Jenn Vix

Jenn Vix
Background information
Birth name	Jennifer Willis
Born	(1967-02-04) February 4, 1967 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Genres	Electronic Rock Alternative Rock
Occupation(s)	Vocalist Lyricist Songwriter Producer Remixer
Instruments	Vocals Bass guitar Six-string bass guitar Drums Lead guitar Electronic drums Synthesizers
Years active	1984–present
Associated acts	Reeves Gabrels The Cure Andy Anderson Iggy Pop Dirk Ivens Absolute Body Control Dive The Klinik

Jenn Vix (born Jennifer Willis on February 4, 1967) is an American solo electronic - rock recording artist,^[1] vocalist, lyricist, songwriter, arranger, producer, recording engineer and remixer, who has ventured into other genres including alternative rock, trip hop, darkwave, modern new wave and electro - industrial.^[2][3][4]

Early life and background

Though she was born in Providence, Rhode Island, she spent her teen years in New York City, doing her middle schooling at Simon Baruch 104. Actor Jon Cryer was also at this school with her, and Vix appeared in a school play with him, "Bye Bye Birdie", under the musical direction of Dr. Robert Sharon. She was active in the choral department, and was featured in an octet of female singers, titled "Beauty Shop". This group played shows all over NYC; at hotels, banks, and other public functions.

Career

In 1984, Vix performed in a one-off band, singing back-up, along with singer Nicole Willis from The Soul Investigators, Adam Horovitz of The Beastie Boys, Phil Painson and David Strahan. Her first solo release was "Jenn Vix",^[5] a self-titled album of 8 tracks on her own label, Umbrella, which was officially released in January 1995, through a New York based distributor.^[6][7]

Later on it was sold on CDBaby which is an online music store specializing in the sale of CDs, vinyl record and music downloads from independent musicians to consumers. In 1997 she was one of the first artists on that site. She got a positive response when her album was reviewed in Rolling Stone Magazine.^[8] The Second release was "Hope Springs Nocturnal".^[9] Officially released in October 1998; incorrectly listed as 2000 on AllMusic. It is a longer release of 18 tracks. She went on to release albums back to back that have gained popularity. The Third release was titled "3" and it has 10 tracks. It was released on Nov 1, 2003^[10][11] to rave reviews - "Vix’s voice is a wonderful instrument on its own; warm and embracing."

In 2010, Jenn Vix released a single track titled "Vampires",^[12] and it was exclusively made available at CDBaby. It's now available at all retail and streaming sites.

On January 24, 2012, the fourth release of a single track, titled "In the House of Dark Shadows", was released. It is a collaboration track with Reeves Gabrels, former guitarist for David Bowie and Tin Machine, and current guitarist of The Cure.^[13]

In 2012, Vix released a single track titled “Sick” on March 14,^[14][15] and then a year later she released a sixth single titled "Speed Of Light", it was the second collaboration with Reeves Gabrels. The release date was April 22, 2013.^[16]

She then released a couple of single tracks by collaborating with other renowned artists. Next came her seventh release, a single track collaboration with Andy Anderson, former drummer of The Cure, Iggy Pop and Hawkwind, and guitarist Mark Montalto. The track title is "Eyes Roll Back." The official release date was June 29, 2015. This was originally pre-released on Bandcamp on March 13, 2015.^[17][18] It blends post-punk guitars and drums with light and sensual synthesizers.

Her eighth release was a double single, titled "F*ck, Rinse, Repeat" and "Burn."^[19] Both tracks are a collaboration with Dirk Ivens, Belgian electro-industrial pioneer from the bands Absolute Body Control, Dive, and The Klinik. Vix‘s ninth release was a single track titled "I Don't Trust You". This is yet another collaboration with the former drummer of The Cure, Andy Anderson.^[20][21] (Originally pre-released on Bandcamp on June 17, 2015, then officially released on June 29, 2015. "I Don't Trust You" opts for a dark synthpop meets trip-hop approach "Which frame Vix's Annie Lennox style vocals very nicely. It is a much more complex, intriguing and engaging track that more appropriately shows off the depth of Vix's songwriting skills." The Tenth release was a single track, titled "Hands On My Heart (Waiting)." It was released on August 29, 2015, and it is available exclusively on Bandcamp.

Her eleventh release was a 5 track EP titled "Strange Buildings."^[22][23] It features two collaboration tracks, "The Woman with No Fear" and "Weirdo", with the original guitarist of The Psychedelic Furs, John Ashton. It was released on Bandcamp on November 16, 2015, and then officially released on November 17, 2015.^[24][25][26]

There are also several unofficially released single tracks on YouTube, Myspace, Reverb Nation and Soundcloud, including "Wave Of Sound", "In Your Sleep", "The Poisoner", "There", "Rover", "Pretty Knives", "Snake", Electrocution Man" and "Show Me The Sun" featuring former Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow drummer Dave Barbarossa, aka Dave Barbe. There is also a cover version (tribute) of "Mouth To Mouth," by The Glove. Vix has also contributed vocals and music tracks for Bob Robertson's singing skeleton group, Sindy Skinless and the Decomposers, featured on YouTube.

Awards and recognition

Vix's debut release was reviewed in the Kurt Cobain memorial issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, #683, on June 2, 1994, prior to its official release. She has been a member of Broadcast Music Inc. since 1994. Her track "Devils Chasing Angels" from her 1995 debut album was featured on a CMJ New Music Monthly CD compilation in February 1995,^[27] VOL. 18, alongside tracks by Throwing Muses, The Stone Roses and more. There was a full page ad in the magazine and a short review of her track. She was on the cover of Boston, MA, Noise magazine, and was the feature story; feature 291, April 22, 2009. The video for "Vampires" was animated by cartoonist and writer, Scott Bateman.

In September 2014, Vix collaborated on a single track with guitarist Marco Pirroni, formerly of Adam and the Ants, Rema Rema and The Models. The track is a cover version of Shirley Collins' "Turpin Hero" and it is featured on the digital download of the compilation album "Shirley Inspired", official UK releases date 8 June, 2015. She has also contributed 3 royalty free tracks to the PBS (New England) series "Hit and Run History", featuring Andrew Giles Buckley. The series is on the Boston PBS Channel 2 (WGBH) official website, and it has appeared on Rhode Island PBS channel 36. Vix also recorded vocals on tracks by Rodney Linderman, known as Rodney Anonymous, of the band The Dead Milkmen in 2014.

Discography

Albums

• Jenn Vix - 1995
• Hope Springs Nocturnal – 1998
• 3 - November 1, 2003^[28]

Singles

• "Vampires" - 2010
• “Sick” - March 14, 2012^[29]

Collaboration

• Reeves Gabrels - “In the House of Dark Shadows” - January 24, 2012
• “Speed of Light" - April 22, 2013
• Andy Anderson – “Eyes Roll Back” - March 13, 2015^[30]
• “I Don't Trust You” - June 29, 2015^[31]
• Dirk Ivens - “F*ck, Rinse, Repeat” and “Burn” - May 23, 2013^[32]
• John Ashton - "The Woman With No Fear" and "Weirdo" on the EP, "Strange Buildings" - November 17, 2015^[33][34][35]

References

External links

• Official Facebook Page