Jenika Marion - Hello Sun (2018)

Jenika Marion considers herself a storyteller first and performer second. On her debut release, “Hello, Sun” her entrancing vocals pair with sounds that are guided by keystones of folk and jazz. Though the varied song styles reflect her wide range of musical interests, her conversational tone is her signature on each track. At once equally sweet and solid, Jenika’s voice is reminiscent of a film noir heroine in a
modern setting. Her seamless synthesis of styles is not duplicitous but reflective of a current generation - people who can successfully enjoy more than one persona depending on their mood or the time of day. Both wide-eyed and wordly, Jenika’s lyrics are genuine in equal measure.

Based in Nashville, Jenika thrives on collaboration with other musicians and songwriters. In songs on “Hello Sun" that feature guest artist collaborations with Sarah Jarosz (I’m With Her) and Christopher Marion, Jenika’s vocal demeanor welcomes their voices instead of competing with them. Formerly, Jenika has released a bluegrass-influenced album titled “Shotgun Wedding” with collaborator Darrell Marrier and their joint project, Rosewater; her current release is her first solo project and writing debut.

A lifelong musician, Jenika has been a singer and multi-instrumentalist since earliest childhood, seizing every opportunity to perform. This is reflected on “Hello Sun”, as several of the songs seem to transition from childhood to adulthood over the course of several verses, and Jenika says that conceptually she was influenced by Sufjan Stevens’ “Carrie and Lowell” album. Another tangible transition spanning the tracks is the feeling of traveling through a day from morning to night, with bright fables winding down into crooning romances. A real life narrator, Jenika says, “This project was largely inspired by a little girl I used to care for and watched grow. I sang to her and wrote songs for her - a couple of them, in particular, were written to sing her to sleep and to entertain on walks.” Because of this, Jenika’s sound
is more accessible than many other artists’, and her audience can include fans of all ages.