Jennifer Herrema

[1]

Jennifer Herrema
Background information
Birth name Jennifer James Herrema
Also known as RTX, JJ, Black Bananas
Origin born 1972 [2] Washington, D.C., United States
Genres Rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, record producer, artist, model
Years active 1988–present
Labels Drag City
Associated acts Royal Trux
Website www.jenniferherrema.com

Jennifer Herrema (born 1972[2]) is an American rock music singer, songwriter, record producer, artist, and model best known for her work as one half of the rock band Royal Trux.

Career

Herrema started the Royal Trux "band" at the age of 16 with partner Neil Hagerty. She has produced and mixed many records under the name Adam & Eve including such artists as The Make-Up, Palace Brothers, Brother JT, Edith Frost, The Delta 72, Woodbine, V-Twin, The Kills, Ping Pong Bitches, Delakota, The Chicks, and Bad Wizard.[3][4] Herrema has published numerous articles on music, art, fashion, and lifestyle subjects in various publications including Vice Magazine, RayGun, and Dazed & Confused and has conducted interviews with Keith Richards[5] and John Lee Hooker for publication. Her artwork has appeared in gallery exhibitions including "Violence the true way" at the Peter Kilchmann Gallery in Zurich,[6] "Red White Blue" at the Spencer Brownstone Gallery NYC,[7] and the Sanrio-sponsored "KITTY EX." traveling exhibition throughout Japan.[8] She has also written lyrics for a song on Rachel Mason's album The Ambassadors.[9][10] She was the original "heroin chic" poster girl as interpreted by photographer Steven Meisel for Calvin Klein print ads and TV commercials.[11] She has also appeared in ad campaigns for Hysteric Glamour, H & M, and Henry Duarte as well as appearing in the independent film "Southlander".[12]

Herrema and former partner Hagerty were instrumental in starting the independent record labels Drag City and Domino Records. She has 20 record releases[13] and has played and recorded with many musicians since 1989 including Jon Theodore, David Pajo, Chris Pyle, Artimus Pyle, Alan Licht, Alex Minoff, Mike Fellows, Chris Bald, Paz Lenchantin and MGMT. Presently Jennifer Herrema heads a band called RTX which includes Nadav Eisenman, Kurt Midness, Brian Mckinley, and Jaimo Welch.

The Avalanches revealed that they were working on a song with Herrema called 'The Stepkids'.

Royal Trux

Herrema has explained the reason for the breakup of the band and cancelling the Pound For Pound tour as such, "[w]e went out on tour for that, made it to Pittsburgh and... I was really fucked up. Two days before we left I was told my dad was gonna die and I didn't handle it well. I freaked out. Then when we got to Pittsburgh I checked myself into the hospital in this ruse to get painkillers. That was the end of that, I was in full "getting fucked up mode" again. Neil and I talked about it and I said, "I can't do this." It was like an out of body experience. I was so sad. I was drinking and it wasn't like having a party, I was just so sad. We made the record and I had been talking to him about personally taking time off, separating and having time away from each other. Everything came to a head. I think I just basically threw the table upside down and crashed the whole thing."[14]

RTX

Herrema's new band RTX (Rad Times Express) had a fourth album ready for release in late 2010. "[T]he new album is in a holding pattern for a few months," Herrema said in an interview.[15] "It's done, but I have to finalize some mixes and a few overdubs. It was supposed to come out this fall but I've decided to do it in the spring. I don't wanna rush it. I've been really busy and wanted a break. I think we're gonna call it Rad Times Four." The band eventually changed its name to Black Bananas and released Rad Times Express IV on January 31, 2012.[16] They released their first EP, Electric Brick Wall, under the new name in June 2014.[17]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "the Royal Trux Chronicles: 1998: ‘Hagerty, Herrema’ - Great God Pan Magazine". Royaltruxchronicles.tumblr.com. 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://royaltruxchronicles.tumblr.com/post/58309873484/1998-hagerty-herrema-great-god-pan-magazine
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Niesel, Jeff (2013-10-16). "Cleveland Scene". Clevescene.com. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  5. ↑ Keith Richards: the unauthorised ... – Victor Bockris – Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved on October 18, 2011.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ RED WHITE BLUE, July 7 – August 20, 2005. Spencerbrownstonegallery.com (August 20, 2005). Retrieved on October 18, 2011.
  8. ↑ Artists. Kitty Ex.. Retrieved on October 18, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Artforum". Artforum. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  10. ↑ "Printed Matter". Printed Matter. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  11. ↑ "suicidegirls.com/interviews/". Webcache.googleusercontent.com. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  12. ↑ Jennifer Herrema. IMDb. Retrieved on October 18, 2011.
  13. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p86267/songs
  14. ↑ Interview with Cam Lindsay Access date: September 21, 2010
  15. ↑ . Exclaim interview with Royal Trux. Retrieved on February 21, 2012.
  16. ↑ . Black Bananas website. Retrieved on February 21, 2012.
  17. ↑ Louis Pattison, Jennifer Herrema: my rules of cool, The Guardian, 20 June 2014.