Jen has been writing songs and performing music for over ten years. Starting with piano as a child, progressing to guitar, percussion and singing in her teens, she has been heavily influenced by all types and styles of music.

Toronto born and raised, Jen grew up in a creative home. Her parents, both artists in their own rights, encouraged her through music lessons. At 14, after deciding she wanted to be the fifth member of KISS, her parents lovingly bought her an acoustic Simon and Patrick guitar, which steered her towards the more gentle and expressive folk songs which she loves today.

Jen performed at a variety of school functions and in local coffee shops in her teens. In University, she helped to form the group ‘Kitsch-n-sync”, a collaboration of visual artists, musicians and performers which held several successful fundraising events for children with AIDS in Africa. Individually, Jen also challenged herself by becoming involved with multiple independent theatre productions as an actress, songwriter and chorus director, including arranging and performing the live soundtrack to a two-hour award winning play with the assistance of a five-person ensemble at Glendon College, Toronto.

Jen is passionate about teaching and the healing ability of the arts. She has been involved with therapeutic arts for many years through the Spiral Garden program, operating out of Bloorview Kids Rehab, Toronto. Having worked as a musician and visual artist within the program, she enjoys connecting with the children through song, rhythm and story. An opportunity for the program to collaborate with Medicin Sans Frontiers also further inspired Jen to continue her involvement with arts therapy, offering assistance in training new staff at several new garden sites and acting as a resource to volunteers within the program.

She continues to regard music as a ‘universal’ experience, something which unites people from all places. Jen loves music from all places in the world, enjoying the variety of rhythms, harmonies, sounds and melodies, particularly those which are arise spontaneously and organically. Her experience within the Spiral program and its philosophies now informs her current profession, working as a paediatric nurse.

Interested in relationships in all forms, Jen uses her own experiences and insight to inform her songs. Focusing on crafting thoughtful and accessible songs, she sings about the relationships and connections between people, often describing difficult and challenging situations. Her greatest influences are great lyricists – Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Leonard Cohen, Ani Difranco, Paul Simon – who encourage her to think about words, not only those we do use, but those we choose not to use.