Hometown: Denver, CO
Management: The Vinefield Agency
Website: www.jkandtheloss.com
Genre: Alternative
Jen Korte blew into Colorado from Austin, Texas in 2005. She came guided by the momentum of Americana and Caribbean rhythms, a prowess for distinctively intricate guitar lines, and the grit and power of a Western sand storm in her voice.
Since forming her Denver-based band, The Loss, Korte has been mesmerizing
audiences at festivals and concerts across Colorado for almost a decade. The band features “golden-throated” Jessica DeNicola, whose unassuming, fluid harmonies are in perfect contrast to Korte’s uniquely sultry voice and confident rhythmic guitar. Korte and DeNicola are also joined by an impeccably steady bassist and drummer duo, Andy Bercaw and Neil Mitchell. Together, The Loss fuses a spellbinding swell of masterfully crafted medleys with persistent rhythmic pulses reflective of Korte's Texan/Puerto Rican heritage. Their latest EP, Everything Red, will be unleashed on doe-eyed listeners on August 26th at Red Rocks Amphitheater, with 2500 free copies available to lucky attendees.
In addition to The Loss, Korte collaborates with several other artists and projects in
Denver. Her remarkably evocative voice, commanding stage presence, and fierce guitar playing make her invaluably versatile. She has been a featured artist for The Vox Squad, playing as Billie Holiday, Nirvana, and The Gap Band, among others. She's also the front woman for The Dirty Femmes, a Violent Femmes: A Celebration of the Violent Femmes.
Lead singer and frontman of the original Violent Femmes, Gordon Gano, has been seen on rare occasions joining Korte's
tribute band on fiddle and vocals. He has been seen with them in Denver and rocked venues as far as the Virgin Islands in 2014. In 2013, The Dirty Femmes were awarded Best Tribute Band by the Westword Showcase and are currently nominated to receive the award again.
“Jen Korte comes equipped with damn good pipes (vocal chord pipes to be exact) and a guitar attached. If you're sick of watching musicians who "sort of" have natural talent, come see Jen. She is doing what she was born to do. Sorry a little cliche, but true.-DenverMetromix.com”
DenverMetromix.com - DenverMetromix.com
"The song's an anachronistic novelty about male pubescent angst leading to terrible, anti-woman behavior has a comical edge to it when sung by a woman, especially one as charismatic as Korte, who switched to a lo-fi mike and whispered the monologue/sweaty-preacher parts of the song, drawing us all in to her stage charm."
Josiah Hesse - Denver Westword
“OFC Exclusive with local musician Jen Korte”
Robyn Vie Carpenter - OUTFRONT Colorado
“Cover Story and Interview from Out Front Colorado”
Matt Kailey - Out Front Colorado
"One of Denver's more compelling and expressive singer-songwriters.."
Dave Herrera - The Denver Westword
"Don't be fooled by the name – Jen Korte brings together the sound of a beautiful life, simply put. We can only guess the “Loss” part might refer to some sort of innocence lost – and the band’s songs sweat with enlightenment. Korte and Jessica DeNicola share vocals, though Korte’s are strong and sensual enough to attack them solo, without a doubt. Her personality will fill up both the room and your spirit, and you’ll leave better for having taken it in – trust us."
Billy Thieme - The Denver Thread
"While Korte might not be afraid to expose her feelings through her album's songs, which started off as poems or letters, at times there's a charcoal-tinged fragility in her vocal delivery. When she pairs with Jessica DeNicola, who's been in the Loss the longest, the two vocalists make some truly divine music together.."
Jon Solomon - Denver Westword
"Throughout her debut, particularly on cuts like "Fleeting Love," Jen Korte's voice drips with seduction, longing, saddness and regret. With admirable depth, she also displays unyielding resolve in the face of her inherent vulnerabilities. A talented cast of players, add welcomed texture to Korte's otherwise sparse compositions, making her first outting one to remember."
Dave Herrera - Denver Westword
“When Jen Korte took a required choir course for her theater degree, she was put with ten other tone-deaf pariahs in remedial choir, where she spent a semester learning quarter notes, half notes and scales. And when it came time to audition again, she still didn't make it into the larger chorus -- which is dumbfounding, considering that the first thing you notice about her is her rich, sonorous voice.”
Sara Behunek - Westword
“Jonathan Bitz, who was raving about Jen Korte & the Loss's new record. In his succinct, inimitable, articulate style, he told me everything I needed to know about the album in the expanse of just five words: "absolutely beautiful. restrained. spacious. dynamic." I trust Jonathan's sensibilities implicitly, mainly because our tastes so often overlap. Needless to day, I've been absolutely dying to hear the disc for myself ever since. As luck would have it, Korte stopped by last night with a few copies of her forthcoming self-titled release. Color me impressed!”
Dave Hererra - Westword
“Everything I write about is something I can't have or something that I did have or didn't get," says Jen Korte, explaining the significance of her band's name, the Loss. "It's cool. I'm fine with the fact that I write sad songs. I'm fine with the fact that I write love songs. I'm not a political writer; I'm not a political person. If I could be out there writing really fucking fun dance rock, I would. If I could be writing Explosions in the Sky melodic instrumentals, I would."”
Jon Solomon - Westword