The stage is no strange place for pop-rock artist Jennel Garcia. From her beginning journey to her time on The X-Factor, Garcia and her career have grown immensely. Now, with an EP on the way, Garcia has taken some time to reflect with us about the past, and what’s in store for the future.
You first made a name for yourself on the show The X-Factor. What about that experience influenced you as a performer?
Before The X-Factor I spent my whole life working to be the performer I am today. I guess I kind of auditioned for the hell of it because my best friend had asked me to. After my success on the show, I was really inspired to move forward at full speed. For me, it’s all about being on stage. I got to sing for the world and everyday I look back at my journey and I’m inspired still to this day. The goal is to just sing for the world again.
How do you feel having the reality show/competition experience sets you apart from other artists trying to build their careers?
I truly believe in the process of garage band practices, touring in a van, playing for 20 kids a night and then 40 and then 100 and so on and so forth. The process of actually building a career is really important to me. It’s all about the journey. The difference between that and a tv show is the process is very fast and you’re immediately thrown in front millions of people! You get recognition super quick and there really is no “building”. But the best part of all of that crazy mayhem that goes on behind the screen, is that the fans fall in love and they support you. The BEST part of being on The X-Factor is it created my start–my fan base. I’ve gotten to meet so many great people because of it and I’m so thankful for that. My journey started out a little different than most musicians but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
In the three years since your time on the show ended, how do you feel you’ve grown as an artist on your own?
I’ve grown as an artist and a young woman since The X-Factor very much. I’ve learned to value the things I have and my gift of singing. I’ve learned that things take time. I’ve learned that creativity sometimes takes some practice and lots of patience. And I’ve learned a LOT about how the business side of things work and how you have to be very stern, hard working, driven and professional. It takes a lot more than just a good voice to make it in this industry.
You’re influences seem to include a lot of alternative and hard rock. How do you try to incorporate those influences into your songwriting and performing?
Rock N’ Roll is just part of who I am. I grew up head banging with my dad in his garage to Eddie Van Halen and dancing to Pat Benatar. When I go on stage, it’s just natural. I have never rehearsed the way I present myself on stage before I sing, I kind of just do it. While recording original music, I like to keep it modern but I like the classic feel by using all real instruments manually played and recorded. That was important for me with this EP.
You’ve released about four songs over the last year or so, but you’ve been working on releasing a full EP. What can listeners from the final product?
I got three more songs on the full EP that the audience hasn’t heard yet. Three songs that are all very different from one another. Listeners will see an emotional side of me with a ballad I wrote and a more aggressive side with a more punchy tune. I’m curious and excited to see what they’ll like best!
What are you personally looking forward to once your EP is finally out there?
I’m really looking forward to hopefully touring! I want to get on stage again and sing these songs live!
There is a bit of controversy surrounding the use of crowdfunding, but you actually conducted a successful Kickstarter Campaign to fund the release of you EP. How do you feel this tool benefited you and your fans?
My Kickstarter was really such a blessing. It was a lot of work to promote it and to spread the word but between me and my friends and my family, I reached my goal! I got the funds to build my team for this EP release and I got to shoot my first official music video! It’s all been a tough and long process but it will be worth it. I just keep moving forward!
You recently released your song “Life Starts Now” which you’ve said is your only song on your EP that isn’t about relationships/love. What is it that you hope your listeners take away from this song as opposed to your other songs?
I really just want people to feel inspired when they listen to Life Starts Now. It’s empowering and exciting and it gives this good and magical feeling about the future. At least that’s what it does for me. I think people, especially young adults, fear their future too much but there’s always moment and spark that goes off every once in a while for people where they feel powerful and excited and positive about it and I hope this song gives them that moment.
What would you say has been the most difficult part of your career for you all personally and collectively?
I think the most difficult part of my career so far has been when I lost, what was supposed to be, my first album. Learning to cope with the fact that things don’t always go as planned and to stay strong and keep moving forward, was really hard for me. The hardest part was coping with the circumstances in which I lost my record to. It was a life and business lesson. You can’t trust everyone. It all really opened up my eyes and took a very long time for me to grow from
How did you, or do you continue to, overcome these struggles?
After that had all happened, I fell into this dark place for a while where I didn’t want to even leave my bedroom. I physically couldn’t even sing and had to see a voice therapist weekly. It was just such a hard time for me and I had a hard time letting go. I was angry and I felt like I had let everyone down. But I pulled myself together. I forced myself to be strong and to move on. And with the help from my family and friends, I moved on and I let go and I did what I had to do.
What is the ‘highlight’ of your career so far?
I have a few highlights so far in my career. One starting with my journey on The X-Factor. I fell in love with that life style and my success on the show keeps me driven with the hopes of what my life can and hopefully WILL be again. Two was going to Georgia and writing and recording my record with ZK Productions. I fell in love with Georgia, I had so much fun with my producers Zack and Kenneth, and I got to share the two weeks I spend there with my mom, sister and best friend. Third was my trip to Florida to shoot a couple covers with Boyce Avenue. They’re so talented and so professional and I got to spend sometime in Sarasota alone and it was really liberating. It was beautiful and I really enjoyed myself and I loved working with them. I value my friendship with those guys a lot. Fourth being my first small run of a tour. I got to see what it’s really like to be on the road and io t to do with with a few guys who became my best friends. It was something I truly needed for my career and personally. I got to meet fans, I got to sing every night, I celebrated my 20th birthday and I fell in love with my boyfriend. It was so magical!!!! *heart eyes*!!!!! And lastly, new to my list, was shooting my first official music video. I could go on and on about how amazing that experience was for me but it would be a novel. California, the cast and crew, the set, everything was so beautiful and perfect!
What is the one dream the moment at which point either personally or collectively you would be able to say yes I’ve achieved this, I’m living my dreams?
I have a few moments set in my head that would be moments where I could tell myself “you made it!” They seem like pipe dreams right now but I believe that anything can happen. I don’t want to jinx anything so I keep a lot of those pipe dreams to myself. But I think just being invited to the Grammys or any award show for that matter would be amazing. I’d love to see one of my songs or records go at least gold. I’d love to tour for at least 1000 people a night, that would be a milestone.. And then of course I have many many other things.
