With the first beats of Jennifer Silva’s “Landline,” you know you’re in for something special. Maybe it’s her made-for-a-40s-lounge voice, the alluring opening line “You make me wanna get a landline,” or the supreme confidence that is suffused through the song. It doesn’t just bang — it slams.
“This song reminds me of a time when people were more connected emotionally,” writes Silva. “I feel nostalgic toward a simpler time where we had a meaningful, straightforward way of communicating. We may be more technologically connected than ever before, but most of us keep people at a distance and only let them see a more polished, perfect version of ourselves that can be edited and filtered. A simple telephone represents an authenticity that, frankly, has been lost.”
Brooklyn-based, indie-rock songwriter and powerhouse vocalist, Jennifer Silva, summons spirits and commands the audience with her evocative lyrics and dynamic stage presence. Silva channels dark, moody energy with sensual, confident storytelling inspired by the mysterious, infamous and nefarious. A prolific artist, Jennifer Silva’s new single follows her 2020 single release “I Wash My Hands” and the 2018 debut album “Bluest Sky, Darkest Earth” featuring the breakout single “Command Z”.
In our interview, Silva divulges her influences, touring tips, and approach to songwriting.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I really gravitate toward strong, female voices across all genres. From Billie Holiday to Joni Mitchell to Stevie Nicks to Dolly Parton. I love a strong, distinct voice and great songwriting. Tori Amos was a huge influence on me, as well as Erykah Badu and Amy Winehouse. Brittany Howard slays me. I also really love The Rolling Stones and 70s rock and grew up listening to that music with my dad. The first cover I ever learned at 10 years old was House of the Rising Sun by the Animals. I also love Tom Waits.
Explain the title of your song and your upcoming album.
“Landline” is the first single off my new album and it’s a song about connection and a longing for something real. Modern technology is great in many ways, but it can also be a barrier between us. I miss the days where a simple telephone call could really make you feel something. It’s nostalgic but an authentic emotion.
My upcoming album is called Purgatory Road though and this whole record celebrates the saint and the sinner in all of us. I love that paradox and I love to tell stories about flawed characters. Because I’m flawed.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
I usually start with lyrics first. I might get inspired by a random line or word I hear or a book I’m reading or an emotion I’m feeling or something a friend tells me, and then I start to write verses and parts until i have the solid shape of a song. I usually start humming a melody at that point and just grab my guitar. I pluck out the basic chords and build from there. Then I play it a hundred times till the vocals are all fleshed out. Record the demo, share it with my band and then we really bring it to life.
What have you missed about touring?
Well, being silent as a singer is a certain kind of torture. So, the regular singing with my band is what I really missed initially, but I also really missed the connection I have with my friends and fans at the shows. When we perform, we bring people together. We dance, and drink and laugh and enjoy being alive when there’s live music, and I get to do that for people. It’s such a privilege and I love it. Not having those times and not knowing when we might ever have them again, was very difficult. The good news is that we had two outdoor shows this summer in Brooklyn at a great small venue called Mama Tried and the energy those nights was magical. People were so happy to get back out and experience live music, so I am hoping that vibe continues this Fall when we start our NYC tour. We wanna connect!
Recent release you cannot stop listening to?
I am obsessed with Yebba right now. She’s an incredible vocalist and songwriter that I’ve been following for a few years now, watching as she navigates through life after her mother’s suicide. This woman is phenomenal – google “My Mind” by Yebba and watch her SofarSounds performance for a perfect example of her immense vocal talent and ability to write and perform lyrics that are so emotionally raw. You’ll be mesmerized. She finally released her long-awaited record “Dawn” that she wrote with Mark Ronson and its absolutely stunning. “October Sky” is absolutely beautiful and gives me chills when I listen. She makes you feel something real, because she is feeling something real.