The Journey Begins – Building My Solo Music Project
Hello and welcome! ☀️
I’m Jeni Grouws. In Kindergarten I wrote on a fill in the blank sheet for class my name, my favorite color (red), that I had a dog and that when I grew up I wanted to “sing”. Now I have that worksheet in a frame.
Music was always part of my days. In the backseat of Mom and Dad’s car, in church, in choirs, in musical theater…anywhere I could sing, I would. Over the years I’ve sung back up for a musician in Los Angeles (hi Joey Deluxe!), recorded back up vocals for Nigerian artist Majek Fashek in a Hollywood home once owned by Charlie Chaplin, recorded on albums for Up With People (insert swing claps 👏), sang Ordinary Miracles for songwriter Marvin Hamlisch in D.C., been a hired performer for the LA Auto Show as well as for New Year’s Eve in Victoria Park in Hong Kong. I’ve played in an all girl acoustic group called Done Doin’ Laundry and a kick ass cover band called Absolute Hoot. I even recorded my own EP after a therapist suggested I try writing my own music (more on that in another blog later). It was called Scenic Route and came out in 2008. I look at it now on Spotify and Youtube and I feel the cringe because I know I’ve come so far since that album. But I also remember that Scenic Route the EP was what started the fire in me to create music full time. And now music is my career. In 2015 I went to a blues jam and met the guys that would later become Avey Grouws Band. It was because of the success of AGB that I finally left my job and began my music career full time.
If you know me, you know that music has always been my heart and soul. Avey Grouws Band continues a busy schedule in the coming years. And at the same time, I’m compelled to add to my musical repertoire. To write more. To sing more. To explore more. New ideas, new sounds, new grooves. That’s why I’m so excited to finally be relaunching my solo music project!
Creating a full Jeni Grouws album is something I’ve dreamed about for a long time. And while I’m in my residency at The Music House in Omaha, I knew the time was right for the first step: to build a space where I could share this journey with all of you. This website will be the hub for everything—tour dates, videos, blogs, and of course, updates on the album as it takes shape. I want to stay as connected as possible with everyone who has supported me along the way.
So stay tuned for more updates, let me know if you find any issues with the site, and thank you for being part of this journey with me! There’s so much good ahead.
Much love,
Jeni ❤️