Saturday, February 18, 2012

An Inspiration For Teens: Jenny Phillips

So, here is the long-awaited interview with Jenny Phillips! For any of you who do not know, Jenny is a Mormon singer/ songwriter who sings music primarily for teens. Her music is amazingly inspirational. It makes you want to become a better person. " [Jenny is] one of the  highest-selling LDS music artists of all time." ( from Jenny's Bio on her website).


I really love her music because it really lifts me up when I am having hard times, and inspires me to become more like the Savior.
So without further ado, here's how Jenny answered the questions I asked:


Q. In high school, what did you think you wanted to be when you grew up? Why? Did you ever change your mind?
A. I always wanted to be a mom. I also wanted to be a singer. But it didn't stop there. I also wanted to be a fiction writer a non-fiction writer, a film maker, a documentary movie maker, and at one point a professional gymnast.
Q. What inspired you to become a singer?
A. My mom gave me some inspirational music when I was 6 years old. I could feel the power in the music so strongly at that age, and I wanted to create that same feeling by singing and writing.
Q. Why do you sing the kind of music that you sing?
A. I write and sing religious/inspirational music because that is what comes out of me when I sit at the piano to write! It is what is in my heart. It is also my way of trying to strengthen others and share my testimony.
Q. Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
A. Every song is different. Usually it is from something that I read or hear that really strikes me; something that I feel strongly about wanting to share; or a principle that I have been learning about in my own life.
Q. What do you wish that you knew as a teenager that you know now?
A. I mainly wish that I knew that friends and popularity in high school are so temporary.
Q. If you could go back and live your teenage life again, what would you do different, if anything?
A. If I could go back and live my life as a teen again, I think I would be more grateful. to my parents and my family especially. I would spend more time with them, listen to them, and serve them more.

Q. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A. I consider my music more of a mission than a job. The most rewarding aspect is having the opportunity to help inspire others to be better and happier.
Q. Has being an inspirational singer given you opportunities you thought you'd never get?
A. Definitely. I'm amazed at the doors the Lord has opened for me. I don't feel more talented than other singer/songwriters, and I know that it is the Lord who has blessed me with these opportunities.
Q. Has singing motivational songs about the gospel given you more opportunities to be a member missionary?
A. I have loved the opportunity to do missionary work through my music for both members of others faiths and less active members of my own faith. I feel such gratitude for the blessings the gospel has given me, and I want to share that with others.

Q. As a teen, who was your biggest role model?
A. My biggest role model as a teen was my Grandpa Holbrook. He was an amazing man who cared very much about my life. He always made me feel like a million dollars! And he never missed a chance to remind me of who I was and what was important in life. 
 Q. What do you wish that you knew as a teenager that you know now?
A. I mainly wish that I knew that friends and popularity in high school are so temporary.
Q. If you could go back and live your teenage life again, what would you do different, if anything?
A. If I could go back and live my life as a teen again, I think I would be more grateful. to my parents and my family especially. I would spend more time with them, listen to them, and serve them more.
Q. Why did you choose to write music primarily for teens?
A. The teen years are so important, but they are also so confusing and emotional. Teens are deciding and defining who they will be and what their testimonies will be like. So many critical decisions are made during our teenager years. I want to especially reach out to that age group and give them comfort and strength during that critical part of their journey.
Q.  What are some goals which you set as a teen that you have already accomplished?
A. Be worthy to enter the temple. Record and release a CD. Travel the world bearing my testimony. Be a stay at home mom. Get a college degree.
Q. If you were to be in another career field, what would it be?
A. Film.I believe film is incredibly impactful. You take the power of music, and can add the power of images to it! I actually started out in college as a film major, but soon became disappointed with what the film world was like (so much filth and evil), and I switched my major. I would love to make movies that inspire and strengthen--that are beautiful, entertaining, and completely compatible with the spirit. But this is a dream that I am not going to go after anytime soon because I have an even greater dream of being an awesome mom, and I can't do both right now. So being mom wins!!
Q. If you could fly an airplane and write something in the sky, what would it say?
A. Ha, ha. I love questions like this. I would first of all pass out in fear of flying an airplane. But when I came to, I think I would write "Live like you believe."
Q. If you could have dinner with one person from the scriptures, who would you dine with?
A. Wow! I would obviously choose Christ. But if that weren't an option, these would be my top picks: Joseph of Egypt, Ammon, Joseph Smith, Nephi. Man this question made me excited and makes me realize how much I love these disciples that have impacted my life.
Q. What is your favorite color, and why?
A. White. I love the clean and pure feeling of white. I also love clouds which are white. Green and blue are second favorites because I love rolling green hills and blue skies.
Q.What is your favorite food?
A. Watermelon. 
Q. If you could make a masterpiece that would be displayed in the finest art galleries in the world, what would your work of art depict?
A. I have no skills in that area, so this is fun to imagine. I would depict a mother with a child or a baby that showed such a powerful sense of love that women would be reminded of what a blessing children are.
The songs Jenny has written have truly blessed my life. I'm glad that she is able to share her testimony with the world! What a great example she is to us teens!

3 comments:

  1. This is a neat interview! It was interesting to get to know a little more about Jenny. I had never heard of her. Now I will have to go check out some of her music :)

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  2. Thanks! I'm really glad that she did it for me! Her music is phenomenal!

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  3. That's a great interview! I love what she said about how if she could go back, she would appreciate her family and serve them more. Words of wisdom. And anytime we are doing the work of the Lord it is totally more of a mission than a job...and he always blesses our work and does more with us than we could do alone. Great post!

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