Jenna, tell us a little bit about your history
I was born in London, second generation Irish. I grew up with music around me, having musician parents. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to join bands and do gigs from a very young age. I have consequently done most of my learning on the scene, with an audience in front of me. I never fitted in in the school orchestra, I don’t like sitting and playing very much, and I don’t work remarkably well with full on instruction.
Playing as a young teenager with professional adult musicians sped up my learning process ten fold, and this is where I grew and really learnt. I was in no way good enough to play in front of an audience, often big ones, and I was underaged to top, but my dad saw it as an invaluable experience. It was really a musical education you couldn’t pay for or put a value on of which, I’m eternally grateful to my dad for. I learnt how to freestyle basically, how to think on my feet, to not be thrown by changing circumstances etc.
It’s allowed me to think/play in the moment, I don’t rely on sheet music or instruction. In fact, I prefer creative freedom....and winging it. I learnt how to weave in and out of all genres of music in a way, learning to forge my own style, within a group, so also understanding the crucial roles of all members collectively.
My dad (Pete Bite) is a singer/ songwriter, who had numerous big record deals and was signed by Mickey Most in the 80’s. I picked up on that side of creativity and expression from a young age too, so it wasn’t solely about being on stage. The idea of translating your own story into song was something that resonated with me. The ‘art’ being found in the ability to be truthful, honest, raw, in your ‘own’ way. There is no real right or wrong, as it’s an individual expression, a release. The process of release I think was of particular importance. I’ve observed more the ‘need’ to write over recent years, as a form of therapy, music can be quite transformative.
I was a very shy kid and the appeal to use performance to express yourself fascinated me from the moment I made the connection that feelings could somehow be transformed into ‘art’ or something else. Although I do get nervous and always have, I find that being on stage feels like a more authentic way of living sometimes, it’s the place where there is freedom, no rules (within reason) and a platform to kinda be whoever you want to be, or feel you are etc. It’s a safe place to express and transform in a way. Over the past few years in particular I’ve become more and more taken by the idea of transformation and change and healing in a way.
I’m kinda concluding that that can all be done through art of any kind. For me it’s predominantly music, however it does crossover for me personally on a visual sense too. With my love and interest in dance and fashion....and what the eye sees, as a whole. I love visuals, my mind is very visual, so I can imagine a song with the aesthetics and colour scheme to accompany. I see how crucial all aspects can be, to hit all the senses.
What an amazing background. So Jenna, why the violin/fiddle?
The truth...I saw a cool cowgirl at a Butlins holiday park, playing the fiddle in a saloon bar. She had hair down to her feet and I was purely captivated by her otherworldliness and mystic.
As a child, I wanted that. It didn’t matter if it was a recorder or a violin. However I’m still very insistent that the instrument to some degree is irrelevant. I chose the violin. It could have been the saxophone. I’m not entirely sure the difference it would have made (musically speaking). To me it was and still is just a choice of ‘tool’. And I like to think I have a few options, although perhaps not all are as sharp ;) it’s a tool of choice to channel what’s inside you I guess.
Could have been a didgeridoo! Maybe the violin chose me. Ha. Who knows.