Catch up with country rock singer Jenna Torres and listen to her single "Heart on Wheels" off her upcoming album, Wild Sugar, due out in 2017.
What got you interested in music and in songwriting?
Ever since I was a little girl I have been moved by music… It is the quickest route to the heart and soul. I think what got me turning to song as a form of expression was the realization that not only could I get my point across in an amazing way but that I was free to express emotions that might otherwise be too much without the benefit of music to help deliver the message.
Which words would you use to describe your sound?
It is hard to describe a sound especially my own…I’d like to think it is warm, deep, fun, sometimes it rocks, sometimes rolls but it is almost always emotional & heartfelt. My influences range from country to rock to blues to folk music… My songwriting starts out very organic and then, depending on the production and what feels best for each song, we can either keep it stripped down or be big, bold, and driving… You kind of have to let the song tell you what it wants to sound like, rather than treat each one the same.
What were your inspirations behind your single "Heart On Wheels"?
"Heart On Wheels” is a song about love & freedom and how hard it can be to have both. Some songs you have to live to write and this is one of those songs. I think most people, at one time or another, have had feelings for someone but for whatever reason, be it circumstances, timing, geography, it just isn’t gonna be something you can sustain… It doesn’t mean that it is any less passionate or real or that the connection isn’t deep. I find that a lot of my songs are written in that moment when I am struggling to accept and understand what just happened… So, yeah, it happened and I had to learn to let go and the song helped me do it!
Is that single indicative of what we can expect to hear on Wild Sugar and could you tell us more about your upcoming album?
I would say yes it is, but I definitely feel like every song on the album tells a different story and, sonically, even though they all belong to the same family, they don’t all sound the same. The beauty of making a whole album is that you get to express a fuller spectrum of thoughts and emotion... I have the chance to tell you more than I do in a single song. As a songwriter, I never feel as though I have said it all; there is always something more I would like to express. That said, this album is an amazing chance to let the listener in… I think if you listen all the way through, you will get to know a great deal about the way I think and feel and we will have a lot to talk about!
Is there a track off the album you're most excited to share with fans?
That’s kind of like picking a favorite child, it isn’t really fair to the other children. I do have favorites but what I am really curious about is what your favorites will be! However, there are a few tracks that are particularly meaningful l to me. “The Man You Want To Be" is about loving someone who is struggling with loving themselves; it is the most stripped down and exposed song on the record, there is just you and me and the song. “Firewall” is autobiographical, it tells my story in a very honest way and I love the droning, somewhat celtic, undertones. In contrast, “Creek's On Fire” is dark, moody, and has a badass track that is so visual to me… The darkness, the moonlight, the swampy, sexy vibes are palpable. Truth is, I am excited to share every one these songs wth you!!