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Jennifer
Knapp :
A 26 year-old artist whose debut album spent 80 weeks within
the Top 25 on the Billboard charts, your 200+ shows in a single
year won the support of over 350,000 fans, you earn endorsements
from Tommy Hilfiger and Taylor Guitars, you slam-dunk crowd
after crowd during a successful stretch of Lilith Fair dates.
But despite
the response to her heralded debut, kansas (add multiple 1999
Dove awards, a Billboard award, national media attention,
etc.), Jennifer Knapp remains intensely grounded on lay it
down, with obvious focus having been spent on cultivation
of craft and musicianship versus status or image. "I
think an artist can become stagnant. Sort of a 'this sold
on the last one, so let's just copy it' approach. But I didn't
want to do that." Her commitment is obvious from note
one.
Building upon
the fiery rootsiness of 1998's kansas, lay it down expands
her rock-folk-bluesy style and organic song construction.
From the warm, thick bass grooves of the title track, to the
endearingly fallible string-wisps of "Peace," or
her inventive take on Shawn Colvin's "Diamond In The
Rough," Jennifer has pushed herself creatively, and the
result decorates all 10 of the album's cuts. Knapp's road-time
and studio work (she co-produced lay it down) are both evident
within her resolute vocals and deft compositions. "Into
You" rocks with powerful, full-throated singing, mirrored
by electric guitar and B-3 crunch. Sensitive layers of mandolin
and percussion on "When Nothing Satisfies" and soft
brush-beats on "Usher Me Down" are wrapped by the
more melodic and lilting aspects of her voice. Such graceful
shifts; either gliding discriminately amidst instrumental
tracks or singing decidedly up-front, are clear marks of her
unquestionable talent. "We felt like we were painting
musical pictures." Jennifer describes production work
in the studio as an exciting new facet of her career. Recorded
at Dark Horse Studios in the rolling countryside just outside
Nashville, Knapp expanded her musical role on the album under
the watchful eye of producer Mark Stuart. (Mark also produced
kansas.) "I've always felt comfortable communicating
within the studio--this time I just opened up a little more.
It's the first timehaving any responsibility that I can get
punished for!" She says that as opposed to the recording
of kansas, for this project she tried not to be as minutely
specific while writing, thus allowing creative opportunity
during sessions. "I swam around more on the inside...left
room for interpretation. Rather than knowing exactly how the
songs were going to sound going in, I ended up letting it
be surprising and new." The result is a textured wash
of sound, which serves to highlight her two years of backbone
work on challenging lyrics. Content-wise, Jennifer's songs
are pensive, and tend to be sharp, personal testaments. "I
spent a lot of time with my head buried, lyrically...encouraging
myself to do something different," she says of the time
spent writing, accompanied only by her ever-present acoustic
guitar. Of her debut, critics noted an intimate and poignant
style, describing it as "...bare-boned spirituality that
rings of authenticity" (Minneapolis Star Tribune). Billboard
called Jennifer a "gifted songwriter...poised for mainstream
acceptance." lay it down adheres to this, though again
revealing a new breadth. Her faith is unashamed, yet her optimism
subtle and appealing without condescension. Smartly reflecting
the human spectrum of an imperfect word, songs range from
decidedly upbeat, to just a salvaged shade away from forlorn.
"What I do I don't wanna do and so goes the story...
Show me grace. With all this motivation, I still find a hesitation
deep in my soul... Show me grace." Learned from an all-too-typical,
modern American upbringing, the native Kansan's objectivity
is derived from an early life marred by low-self esteem and
forays into the insatiable vices that haunt so many soul-searching
members of her generation. Fortunately, rather than strike
bottom, she found an unsuspected solace in her musical interests
and in her personal conviction to an intimate faith. Ensuing
confidence found her giving small performances while in college--at
first for friends, and later at small venues--while working
on songwriting. Coinciding with the development of her own
artistic voice, shows consistently grew in size and strength.
Her reputation quickly spread beyond the Kansas college scene,
and earned her a record deal with the Nashville-based label,
Gotee Records. The resulting realism, as first expressed on
kansas, caught the attention of industry and fans alike. Capping
a whirlwind 8-month tour, Jennifer was presented the Dove
Award's 1999 "New Artist of theYear" and "Rock
Song of the Year" honors. She also won a Billboard Video
Award and even earned a Dove nomination for the GMA "Female
Vocalist of the Year."
Jennifer's
commitments extend beyond the studio walls. Her young career
has already been spiked by philanthropic "give-backs"
in countries like Estonia and the Dominican Republic, as well
as children's mercy foundations, battered women's shelters
and rescue missions across the United States. More than mere
p.r. stunts, the "give-backs" relay her desire to
help others via both time commitments, performances and even
hard work (Knapp shoveling dirt in the Dominican Republic
in order to help build a chidren's eye-hospital isn't exactly
posing for a trade shot...and that's just fine with her.)
During her Lilith Fair appearances, her single "Undo
Me" was featured on a promotional release to help raise
awareness of breast cancer prevention. With the recording
of lay it down, Jennifer Knapp has illustrated that her music
and production skills wield a constructive balance between
determined growth, residual modesty and artistic drive. Beyond
trend, pressure of success or past accomplishment, she will
continue to hold fast to personal goals and ideals. With its'
commercial release, Knapp should find that the rewards--both
professional and beyond--prove such ambition and concentration
well worth the effort.
 _.:Jennifer
Knapp Official Site
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