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Patience Pays Dividends for Jennifer O'Connor

by Allison Carter
10/19/2007

Jennifer O’Connor has been waiting patiently for the musical success she is on the verge of achieving.

Since her journey started 10 years ago in Atlanta, she has released three albums and opened for a lot of big musicians, including Mason Jennings. The summer of 2006 marked the release of her third album, Over the Mountain, Across the Valley, and Back to the Stars, which was a critical success. Just a short listen to any of the tracks will tell you why she's been noticed. Every song is personal, carrying something of her with it.

Her music has a direct, honest folk sound that calls to mind performers like Lucinda Williams. Less country than Williams, however, O'Connor cites Elliot Smith as her most notable influence, something immediately apparent when hearing her record. Like both Williams and Smith, O'Connor's music relies not on production or orchestration. Instead, the music hinges on a folksy charisma, the hope that she can get to the listener by telling an immediate truth.

In the beginning, the most difficult thing for her was patience. She always tried to stay in the present and avoid calculating the outcome of her work. In O’Connor’s case, it looks like patience paid off. She's headlining a tour that began on October 17.

Being the main act makes this tour different from the rest. “It’s a little bit nerve racking,” she says. How will she deal with this added pressure? Using the same discipline she employed during her earlier years: focus on the music right now, and let success worry about itself.

On the night of her performances O’Connor can be found honoring her pre-performance ritual. She’ll get a breath of fresh air by taking a walk around town while contemplating her performance. During this walk O’Connor will be anticipating what she loves most about being a musician, the hour and a half that she gets to play.

The feel of her shows is “mellowish... not jumping up and down.” Being the headliner hasn't changed her perspective, though. We won't just hear the new songs. Her show will be a tour through her 10 year journey. According to O'Connor, “If a song stands up for a couple of years [that] means it’s pretty good.”

While on tour she is also managing her own record label, KIAM Records, which released her first album. The label’s specialty is 7" vinyl records. They plan on putting out two to three records next year. The bands producing some of these records, like Clint, Michigan and Amy Bezunartea, are opening for her on this tour.

KIAM is a “labor of love” as well as a learning experience for O’Connor. She sees it as a chance to do something different with music and give bands that might never be heard a chance to succeed. Her main reason for doing the record label is the same reason she is a musician, “I’m a big fan of music and always have been.”

The Melting Point in Athens will host Jennifer O’Connor’s tour on October 24. We're waiting patiently.

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