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Hometown: Astoria, NY
Label: Bitesized Records
Website: www.jeneenterrana.com
Sounds Like: Norah Jones, Feist, KT Tunstall, Patty Griffin, Lana Del Rey
Genre: Americana
Jeneen Terrana’s music is like KT Tunstall meets Feist … pop, rock and folk with a feminine vulnerability.
Singer/songwriter Jeneen Terrana has been gaining national and international exposure touring the US and Europe. She’s a true songstress, a powerful performer with fire and soul in her voice that comes from a wisdom far beyond her years.
Terrana grew up in Buffalo, New York, and was strongly influenced by her Sicilian grandfather who sang every Sunday after dinner. “My grandfather put on a full opera,” Terrana said, “he played all the characters himself.” She sang in rock bands in high school and became active in local theatre. After leaving Buffalo, Jeneen studied classical music and opera and began experimenting with other styles of music. With her BA in hand, she moved to New York, to dive into the local music scene.
In 2002 she released her debut album “Just Me”, a mix of gentle melodies and sarcastic wit, with songs that are both purge and console. Her award-winning album “My Creation” was released in 2007 with the title song setting the theme for the next few years. It was voted Wildy’s World “Desert Island Disc” and “Album of the Year” and the title track voted as the number one song for the New Year on the Alive with Clive TV show.
Following a three year recording haiatus, Terrana returns with “See The Light”, a fresh collection of songs showing a renewed sense of maturity and insight. Backed by acoustic guitars, mandolin, trumpets and piano, Jeneen’s earthy, soulful vocals convey her positive spirit. Her lyrics were inspired by her own journal entries from 2009-2010 and the turbulence felt in her personal life. “‘See the Light” is about just that, coming out of a dark time and feeling the sunshine again”, Terrana says. It was recorded in Lawrence, Kansas over a seven day studio session. Produced by Mike West (Shawn Mullins, Chuck Brodsky) the album features a mix of love, loss, courage and heartache, from the fun pop tune “Benny’s in My Head” to the haunting “God, I Need Comfort”.
“See the Light” was funded by RocketHub.com, a crowdfunding website that allows fans to “fuel” projects. The combined her love of and another passion, baking. Terrana has been baking wedding cakes and specialty treats for the past five years and pushed her skills even further with her Rocket Hub campaign. “My kitchen was in operation for three months straight! I was making cheesecakes, cupcakes, chocolates, you name it.” At the end of three months, she successfully raised $4,400 to find the new album. Now that the flour in the kitchen has settled, “See the Light” is ready to do just that.
“See the Light" is a hearty mix of pop, folk, blues, and acoustic “indie” rock that showcases Terrana’s wide vocal range and abilities. Songs like “I Laid It On Him” and “Raise Your Voice” display the inspiring bravado of a strong-willed young woman, whereas enlightening tracks like “See The Light” and the revealing “God, I Need Comfort” show the steady maturation of both the music and its singer. Beginning with the fun, poppy “Benny’s In My Head,” and ending with the vulnerable plea, “Time”, the album encompasses a variety of moods, taking the listener on a positive coming-of-age journey that relays Terrana’s experiences over the past few years ... The result is an album that is relatable, soothing and reassuring as well as enjoyable.”
Cristina Guarino - Queens Gazette
"A whirlwind of powerful songs and folksy playfulness, Jeneen Terrana has been gaining national and international exposure touring the states and Europe for the past several years. "
Bob Doda - Queens Courier
"It’s not hard to love Terrana’s music, which is folk rock-oriented with jazz and blues influences. Her style is reminiscent of Fiona Apple with a bit of Mary Chapin Carpenter, the Indigo Girls or early Ani DiFranco thrown in."
Mark Lord - Queens Chronicle
"Her music is utterly soothing, full of the organic sounds of the northern country."
Brett Ackerman - Beacon Pass
"Jeneen Terrana is an integral part of the Long Island City, NY music scene. A distinctive songwriter with flair, Terrana ... has the talent to play much larger stages.
Terrana is a top-notch songwriter, and her voice is enthralling. See The Light is highly recommended listening."
Wildy Haskell - Wildy's World
“The lyrics to My Creation, emphasize that we all have within us the power to choose what we want to create for our lives without being shackled by decisions of the past … I can’t think of a more appropriate song for us to sing on the eve of Barack Obama’s inauguration.”
Clive Swersky - Alive With Clive
“We are proud to present Jeneen Terrana as Wildy's World's Artist of the Month for January of 2010! The Buffalo, New York native relocated to New York City a number of years ago, but may be one of the Nickel City's finest musical exports since Chuck Mangione.”
Wildy Haskell - Wildy's World
"Jeneen has a powerful voice with a soft delicacy which promotes feeling in her words and every song, be it upbeat or a slow ballad, she dressed with a fantastic American smile that you cannot help but look endearingly on."
Lisa Gowling - Mint South
“Sweet and melodic, with a biting agressive element, Jeneen brings a freshness to the music scene, her new cd, MY
CREATION is a joy to behold, totally defining the genre of adult contemporary.
”
Barry Drake - Mackin Enterprises
“New York City music fans
should make every effort to see and hear the musical gem playing among them while they can. If there's justice in the world
of music, New York City won't be big enough to hold Terrana in the long run.”
Wildy Haskell - Wildy's World
