Heidi McLaughlin: Jennifer, you were nominated for a Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 2012 Covenant Awards (given out by the Gospel Music Association of Canada). Who were some of the influences in your life that lead you to becoming a singer?
Jennifer Jade Kerr: Music has always been a part of me and I have been writing songs since I was ten. I believe God created this passion and the love of music in me. But it was Arlen Salte and New Creation Ministries that inspired me to take music to the next level. Their stops in my tiny hometown in southern Saskatchewan with bands like Morning Star and Heart Attack opened the world of faith-based music for me. I am so grateful for their inspiration because I finally saw that there was a context for what was inside me. |
HM:Are there people who recognized your gifting and gave you a break?
JJK: My parents recognized early that I was always singing, so their support in allowing me to take music lessons (and Dad buying me my first guitar) were the first real breaks I got! Once I moved to the city (Regina, SK) for university and began playing my songs in public for the first time, the folks of SRIA (Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association, now SaskMusic) and the country music community I got involved with through the CKRM Big Country Talent Show were huge encouragers and supporters. I learned so much about the crafts of performing and songwriting from those communities.
HM: How does this award nomination impact your future endeavours?
JJK: Even though I didn’t win the award, I was extremely excited about the entire process and experience. I was up against some of the biggest albums that came out in Canadian Christian music this year, including my favorite Christian band Downhere. Although Matt Maher took the trophy, I was thrilled to be included in a category of such high caliber. The nomination in itself is such an affirmation of the calling I feel to serve God’s children through music, and all the work that I and so many other people did to make my album (Permission To Be Broken) a reality!
HM: I feel your passion when I hear you sing. What are the sources of inspiration for your lyrics?
JJK: Aww, thank you Heidi! Inspiration for lyrics, for me, comes from a myriad of places. Personal experiences, pain, joy, shoes (seriously), things I read or hear and stories people tell me. Stories and phrases from the Bible have also inspired many of my songs. At the present time I have a new song rolling around my head based on a phrase someone shared with me from a mission trip they went on to Africa. I can’t wait to get home and tackle that one!
HM: What do you see next on your horizon?
JJK: I just finished a three week tour in Ontario. I’m looking forward to a lot more touring. Fellow singer-songwriter Kelti Malone and I are considering doing five or six weeks together in spring/early summer 2013; so a good part of the winter season will be spent preparing for that. I also want to get my single, “I Repent” out to Christian radio and see what happens with that. I have a number of songs that are waiting to be written, so I am feeling the pull to commit weekly time to song writing. I am also so excited to be an artist partnering with Compassion Canada; an incredible faith-filled child sponsorship agency. I look forward to inspiring more people across the country to get involved in ending child poverty by sponsoring a child. As an independent musician, there is always a lot to do!
Web site: www.jenniferjadekerr.com
Heidi McLaughlin, an international speaker, author and a pastor’s wife. She is married to Pastor Jack and they live among the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna, British Columbia. Heidi is a mom and step mom of a blended family of 5 children and 9 grandchildren. She loves to golf, explore and laugh with her family and friends. www.heartconnection.ca
JJK: My parents recognized early that I was always singing, so their support in allowing me to take music lessons (and Dad buying me my first guitar) were the first real breaks I got! Once I moved to the city (Regina, SK) for university and began playing my songs in public for the first time, the folks of SRIA (Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association, now SaskMusic) and the country music community I got involved with through the CKRM Big Country Talent Show were huge encouragers and supporters. I learned so much about the crafts of performing and songwriting from those communities.
HM: How does this award nomination impact your future endeavours?
JJK: Even though I didn’t win the award, I was extremely excited about the entire process and experience. I was up against some of the biggest albums that came out in Canadian Christian music this year, including my favorite Christian band Downhere. Although Matt Maher took the trophy, I was thrilled to be included in a category of such high caliber. The nomination in itself is such an affirmation of the calling I feel to serve God’s children through music, and all the work that I and so many other people did to make my album (Permission To Be Broken) a reality!
HM: I feel your passion when I hear you sing. What are the sources of inspiration for your lyrics?
JJK: Aww, thank you Heidi! Inspiration for lyrics, for me, comes from a myriad of places. Personal experiences, pain, joy, shoes (seriously), things I read or hear and stories people tell me. Stories and phrases from the Bible have also inspired many of my songs. At the present time I have a new song rolling around my head based on a phrase someone shared with me from a mission trip they went on to Africa. I can’t wait to get home and tackle that one!
HM: What do you see next on your horizon?
JJK: I just finished a three week tour in Ontario. I’m looking forward to a lot more touring. Fellow singer-songwriter Kelti Malone and I are considering doing five or six weeks together in spring/early summer 2013; so a good part of the winter season will be spent preparing for that. I also want to get my single, “I Repent” out to Christian radio and see what happens with that. I have a number of songs that are waiting to be written, so I am feeling the pull to commit weekly time to song writing. I am also so excited to be an artist partnering with Compassion Canada; an incredible faith-filled child sponsorship agency. I look forward to inspiring more people across the country to get involved in ending child poverty by sponsoring a child. As an independent musician, there is always a lot to do!
Web site: www.jenniferjadekerr.com
Heidi McLaughlin, an international speaker, author and a pastor’s wife. She is married to Pastor Jack and they live among the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna, British Columbia. Heidi is a mom and step mom of a blended family of 5 children and 9 grandchildren. She loves to golf, explore and laugh with her family and friends. www.heartconnection.ca
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