Vixen: A New Frontier
Stepping into the shoes of any lead vocalist is hard, especially when those shoes were filled by Janet Gardner and the band is "Vixen". But that's exactly what the talented and charasmatic Jenna Sanz-Agero did in 2001. With her strong vocals and energetic stage presence Jenna let her talent speak for itself. Using her most precious instrument - her vocals - she has not only touched new Vixen fans but has won over the old guard as well. Not an easy task considering the hallowed reputation of this hard rocking band and the extremely loyal fan base that has stood the test of time.
On the verge of releasing their new CD "Live & Learn," Vixen has re-emerged with a new line up, a new sound, and a brand new generation of fans to introduce to their delicious music. Leading the charge is front woman Jenna Sanz-Agero, guided by the individual many fans (including myself) consider the heart and soul of Vixen, guitarist Jan Kuehnemund. Filling out the quartet are drummer Kat Kraft and Lynn Louise Lowrey on bass. This band once again dares all to pigeon hole them into any one genre. From their old roots in glam and metal to a new journey into alternative music, Vixen delivers a passionate and turbo-charged musical experience with "Live & Learn."
We are thrilled Jenna found a few moments while preparing to kick off the band's latest tour in Europe to chat with us about Vixen, the new album and much more.
TCZ: Tell us about your early musical roots and what influenced you most to pursue a career in music.
Jenna: Some of my earliest memories were of my mom at the piano or playing guitar. I would sit on the bench with her and sing Carly Simon, Carole King, Elton John, James Taylor, Cat Stevens... she would always take the harmonies, which is why I think I developed a good ear for that kind of thing. Anyway, I think it was just in my genetic code. My father is a musician, though I didn't know him at the time, and music was something that always brought me joy and could always capture what I was feeling in a way nothing else could.
TCZ: What female performer, if any, influenced you the most in your childhood?
Jenna: As I got older it was Pat Benatar I emulated in the mirror with a hairbrush, along with Deborah Harry and Chrissie Hynde. These women represented exactly the power I wanted to wield.
TCZ: Tell us about your legal career and Media 8.
Jenna: I guess I took a rather uncommon route. Rather than forego an education, I went to law school and developed a career to 'fall back on'. I have been singing this whole time but it was something that never really interfered with my other jobs until 2001. By then I had my own law firm and the flexibility to go on tour.
Since I worked in the film business, my clients were a lot more forgiving of my alter-ego. I actually left my firm to work at Media 8 as a part-time attorney so I would have more time for music. Through a chain of events, I ended up becoming President of the company - something I took very seriously and enjoyed.
Media 8 is a terrific film company with quality people working very hard to make the kinds of films more of us want to see - like 'Monster' and 'The Upside of Anger'. But recently I recalled that an old friend asked me once if I was a singer or a lawyer, and that at the time I told him I was both and I couldn't see any reason why I couldn't continue to be.
But now I realize it was killing my spirit to push myself that hard in both directions and the music won the war. I resigned from Media 8 just a couple of weeks ago so I could give my heart and soul to this band. Given what I've managed to accomplish in music, I have occasionally wondered how far I might have come if I hadn't taken the 'safe route', but then I might not have ever met Jan and been the lead singer of Vixen. Every path is a good one I guess - as long as you make the most of it.TCZ: Can you share with us how you met Jan Kuehnemund and how she recruited you to join Vixen in 2001?
Jenna: Absolutely! As I alluded to, I think the path I was on led me right to Jan. I played in some local L.A. bands for years, and one of the best drummers I ever played with is a guy named Tom Moglovkin who is also a lawyer at Fox. Tom played in another band called Population 361 with Jan and our other friend Eden Stollman - the only male band I think Jan ever played in.
When Jan went on the road for the Voices of Metal tour with Janet and Roxy, the attempt at a reunion didn't work as well as they had hoped. Eden was road managing the band at the time (and playing keyboard and like 6 other jobs) and called some people from the road to line up some auditions. One person he called was Tom. I was at my office and got this ten second call from Tom...'Hey, would you be interested in being the lead singer of Vixen?'...so of course I replied 'yeah, absolutely!' and he hung up. He was checking with me before he threw my hat in the ring with Eden - Tom's smart like that. No sense wasting a recommendation on someone who doesn't want it.
In short, when Jan and Eden got back to L.A. for about a two week break, they had to replace the bass player, drummer AND singer and I guess my audition convinced them I could handle a national tour as the front woman for Vixen. Just goes to show you've got to be ready at a moment's notice because you never know when opportunity may knock. Or, as in my case, ring you up.TCZ: Can you describe a special talent or trait that each of your band mates bring to Vixen?
Jenna: Lynn is our comic relief. She has such an incredible spirit and there's not a day that goes my that we don't all laugh our asses off at one crazy thing or another that she comes up with on the road. Her bass playing is flawless and her stage presence is pure rock and roll.
Kat is our animal lover extraordinaire, though we all love animals of course. She's very sensitive to our fellow tiny living creatures and I think it helps keep things in perspective for us sometimes. And Kat can find such a great groove in every new song. I think her drumming helps to keep the songs from sounding dated while maintaining a hard edge. Plus, she's famous for her big smile on stage - we all have so much fun when we're playing.
And what can I say about Jan? One of our fans summed it up well after a show recently when he said she never wastes a single note. Some of her leads on the new album actually brought me to tears the first time I heard them. She can convey that raw emotion in the strings of her guitar and she's got a tremendously hot stage quality. She is definitely the heart of the band and always has been. And of course I love writing with her. We really connect on that level.TCZ: Compare and contrast the recording process for "Extended Versions" with Vixen's new full length release "Live & Learn".
Jenna: Extended Versions was surprisingly quicker and easier than Live & Learn. I guess that seems obvious because it's live, but we just had a great time at the show and put everything into it as we always do. Most of the work was just mixing and basic production which was done masterfully by our producer Dennis MacKay.
Live & Learn was a different creature altogether. On the one hand, the writing came very easily for us, but with so long between Vixen releases, and with a different lineup than the first two albums, there was a lot of pressure to get it right. Dennis helped us through that process in a way that I don't think anyone else could have. He just really connected with the songs and with us personally and we took our time and carefully attended to all the layers.
Live & Learn is definitely one of those albums that gets better with every listen. Each time you can discover some new element that wasn't obvious on the first two or three or even thirty times through.TCZ: Did you experience any difficulties adding your own vocal style to the music while recording "Extended Versions"?
Jenna: I didn't really make an effort to add my own vocal style so much as that's just who I am, it's how I sing this kind of music (as opposed to blues or folk, for example), and I definitely wasn't going to try to sound like someone I'm not.
There was definitely some pressure to 'live up to' Janet Gardner's history but it wasn't in the forefront of my mind. I was just performing for a great audience in Sweden. I'm always surprised when people come at me like 'you don't sound like Janet!' Well obviously - I'm not her. I love Janet's vocals, and I happen to love mine too.
If I were a random fan, I think I would be more offended at someone trying to cop Janet's style than someone like me just doing my own thing and hopefully bringing something fresh, but still great, to the music. I know plenty of people who like both, but there's nothing wrong with having a preference. The beauty of music is it's such a subjective thing that you can love a lot of different artists and styles.TCZ: Can you tell us the story behind the track "You Wish"?
Jenna: Ha! I wish I could. For me, I feel like it's a very Deborah Harry/Patty Smith kind of song. But Lynn wrote these lyrics so you'll have to ask her about that one - though I imagine we have all had experiences with someone like this.
TCZ: Do you remember your first gig, and if so, can you explain what it means to you today?
Jenna: I remember my first gig fronting a rock band. It was really fun! And all my friends were there supporting me. What it means to me today mostly is that someone took a shot with me. Four other musicians believed in me enough to allow me to front their band. They believed in me even before I quite believed in myself and it's helped me a lot.
TCZ: At this point in your musical career, who or what would you say are your biggest influences?
Jenna: I'm still influenced by the music I grew up with to a great extent, as well as by new artists that turn me on in some way. I'm definitely influenced by the other members of our band, each of whom I've learned a great deal from. Probably more than they know. And of course my songwriting is influenced by whatever's going on in my world or the greater world around us at any given time.
TCZ: What would you say is the most important lesson you've learned throughout your time in the music industry?
Jenna: I think the most important lesson is that it doesn't matter if you're playing for an audience of 10 or 10,000, you have to give it your all every time. First of all, you never know who's going to be there, even among those ten. Second, no matter where you are, those people paid hard-earned money to come and see you - maybe even drove a long way, took time off of work, and certainly could have been doing something else with their time - and they deserve a great show no matter how many other people had the same idea.
TCZ: What can we expect from Vixen in 2007?
Jenna: Well, definitely a lot of live shows and hopefully a lot of radio play of the new album! Also, I'm certain we'll get a DVD out there next year and we'll keep writing more new songs to share with the fans.
TCZ: Where can fans currently pick up a copy of your new album Live & Learn?
Jenna: The album is being released in Germany on October 27th, UK on November 10th, US on January 30th, and Japan/Australia the first week of February. As far as I know, the only place you can get it right now is our website www.vixenrock.com and at our live shows. So make sure to come to the shows!
TCZ: Anything you would like to say to your fans?
Jenna: First and foremost, thank you. Thanks for believing in us, coming to our shows, signing our guest book, visiting our websites, and listening to our music. And secondly, I'd like to say be ready for so many more great things from us in the near future. We've really grown as performers over these past few years, and now that we've been playing together for a while, I think what we create from here forward is going to be ELECTRIC!
TCZ: Is there anything we haven't covered that you would like to share?
Jenna:I would just like to say to anyone that hasn't heard Vixen perform live lately, PLEASE come to a show. I think it's the best way for us to communicate how we make the classic Vixen songs blend with our new sound so that it is one cohesive rock and roll experience.
I think when people see us live, it's not so much of a stretch to understand how well it all goes together. From our experience, it gives fans a better appreciation of the old AND the new.