The first time that I heard Jenee Halstead sing I was mesmerized. The perfect amount of twang and heart spiraling together and outward to the audience. The poor audience doesn’t know what is going to hit them, but when it hits they too are sent into a helix of wonderful things. I believe it was her song “Damascus” that just had me hooked and reeled in.  It was a moment of “why can’t every female songwriter just sound exactly like this?” that overtook me and I immediately got it. By the time I first heard Jenee’s take on Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ I was already sold, but when she launched into that first repetition of the song’s namesake I was lining up to buy the whole damn lot. She just has “it”. That thing that is completely impossible to properly define, but everyone knows it when they hear it.  There are many folks who try and try to create beautiful and moving music and those that it simply flows from. Jenee is one of those people from whom wonderful music comes.

Jenee is also one of those folks who , sadly, I don’t have the pleasure of hanging out with all too often. I am busy, she is busy, but for some reason every time I get to see her perform or just hang out watching friends perform it feels like I am getting back in touch with an old friend. That’s why it was important for me to include her on this project. She is one of the most welcoming and kind folks in the community and her joy and friendly attitude is infectious. Recently I was bumming about being a musician, my songs not being noticed, the typical “poor me” syndrome and Jenee wrote me a very personal and motivating note. It was certainly a tough love approach, just make music because you need to, kind of a note. At first, I have to be honest, I was extremely defensive and hesitant to write back, but her words really dug in deep with me and made me realize that music is something that we need to do first for ourselves and people enjoying your art is secondary. That lesson is something I am forever grateful for and a reason why she is so supportive…and in a way that matters.

The fact that Jenee and Danielle not only covered one another, but also took the passenger seat on their own songs really stuck with me. I think it’s so cool that they were able to trust one another enough that they allowed the other to take the lead on their song and still be a part of the arrangement. Jenee’s vocal treatment of Danielle’s song “Choir” is pure bliss. Her voice is SOARING over the guitars. When she belts out “I hope that choir, comes arooooooooound” she growls it out. Man! Its just like, wow! I can’t explain it but it’s the kind of stuff that makes you thankful that songs exist.

So happy to have Jenee Halstead on this project covering her good friend and musical compadre Danielle Miraglia.