What is your name?
My name is Jodie Helen Dunn
What is your genre of music?
My music genre tends to be ballads but can vary into other genres.
Give us a little bio about you.
I’m an 18 year old Singer-songwriter from Swindon, I love expressing how i feel through music and i adore animals especially my house rabbit who loves pizza just as much as i do! I Grew up travelling a lot with my parents and took diving lessons at bubblemakers when i was little, whilst my parents were out scuba diving. I love adventures and being creative when it comes to drawing too. I am the youngest of 3, I have an older brother and an older sister who i am really close with and they support me in everything i do.
Are you a signed?
No I’m not signed.
You released your new single ‘I Belong In Hell’, what’s the meaning behind?
‘I Belong In Hell’ Is all about being controlled by someone at your lowest point, where you begin to think that everything is your fault in an unhealthy relationship.
Tell us more about the writing process.
When I wrote, ‘I Belong In Hell’ I was sat at my keyboard messing around with different chords and discovered something different, the chord sequence sounded very unlike the ballads I would normally write and was very deep. I then started singing ad-lib over the top to get a melody and I felt like this song needed to be expressed differently so when it came to writing the lyrics all I could think about was deep things like hell and fire, it really helped create the story for me. I have always started writing my songs by using the keyboard to find a chord sequence, and because I’m self taught, to remember the chords, I would use different coloured sticky notes and put them on each key to remind me which chords to use!
What was the recording process like?
I found GreyStoke studios online when I was searching for a producer to record my first song. Andy and the Team had already started creating the backing track for my song so that when I got there I was pretty much ready to record my vocals. The recording process was long but the time flew by when I was in the studio, It took allot of practicing and hard work but was totally worth it!
Will you be releasing a video for the track?
Yes, I am in the progress of planning it at the moment.
Will we see an EP or Album coming soon?
I am still working on new music and will shortly be realising another one and hopefully it won’t be too long before I can release my EP.
On the single you worked with Andy Whitmore, how was that? Brilliant, It was the best experience in music I have ever had. It really inspired me to work harder on my music and it all went too fast.
Did he give you any advice?
Andy helped me a lot by advising me on Facebook tips and promoting myself in other ways, He pointed me in the direction of people who could help me with a music video and introduced me to Quite Great Music PR, which leads me to where I am now!
Any funny stories to tell us during recording?
The whole experience was great fun and we shared a lot of banter during each day!
Did you receive any advice from your collaborators?
I haven’t collaborated with anyone as of yet, Andy Whitmore and his Team produced my track and gave me great advise but am yet to collaborate with another artist.
Would you collaborate with upcoming artists? If so how could they contact you?
I would love to collaborate with any upcoming artist, it would be a great experience on its own working with someone who has the same passion for music as you do and perhaps different ways of creating their own. If they were to contact me it would usually be via my email ‘jodiehelendunn@hotmail.com’.
Who did you show it to first once complete?
My Dad, because he’s not there to experience it with me i’m always so excited to show him the track once it’s been completed!
Do you have any gigs in the works?
No gigs planned as of yet, but should hopefully have some booked in soon!
Do you have any festivals you will be playing this year?
No festival performances so far but it’s something I would love to do one day!
Do you play any instruments?
I grew up playing the keyboard, I have never had lessons so I am only self taught.
Who are your influences?
My main influences are Jhene Aiko and Frank Ocean because their style of music is really relaxing and I can relate to the lyrics of most of their songs.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
My influences inspire me to focus on every aspect of life and create my music around my own life experiences.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
I hope to see myself performing my own tracks to people who I have inspired through my lyrics and style, It would be amazing to become an inspiration to others especially through my music.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
I work as an Administrator Monday to Friday but asides from that I do love to go out to town with friends on weekends when I’m free.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
When I was younger, I listened to ‘Earth Song’ By Michael Jackson, it really influenced me to express myself through creating my own music and I felt so strongly about the story behind this song, It made me realise how much of an inspiration he was to others.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
‘Live in such a way that if someone spoke badly of you, no-one would believe it.’
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist? When things get tough, find the inspiration to get through that feeling and reignite your love of music.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
As I am inspired by Frank Ocean, my favourite quote from him would be ‘When you’re happy you enjoy the music but when you’re sad you understand the lyrics’ as it really pushes me to create lyrics that people can relate to.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
My own keyboard, My lucky ring, My microphone, My sticky notes (to help me along the way!) and finally my backing tracks for my new songs!
Your coming back from tour;
1/ where is the first place you go?
I would go to my parents local, to celebrate all the hard work that was put into making the tour a success.
2/ who is the first person you see? My Parents
3/ where is the first place you go to eat?
My favourite place to eat is Prezzo so that would be the first place i would go.
You work with Quite Great PR, how did that come about and what’s your best memory?
I was introduced to Quite Great PR through Andy Whitmore who recommended me to contact them regarding promotion to take that one step further. I would have to say my best memory with Quite Great PR would be when i last had a meeting with them to discuss the next steps, and where i wanted to progress to, they really motivated me to really work harder for this and boosted my self confidence also, it made me feel like i had more people see the potential in myself.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
My facebook page: https://en-gb.facebook.com/jodiehelendunn/
My Instagram: JodieHDunn
My Snapchat: JodieHDunn
My Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNumber5Rules
Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/jodie.h.dunn.7
