lee saying that there's art, culture, and community in and around your neck of the woods. You've just gotta look for it.
