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Jenny Owen Youngs

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Jenny Owen Youngs
Youngs performing in Portland, Oregon's Mississippi Studios
Youngs performing in Portland, Oregon's Mississippi Studios
Background information
Born (1981-11-22) November 22, 1981 (age 42)
OriginNewton, New Jersey, US
GenresIndie pop, alternative, indie folk
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass, flute, tuba
Years active2005–present
LabelsNettwerk
Spouse
​
(m. 2021)​

Jenny Owen Youngs (born November 22, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter.[1] She has released four albums and a handful of EPs both independently and via Nettwerk Records,[2][3] and has toured worldwide. Youngs is also a songwriting collaborator whose cuts include the 2018 Panic! at the Disco single "High Hopes,[4]" as well as songs with Brett Dennen, Ingrid Michaelson, Shungudzo, Pitbull, and others.

Youngs' songs have been used in TV shows such as Weeds,[5] Grey's Anatomy, Nurse Jackie, Suburgatory, and Switched at Birth. In 2017, her 2012 song "Wake Up" was featured over the end credits of BoJack Horseman's season 4 finale. On March 28, 2018, it was announced that Youngs would work as the composer for Muscle Memory,[6] a short film directed by Carly Usdin being made as a part of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.[7]

Early life and education

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Youngs was born in a hospital elevator.[8] Raised in Newton, New Jersey, Youngs grew up playing the flute, the french horn and the sousaphone in elementary school and the tuba in junior high school.[9][10] At age 14, her older step-brother told her that if she wanted to be in a band she needed to learn how to play the guitar. She attended Kittatinny Regional High School[11] and graduated from State University of New York at Purchase with a degree in studio composition.[12][13]

Music career

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As a solo artist

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Batten the Hatches

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Youngs' first album Batten the Hatches was recorded with borrowed equipment at SUNY-Purchase and self-released in 2005.[14][13] While at Austin's South by Southwest, Youngs met Gary Calamar, the music supervisor of Showtime's Weeds, which led to her song "Fuck Was I" appearing in Weeds' second-season premiere.[9] The notoriety resulted in a contract with Canadian indie label Nettwerk Records.[9] Nettwerk Records re-released her album Batten the Hatches on April 10, 2007, with new artwork and an additional song ("Drinking Song").[15][16] Newsweek called the album a top pick, complimenting Youngs' "simple, stripped-down guitar" and her "edgy lyrics and sweetly sung melodies".[17] The Sydney Morning Herald described the album as an "accomplished debut".[18]

"Fuck Was I" was also released on Weeds: Music from the Original Series, Vol. 2.

Transmitter Failure

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Youngs released her second album, Transmitter Failure, on May 26, 2009.[19] She supported Regina Spektor in her 2009 tour promoting the album Far.[9]

Youngs collaborated with Xian Hawkins under the moniker Bell Horses, which resulted in the album This Loves Last Time (2009). In the fall of 2009, Youngs performed alongside Chuck Ragan, Jim Ward, Tim Barry, Joey Cape, Dave Hause, Frank Turner, and others as part of the 2009 Revival Tour.[20]

An Unwavering Band of Light

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On July 1, 2010, Youngs launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund her third album and reached her goal of $20,000 in 28 hours. Her drummer, Elliot Jacobson, had his chest waxed as an incentive to reach the goal. The campaign ended on August 13, 2010, with a total of $38,543 and 646 backers. On February 7, 2012, the Kickstarter-backed third studio album, titled An Unwavering Band of Light was released.[21] In 2017, a song from that album, "Wake Up", appeared over the end titles of the Season Four finale of Netflix's Bojack Horseman.

OFFAIR: From The Forest Floor

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The 12-track album cycles through a 24-hour period, beginning at 7am. Each piece is designed to reflect aspects of the time it's representing, from sunrise to dusk, moonset to blue hour. The earthy, hypnotic project features collaborators John Mark Nelson, Hrishikesh Hirway, and Jess Abbott (solo as Tancred).

Side projects, touring, and other releases

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On April 5, 2018, Youngs released the song "Won't Let Go of Me" which was featured in the Grey's Anatomy episode "Hold Back The River" (Season 14, Episode 18). The song was written by Aaron Espe and Kyle Neal. Neal produced the song while Espe was credited as a co-producer.

On March 28, 2018, it was announced that Youngs would work as the composer for Muscle Memory,[22] a short film directed by Carly Usdin being made as a part of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.[23]

Youngs has toured worldwide headlining and also supporting artists such as Regina Spektor,[24] Against Me!,[25] Frank Turner,[26] and Streetlight Manifesto.[27]

In January 2013, she was announced to rejoin The Revival Tour, where she performed alongside Chuck Ragan, Rocky Votolato, Dave Hause, Jenny O., and Tim McIlrath of Rise Against.[28]

In December 2012, Youngs began her Exhibit project in which she visited a New York City museum once a week, recording a song inspired by her visit within the same week. The album was released on Bandcamp and consists of 8 tracks.[29]

Youngs covered "Have You Forgotten" by Red House Painters for American Laundromat Records's charity CD "Sing Me To Sleep – Indie Lullabies" released in Spring 2010. In March 2010, Youngs toured with Bess Rogers and A.W. on their 'Spring Break Forever Tour', after which she flew out to the United Kingdom to support Motion City Soundtrack on their London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow tour. She headlined a show at "Monto Water Rats" in London in April 2010.

In addition to her solo career, Youngs was a member of the band The Robot Explosion, a side project with fellow musicians and friends Bess Rogers, Andrew Futral, and Saul Simon-MacWilliams.

Youngs has toured with Vienna Teng, opening for the singer on the Green Caravan Tour, and opened for Aimee Mann at London's indigO2 on July 27, 2007. Youngs toured with Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket in August 2007, and with Sean Hayes, with whom she co-headlined. She played in Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden in November and December 2007.

Co-writing and recent years

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In 2015, Youngs moved to Los Angeles[30] where she is working on her next album and co-writing with and for other artists. Youngs' notable cuts include Panic! at the Disco's 2018 single "High Hopes",[31] the 2018 song from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack, "Come On Back", which she co-wrote with Shungudzo and producer Jordan Palmer and appeared in both the film and on the soundtrack, "Miss America", which she co-wrote with Ingrid Michaelson and others for Michaelson's 2016 album It Doesn't Have to Make Sense, and Pitbull's 2016 single "Bad Man",[32] which was debuted at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.[33] She also worked closely with Brett Dennen and Dan Wilson to write three of the five songs on Dennen's 2018 EP, Let's... including the title track. Youngs often collaborates with her friends Chris Farren and A.W.

Buffering the Vampire Slayer

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In September 2016, Youngs launched the podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer with Kristin Russo. The podcast discusses the popular television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer one episode at a time, and each episode ends with an original recap song about the episode, penned by Youngs and Russo.[34] The podcast is part of the Stitcher Premium network and has been featured in A.V. Club,[35] Entertainment Weekly,[36] Autostraddle,[34] and Buzzfeed.[37]

Veronica Mars Investigations

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In August 2019, Youngs launched the podcast Veronica Mars Investigations with Helen Zaltzman. The podcast discusses the popular television series Veronica Mars one episode at a time.

Personal life

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On June 12, 2013, Youngs came out, announcing "I am super gay", and that she was engaged to marry her girlfriend Kristin Russo,[38][39] whom she married on August 25, 2013. On May 25, 2018, the couple announced they are no longer together but remain friends and will keep working on their mutual projects. Both of them said, "We've come to realize that we will be better—both to ourselves and to each other—within the context of a friendship, rather than a marriage."[40]

On May 3, 2020, Youngs announced her engagement to Jess Abbott of Tancred on Twitter.[41] Youngs and Abbott were married in 2021 and Abbott gave birth to a boy on December 29th, 2023.


Discography

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Albums

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Jenny Owen Youngs albums
Year Album details
2005 (re-released 2007) Batten the Hatches
  • Released:
  • Label: self-released (re-released by Nettwerk)
  • Format: CD
2009 Transmitter Failure
  • Released: May 26, 2009
  • Label: Nettwerk
  • Format: CD
2012 An Unwavering Band of Light
  • Released: February 7, 2012
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD, LP
2023 Avalanche
2024 OFFAIR: From The Forest Floor

Singles

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  • "Split" with Dave House (UK vinyl 12" single released April 2007), Gravity DIP Records
  • "Fuck Was I" (UK single released May 2007), Nettwerk Music Group
  • "Things We Don't Need Anymore" (digital single), Nettwerk Music Group
  • "Great Big Plans" (digital single, June 2011)
  • "Jenny Owen Youngs and A.W. Sing the Magnetic Fields" (vinyl 7" single, September 2013), Asbestos Records

EPs

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  • The Take Off All Your Clothes EP March 12, 2007
  • Led to the Sea EP April 7, 2009
  • Last Person EP March 23, 2010
  • Jukebox the Ghost + Jenny Owen Youngs split EP July 30, 2013
  • Slack Tide February 17, 2015
  • Night Shift November 15, 2019
  • Echo Mountain March 10, 2021
  • It's Dangerous to Go Alone June 10, 2022

Compilations

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Song Album Release Date
"Not On Your Own"[42] The Gayest Compilation Ever Made Volume II January 14. 2014

Co-writing credits

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Year Artist Album Song
2015 A.W. New Love (SideOneDummy Records) "Good Way"
"Golden Coast"
2016 Zach Jones & The Tricky Bits Rendezvous with a Comet "Mushroom Suit"
Ingrid Michaelson It Doesn't Have to Make Sense (Cabin 24 Records / Mom + Pop Music) "Miss America"
2017 Bo Talks ft. Sarah Hyland Know U Anymore – Single (Proximity / Geffen) "Know U Anymore"
Ingrid Michaelson ft. Sara Bareilles Alter Egos (Cabin 24 Records) "Miss America"
Jasmine Murray Jasmine Murray (Fair Trade / Columbia) "Into Words"
Pitbull ft. Robin Thicke, Joe Perry, and Travis Barker Climate Change (RCA Records) "Bad Man"
2018 Brett Dennen Here's Looking at You Kid EP (Downtown Records) "People I Love"
Panic! at the Disco Pray for the Wicked (Fueled By Ramen / DCD2 Records) "High Hopes"
"Roaring 20s"
Brett Dennen Let's... EP (Downtown Records) "Let's..."
"Home Away From Home"
"Jenny and Jill"
Ashley Campbell The Lonely One "Wish I Wanted To"
Shungudzo Fifty Shades Freed Soundtrack (Universal / Republic) "Come On Back"
2020 Semisonic You're Not Alone EP "Basement Tapes"

References

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  1. ^ La Gorce, Tammy. "Sure, I Rock, but I Need Health Care", The New York Times, May 24, 2006. Accessed October 24, 2007. "To get it, Ms. Owen Youngs, 24, who shares an apartment in Montclair with a roommate, drives an hour northwest every weekday to Shanachie Records in Newton."
  2. ^ "Jenny Owen Youngs: Transmitter Failure". PopMatters. May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  3. ^ "Jenny Owen Youngs makes a shiny new record!". Kickstarter. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "Panic! at the Disco – High Hopes Stream". Spin. May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  5. ^ Mintzer, Cori (August 18, 2006). "'Weeds' still addictive in its second season". Oregon Daily Emerald (University of Oregon).
  6. ^ "Muscle Memory: a short film". Seed&Spark. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "Muscle Memory: a short film". Seed&Spark. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  8. ^ @jennyowenyoungs (February 9, 2021). "I was born in a hospital elevator and that is true Sagittarius energy baby" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ a b c d Derogatis, Katie (February 13, 2007). "Girl with guitar soundtracks 'Weeds'". Washington Square News (New York University).
  10. ^ Ensminger, Kristina (April 10, 2007). "Jenny Owen Youngs". Spin. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  11. ^ McCall, Tris. "Jenny Owen Youngs recharged and ready to rock at Maxwell's", Inside Jersey, January 27, 2012, updated March 30, 2019. Accessed January 2, 2022. "Nearly six years have gone by since 'F*** Was I' was licensed to Showtime’s Weeds, providing national exposure for the Sussex County native and Kittatinny High School graduate."
  12. ^ McLaughlin, Moira E. (August 19, 2010). "Jenny Owens Youngs finds inspiration in the dark". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "The Sound of Youngs' America: One singer-songwriter you have to hear". Fairfield County Weekly (Bridgeport, Connecticut). November 10, 2005.
  14. ^ "Nothing to Write Home About with Matt Pryor". April 4, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  15. ^ "Jenny Owen Youngs – Batten The Hatches". Discogs. April 10, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  16. ^ Shuster, Fred (April 10, 2007). "Hear Today: Stax in Spotlight for 50th Anniversary". Daily News of Los Angeles. p. U5.
  17. ^ "The Checklist". Newsweek. April 16, 2007. p. 103.
  18. ^ Wright, Rachel (May 4, 2007). "CD reviews". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 18.
  19. ^ "Album Review: Transmitter Failure". Count Me Out. May 26, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  20. ^ "About The Tour". Revival Tour. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  21. ^ "Jenny Owen Youngs makes a shiny new record!". Kickstarter. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  22. ^ "Muscle Memory: a short film". Seed&Spark. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  23. ^ "Muscle Memory: a short film". Seed&Spark. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  24. ^ "Jenny Owen Youngs". Song Facts. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  25. ^ "Against Me! touring with Jenny Owen Youngs and Creepoid (who's touring w/ Balance & Composure and Seahaven)". Brooklyn Vegan. June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  26. ^ "Best Tour Ever: Frank Turner, Larry & His Flask, Jenny Owen Youngs September US Dates". The Ruckus. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  27. ^ "Punks in Vegas". Punks in Vegas. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  28. ^ "Coming To A Town Near You: The 2013 Revival Tour". American Songwriter. January 11, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  29. ^ "EXHIBIT | Jenny Owen Youngs". Jennyowenyoungs.bandcamp.com. December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  30. ^ "kristinnoeline: i'm moving". Tumblr. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  31. ^ "Panic! at the Disco – High Hopes Stream". Spin. May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  32. ^ "Pitbull Ft. Robin Thicke, Joe Perry, Travis Barker – Bad Man". Discogs. February 15, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  33. ^ "Pitbull Recruits Robin Thicke, Travis Barker for 'Bad Man' at Grammys". Rolling Stone. February 16, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  34. ^ a b "Rejoice, For Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs Have A Podcast About Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Autostraddle. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  35. ^ "Buffering the Vampire Slayer Fawns Over Cordelia, Drusilla, and the whole Scooby gang". The A.V. Club. March 7, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  36. ^ "EW Must List". Entertainment Weekly. September 29, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  37. ^ "27 Podcasts You Need To Start Listening To In 2018". BuzzFeed. February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  38. ^ "Dear friend, I'm writing to tell you, among other". Everyoneisgay.tumblr.com. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  39. ^ Sieczkowski, Cavan (June 17, 2013). "Jenny Owen Youngs Gay: Folk Singer Comes Out, Reveals She Is Engaged". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  40. ^ "Kristin Russo". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  41. ^ "Jenny Owen Youngs". Twitter. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  42. ^ "The Gayest Compilation Ever Made Volume II, by Everyone Is Gay". Everyone Is Gay. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
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