A Conversation with Jenna Raine on Her Newest Single "rent free"
[UNPUBLISHED]: What artists did you love listening to as a child?
[JENNA RAINE]: Some artists that I loved listening to as a child consists of Kari Jobe, Tori Kelly, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran. Those are probably the main ones that really inspired me and the message that I have today!
[UNPUBLISHED]: How have you found your music taste has evolved over time?
[JENNA RAINE]: My music taste, I feel, hasn’t changed very much. My dad put me on The Script and The Fray, and growing up, my sister listened to Taylor Swift and all of the songs that were on the radio. I feel like my music taste adapts to anything that sounds like the early 2000s.
[UNPUBLISHED]: I understand you’re from Texas. How would you say Texas and its music scene has influenced you as a musician?
[JENNA RAINE]: I would say being from Texas and being around people that are super sweet, kind, and genuine—I seriously love Texas—just really influenced me to be a light and to want to be a positive influence through my music. I feel like that’s not what you see a lot these days, and being from Texas has really driven that message in my brain. It makes me want to just make this world a better place with my music!
[UNPUBLISHED]: Was there a particular moment or experience where you knew music was your calling?
[JENNA RAINE]: I remember, at a very very young age, I realized music had a special place in my heart, as well as poetry and writing. Around elementary school, I realized I had some potential, vocally. I would listen to my other friends and be like, “Oh, dang, I actually sound pretty good!” It was just this very weird realization of “I could maybe do this in the future.” I always kind of hid that dream—I never told anybody about it, because I was an athlete first. But, in third grade, I joined a talent show and sang “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. After that, my whole life changed, because my parents got me vocal lessons!
[UNPUBLISHED]: Congrats on graduating high school this year! What was it like balancing school and a music career at the same time?
[JENNA RAINE]: It was very difficult. I was in online school starting in fifth grade, and it was very difficult balancing school and music. Leveling the priorities was always a struggle. I will say it was nice to do online school, but I feel like I really did miss out on a lot of things not being in in-person school, being with other students. It was a huge sacrifice that I made to be able to do what I love.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Turning now to “rent free,” this is your latest single after your previous viral pop hits and EP see you later. How would you say this new song compares to your previous work?
[JENNA RAINE]: This song is very angsty sounding, compared to a lot of the music that I have released. There’s tempo, which is nice, it isn’t a ballad. This is a song that I’m so excited to perform live, it’s going to add a lot to my sets on tour. Touring will be really fun with this song! I wanted to add more to my sound, sonically, by releasing this song. This is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written, so I had to release it! I had to give people a taste of me that they haven’t really heard.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What’s the story behind the song? What was that spark of inspiration?
[JENNA RAINE]: This song was inspired by one of my friends who was spending way too much on a guy that did not genuinely care for her. She was giving it her all, this “situationship,” and she would pay for his food, she’d drive him everywhere, and then pay for her own gas. In every single way, she was being everything that she could be for him. It was so sad to me because I wanted her to realize that if she just let him go, she’d be in such a better place. It would just be so much better for her.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What is your favorite lyric or production element on the song and why?
[JENNA RAINE]: I am obsessed with the bridge. I think the bridge adds so much power to this song and it gives me chills every time I hear it. My favorite lyric is probably “spend my time, that ain’t cheap.” I think that’s a really cool lyric. I’m not totally sure why that lyric has always stuck out to me, but I feel like when people are in a relationship, and someone in the relationship isn’t fully there, it really stinks for the other person that is putting their time and effort into something that isn’t going to last.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What do you hope listeners take away from the song?
[JENNA RAINE]: I hope that listeners can either take away that they need to get rid of that person living rent-free in their mind or if you're a listener and you know someone that needs the song, send it to that person! I hope that this song inspires them to be more independent and not depend on people that aren’t going to be there for you.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How would you recommend we all listen to the song for maximum impact?
[JENNA RAINE]: In the car on full volume, for sure! This is a song that you scream in the car with your friends with the windows down.
[UNPUBLISHED]: After this release, what can fans expect next?
[JENNA RAINE]: Fans can expect an even bigger project coming next year. Starting next year, I’m planning on releasing a whole bunch of songs in one project, which I’m very excited about!
[UNPUBLISHED]: Overall, how do you find yourself growing and maturing as an artist and finding your sound?
[JENNA RAINE]: I find myself learning a lot about who I am through writing and through my own music! I think I’ve had some realizations this whole entire year through listening back to the music I’ve been writing. It’s been the coolest thing. Every single day, I’m trying to figure out my sound. There isn’t this day you just magically find it, it’s an over-time experience. I’m excited to find out more about myself!
[UNPUBLISHED]: What is a career goal or dream of yours as you continue writing and making music? Let’s manifest!
[JENNA RAINE]: A big goal or dream of mine is to go on a headline tour with my album, which I think is a very reachable goal! I want to have shows that allow people to have a safe space, to be that person they've always dreamed of being, and to let out every single emotion that they’ve ever felt. Overall, I just want to give people a place where they can feel at home.
[UNPUBLISHED]: When you’re not making music, what do you do for fun?
[JENNA RAINE]: Oh my gosh, I do so many things. I was an athlete before I was a singer-songwriter, so I love everything that has to do with sports. I play a lot of pickleball—if people don’t know what that is, it’s a combination of the games tennis and ping-pong. It’s a super fun sport and my friends and I spend our weekends playing pickleball. That’s literally the main thing I do besides music nowadays. While people are out having fun with friends, we are at the pickleball courts!
