Musician Jenny Reynolds is good at keeping moving and touring. Her latest release, “Any Kind of Angel” was produced by Mark Hallman and Andre Moran at the iconic Congress House Studio in 2020. Her music is both folk and rock like with artful lyrics. And that record features artists Betty Soo, Scappy Jud Newcomb and others. Reynolds has performed at the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Old Settlers Music Festival, and the Philadelphia Music Festival. Reynolds is now working on a new album at Cedar Creek Studio and it will be released in 2026. In this interview Reynolds talks about songwriting and her upcoming tour.

Jupiter Index: When did you know that you wanted to write and play music for a living?
Jenny Reynolds: I knew when I was 17 or 18. It was my first experience on a stage that sort of catapulted me in this direction. I just fell in love with the stage and the adrenaline I felt from performing. It connected me to a sense of self that I had been looking for. And it gave me confidence. Writing music gave me a voice. Singing and playing gave me a way of expressing my emotions in a creative way.

How is your music fundamental to you?
Again, I think it goes back to that sense of self. I really found my voice and my confidence through music. It’s how I connected and related to the world around me. And even if I was unable to perform, I think I’d still be writing music with others. Producing. Doing something creative in the music world.

Talk about your songwriting style? Of the many songs that you have written, which one would you say was the hardest to compose?
My songwriting approach is all over the map, but I find my most successful approach has been to start with a melody or some type of hook. Hooks are the hardest thing to come by, so if you can start with that, you can build a story around it. Whether it’s autobiographical or not. I don’t really have an answer for which song was the hardest to write in my catalog. I’ve had songs that have fallen together almost effortlessly. As if they wrote themselves… and then there are songs that require more shaping. Sometimes you walk away and come back. It can be frustrating. Time is a great tool for your perspective.

How have you improved your songwriting over time? Can you say what makes your writing different for you now?
I’d say the biggest improvement that I had as a songwriter… Was when I opened myself up to collaboration. Not because the workload is less (because it’s not), but because you witness someone else’s approach to writing. You can tap into something collective and creative together. That’s when I started to notice the most growth, and then I saw changes when I was working on my own as well.

You have a busy tour schedule coming up. Can you share how you get ready for a performance? How will your Austin show be different?
Once sound check happens that’s usually when my show routine begins. There’s a process between picking out wardrobe, writing a set list, doing hair and makeup. Then doing vocal warm-ups. I really like that time to just completely focus on the show.

Would you like to say anything more about your love of music?
For me, it’s always been rooted in connection and understanding. Telling stories in songs that relate to others. I think good songs can make people more empathetic. I think it can open your mind. Music can energize, empower, anger, heal you etc. It can make you feel less alone and introduce you to a community. It can help you find your identity. I don’t really know one other thing that is universally that powerful.

by G.M. Burns