About Me
www.jeenobrien.com
Working Class HeroJeen O'Brien - BiographyWords: Knapp........Jeen O'Brien is a gifted singer, blessed with a unique voice capable of tremendous range and power, but also, gentleness and intimacy. She is a respected songwriter and sought after collaborator. She is an intense and professional performer. But what sets her apart from countless other gifted singer songwriters is a quality that cannot be bought, sold, polished or produced.
The girl's got soul.
Jeen first appeared in the spotlight in the early nineties, as front woman for Toronto based band Lilith. She was "discovered" at the tender age of sixteen, busking on Toronto's Queen Street West. A diminutive figure with a powerful voice she soon caught the ear of local industry types. Before long she and her band were awarded a management and recording deal on the strength of her curb-side showcases.
Lilith released one self titled independent album. The band toured extensively, both headlining and in support of some of the biggest Canadian bands of the time. Lilith were a favored act of Toronto's indie rock scene and received critical acclaim, both in Canada and stateside, but the band failed to live up to their own high expectations and disbanded in 1998.
It wasn't long before Jeen was back at work, this time as a solo artist. Her first release, 2003's, Can't Get it Out of My Head, found her enjoying a freedom of expression that is not easily accessed when working within the constraints of a band. The six song E.P, produced by Mark Makoway (Moist) and Byron Wong, contained personal and emotional songs, (Mama), radio ready anthems, (American Dream), as well as the track Sailing by Me, for which she received second place honors in the rock category of the 2004 International Songwriters Competition (ISC). The video for Sailing by Me also received substantial rotation on Much Music and Much More Music.
For Jeen, music is a full time job. She is a consistent and prolific songsmith, who enjoys writing for and collaborating with artists of all genres. She has penned tracks with soul artists ReS (MCA) and Toronto based Graph Nobel, while also lending her talents to more commercial artists, such as Billy Klippart, and Serena Ryder (Maple Music). More recently, her original composition "God" was recorded by Shaye (EMI), and will appear on their sophomore release.
Jeen's solid reputation has also landed her work in television. She has also contributed songs to teen drama, Instant Star and was employed as a staff writer for the 2005 season of an immensely popular prime time reality show and talent search.
Although Jeen enjoys the experience of collaborating with such a diverse group of talented artists, she finds fulfillment when writing, recording and performing her own material. In 2005, Jeen headed back into the studio to record tracks for her second release, entitled Sixties. This time she recruited, talented, multi-instrumentalists, performer/producer Hawksley Workman to produce the album. The result is a fully realized, intimate and highly personal recording. Sixties was well received by both fans and the media. Stand out tracks include the previously released, but freshly produced, and highly infectious single, Sing this Song, Guilty as Gold, the albums most passionate performance, and Fish, a quirky little song that highlights Jeen's skilled and distinctive finger picking style.
Although still performing in support of Sixties, Jeen is focused on the future. She has begun writing songs for her next album and demos of new songs can be heard online on this website or at www.myspace.com/jeenobrien.In performance Jeen shines. Whether accompanying herself on guitar, backed by a band, or performing as a duo with husband and drummer, Stephan Szczesniak, her live show is a magical experience. She is a professional and experienced performer who harnesses remarkable energy. In concert, she is sweet and sensitive, soulful and sometimes, scary. She touches an audience in a way few can. She is simply captivating.
Jeen O'Brien has faced life and the music industry on her own terms. Having left school, to pursue her calling in music before completing the tenth grade, Jeen has not once considered making a living in any other way. In an age of fads and fashion, she is refreshingly authentic. Jeen has talent, integrity, style and above all an uncompromising work ethic. Like luminaries of our time, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, Jeen O'Brien is a national treasure.For booking and inquiries contact : Stephan or Jeen at 647 293 3919...
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