ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Jelena, the woman behind Janet Q. Music and a relative late bloomer in music. I only started actively making music at the age of 40, In my younger years, I always enjoyed singing and would sing loudly with records in my bedroom (just ask my parents and neighbors; they enjoyed it too). However, singing in public was too scary for me. I did take singing lessons for a year because I enjoyed singing so much, but it took a backseat as I was busy with work and learning.
Then in early 2004, I went to watch the rehearsal of a colleague's band (Target - 60/70s music cover band). Within five minutes, I was behind the microphone and I was hooked. I ended up singing with that band for five years.
Meanwhile, I resumed taking singing lessons and attended some singing workshops at the Popschool in Ede, including one by Pearl Josefzoon. Speech therapy also helped me a lot because I happened to go to a speech therapist who is also a singer, Aimee from Sonora Logopedie in Harderwijk. And once in a while I take some vocal coaching from Marieke Cremer in Ermelo. I wanted to keep developing and improving. When time allowed, in addition to working and studying, I occasionally received singing coaching from one of the sweetest Dutch singers, Cindy Oudshoorn. I also had the privilege of receiving singing coaching from the fantastic PennyLeen Krebbers. And I attended a week of holistic vocal coaching at Mind the Voice in Belgium two times, led by Tiffany Veys. It was very inspiring, I can tell you. I also enjoy going to other musicians' performances to "learn from the art." And I still do attend vocal coaching sessions at Vocal Center, the Vocal Institute founded by Robin van Beek. Keep on learning and getting better.
In terms of music style, I started to feel the urge for blues and blues rock around 2010. I then became the lead singer of Blooze on the Rocks. Unfortunately, our ambitions ultimately diverged, and I then took on the vocals for J. & the F.O.G Bluesband. But there was a slight hiccup in the band, and a new band was started: Firehouse Mama. After a few rehearsals, it was clear that there was a lot of chemistry among the band members, and we played a lot in bars and at festivals. Over time, there were a few changes in the band, and in 2022 we played a lot of great gigs with a band lineup that was better than ever. But my ambition is to grow and to perform what suits me the best, and that's why I left the band last summer of '23. With pain in my heart.
And yet, blood is thicker than water. I started writing lyrics, and my interest is increasingly shifting towards less rough jazz, blues, and lounge music, although I still love this style of music. After my graduation later this year '24 (I'm a studying graany for a while) I hope tot join or form a new bluesband.
I am currently following the online jazz singing course by Heidi Krenn, an Austrian jazz singer who makes jazz music very accessible. And as a project, I was one of the vocalists in the Dutch Police Orchestra, where I sang a jazz and a blues song. Another beautiful experience. This project ended in the spring of '24. I am now developing my own projects, and I will keep you updated on this website. One of the projects is producing an original song. I have many lyrics available and in November 2024 I will join a singer/songwriter camp and put one of those lyrics on music and record it.
And I'm not afraid of it anymore. I sing whenever the opportunity arises.
Musical regards,Jelena
