Jen Porter

Acclaimed singer, song writer and entertainer Jen Porter’s fourth album Closer to the Surface �2009, reveals the true character of her musical artistry. With nearly a decade of playing live shows in the U.S., the Caribbean, and Europe, and 3 previous albums under her belt, Jen chose to work with Grammy-nominated producer Chris Steinmetz on her most ambitious effort to date. Andy Downing of the Chicago Tribune says, “[Porter’s] voice swing[s] between striking moments of intimacy and tornadic outbursts, while her piano . . . matches each emotional surge lockstep.”
Critics often compare her live-show energy to that of Janis Joplin, her piano stylings and voice to Natalie Merchant, and the intensity of her song-writing to Fiona Apple. Closer to the Surface has been released to enthusiastic reviews. Indie-Music.com’s Barney Quick says, “This is real music, wide and deep. It’s accessible but still invites you to take your time to see what’s really there. I don’t need any comparisons to get a handle on what she’s doing. She’s setting a standard by which others down the pike will be compared.”
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
•Fourth independently-released album, Closer to the Surface, produced, recorded and mixed by Grammy-nominated Chris Steinmetz
•Named Best Local Musician (Chicago) by the Chicago Free Press
•Performed for an audience of 200,000 people at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
•Regular performer of U.S. National Anthem for the nationally-televised Chicago White Sox; has also performed for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Fire, and Detroit Pistons
•Featured on Stonecutter Records’ Acoustic Chicago compilation
•Featured Chi-Tunes performer in Red Eye, a Chicago Tribune Publication
•Continuous radio airplay and interviews across the U.S. and Europe, including satellite and terrestrial radio
•Has written original music and had material solicited for film and television projects