Jennifer Harper is a folk singer, songwriter, and activist known for her contemplative and meaningful music. Harper’s love for music started at a young age when she was enchanted by the piano. She studied classical piano and later taught herself to play songs she heard on records from Simon & Garfunkel, CSNY, and Joni Mitchell which her older sisters owned. As a teenager, Harper was drawn to alternative music venues and reggae clubs. It was at political rallies that she saw the impact of music on creating change, and she wanted to be part of that movement. Inspired by strong female voices of the ‘80s like Annie Lennox and Chrissie Hynde, Harper was motivated to be an artist true to her own experiences. Harper later moved to New York where she attended Barnard College, and it was there that she linked up with legendary A&R rep and hit songwriter Roquel “Billy” Davis. Davis became her mentor and urged her to develop her music, igniting her career. Harper began participating in programs and showcases with The Songwriters Hall of Fame and The New York Songwriters Circle and began performing in theaters and festivals. Harper’s music is known to evoke a 1970s flower-child spirit with a fresh layer of uplifting pop. Her rich voice and intimate lyrics have been compared to Carly Simon, Carole King, and Sarah McLachlan. She has worked with all-star players for her previous releases, including producer and drummer Tal Bergman, pianist Haim Cotton, guitarist Dean Parks, and bassists Darryl Jones and Bob Glaub. Her involvement in March for Our Lives rallies to curb gun violence found her sharing the stage with Paul Simon. “Change Is Coming”, Harper’s newest track, reflects her personal transformation during the pandemic. Attending songwriting and global women’s empowerment circles online during lockdowns strengthened her artistry. Harper found that her healing themes are “clearly meaningful to other people. What I was receiving musically felt channeled through me and didn’t belong to me.” Harper’s sound evolved as she worked with L.A. producer, multi-instrumentalist, and music healer Tom Rossi on her mantra-like songs. To create a more ethereal sound, she collaborated with NY producer, and composer Matt Anthony. Over the years, media outlets including No Depression, Buzzfeed, and Songwriting Magazine have taken a liking to Harper and her sound. Her impressive list of credits also includes performing at many popular music venues, guesting on local radio stations, and co-headlining a concert with Rachael Sage at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Harper’s newest single “Change Is Coming” is about the divine feminine rising. Women coming together to heal, releasing sisterhood wounds, and embracing the new paradigm. The song was written during the height of the pandemic while in a songwriting circle and global spiritual women’s circles online. Harper used an instrument she had never written on before, a mini djembe that her children once used, which led her to the creation of this song. The recording captures a primal feeling with drums from around the world, softened by a Kora. Multiple women’s voices represent the sisterhood. The song was recorded in Los Angeles. Jennifer Harper is an example that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Her music stands for what she believes in, and she inspires hope and courage in others as a musician, a mom of three, and as a human being. Her music is a message, and it’s a message that we all need to hear.
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