Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Shawhan.
Jenny, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in the small town Indiana town of Mooresville (just outside of Indianapolis). I started taking piano lessons at seven years old. My grandma (mamaw Shawhan) played and sang the old hymns and would always sing and play with me. After trying a few different instruments and joining the choirs in school and church I really discovered my singing voice in high school when I didn’t make the top show choir I wanted to. So, I started auditioning and landing solo spots in the shows and finally made it into my choir my senior year. I knew then that I wanted to sing professionally and eventually made my way to Belmont University where I majored in music/music business. I worked in publishing in Nashville for a while, married my college sweetheart and acquired my master’s degree in education to support my then husband through grad school. His acceptance to CU Boulder moved us to Denver and after a series of odd jobs, and a couple wake up call car accidents, I realized that the universe may have a different plan for me. I had always known what I wanted to do but deep down I didn’t really know how to go about it and lacked the confidence to pursue it. I am the only musician in my family, and the first one to graduate college.
As my marriage was ending, I started to pick up the guitar again and started performing at open mics around Denver. Before I knew it, I had an acoustic trio playing all the local gigs and venues I could get my hands on. And after working several different jobs, I am now truly manifesting what I’ve always wanted to do.I am a full time performing musician, currently playing a variety of local Denver shows. I have two singles out and I’m working on my first album release. My platform is a message of empowerment. I want to let the world know that they are not alone and that all their experiences really do add up to something. I want to take all that I know now, that I had no clue of when I was 20, and bundle it up to offer inspiration for my generation because I feel that it’s my purpose and our time is now.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at all, but they are getting easier as I keep going and have grown my network and my musical experiences. Some of my challenges include my upbringing and my divorce. I’ve always been kind of a pioneer in my family in many ways and blazed my own trail. I’ve always worked while pursuing my education, supporting myself and persevering through circumstances with sometimes very few resources. Figuring out the financial piece of things as I pursue my music has been a journey. And most of all, finding my way to a true belief in myself, my gifts and my talent.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Currently, I operate all business under my name, Jenny Shawhan Music. I sing and play guitar and perform mostly solo, duo, and trio cover shows with clients ranging from weddings, private and corporate events, house concerts, country clubs, bars, and breweries, to music venues where I perform my original music with a full band. I have about 250 songs I can cover for what I call my “human jukebox gigs” and I also have about two dozen originals to draw from for the listening room crowd. My voice has been compared to numerous artists – everyone from Dolly Parton to Melissa Etheridge, both of whom I love. I grew up on country music but I tend to lean toward the rock side, spanning the gamut of Bon Jovi, P!nk, Gaga, Black Keys, Aretha. I think I’m a bit country mixed with soulful rock, and blues, somewhere between Fleetwood Mac and Civil Wars.
I think I’m known for having a powerful voice that evokes a yearning feeling and engages people to want to keep listening. I think I also write songs that folks can relate to and I can tell the story in a way that makes you laugh and sing it in a way that makes you think or pulls at your heartstrings a bit.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to follow this dream. It has taken a good amount of time to get here and now there’s no turning back. I finally feel like a singer and I’m fully embracing it and learning to enjoy the journey full of amazing friends and experiences.
What sets me apart is that I’ve already tried everything else under the sun so I’ve completely eliminated Plan B…;) And I have and continue to work on my own personal healing so the conviction you hear in my voice is real. I used to be numb to my feelings and now I feel everything. I can speak to a wide net of topics because I’ve lived it. I have the ability to be vulnerable in the moment and go with the flow on stage. I love performing and connecting with the audience.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I want to have plans to release my first album within a year. I want to build a show around it and tour. I want to get my name out there and be picked up by a label. I would love to be a Grammy winner and also have my songs licensed in tv/film. And, if only for a time, I would like to be famous so I can reach more people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jennyshawhan.com/
- Phone: 303-746-6715
- Email: info@jennyshawhan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyshawhan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyshawhan/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennyshawhan/
Image Credit:
Bernard Wooten (all photos except for the following), Josh Edstedt (close up headshot only), Scott Flanigan (electric guitar shot with pink/red velvet background)
Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
