My good friends, who are on the British Airways “night flight to London” emailed me from the airplane a copy of the in-flight “High Life” magazine, where my name is listed, along with my album title in the Easy Listening section of audio entertainment. They sent a simple one line and the photo attached here.
“We are on the night flight to London listing to Jennie Walker sing same!”
I am in the company of Sting, Michael Feinstein, Eva Cassidy, Michael Ball, Ed Harcourt, and Alfie Boe. Wow. This is a day I will never forget!
Here I am, a 48 year old debut artist, putting out my own album, on my own label (JennieGirl™ Music), after my indie label deal ended, and getting support from British Airways with six months of in-flight audio. In-flight is a great launching pad for my music and if ever there were a symbiotic relationship between a song and an airline, Night Flight to London and British Airways would be it. Now, the real work begins!
Seeing my name along side of all those established artists is a thrill to be sure. My dream is to one day be considered an established artist in my own right and with my own music.
A number of people I have spoken with recently keep telling me “my story” is important. How, after a lifetime of pursing music, I am finally putting out my own album and getting support from an international airline at the age of 48, after winning the 2011 British Airways Face of Opportunity contest. If I were to listen to those “in the music industry” I’d never get out of bed, much less pursue a career in music…at this time..at my age, etc. Six years ago I had an well known New York entertainment attorney tell me he loved my song “Simon” but was concerned about my age. And I said to him, “If you don’t believe in me at least as much as I do, then you are NOT the person to work with me.” I gained his respect after that. And, we did not work together.
But, I’m an optimist in a sea of realists and pessimists (including my own family members) and I have to say my dreams are to prove something to myself..and in doing so, prove something to all of those who would tell me my musical dream is an impossible one. But just like Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, I do Dream the Impossible Dream, for those are the ones worth dreaming. Reaching far beyond the edge of reason is what keeps our heart pulsing and our mind engaged and gives us a reason to move forward each day. Stretching myself and my limits of what I believe is possible for “me” is the point. I have always had this desire to perform my own songs and have my music appreciated all around the world. I have spent a lifetime trying to figure out how to do this. And, with an album on pre-order on iTunes LINK HERE and a launch coming on October 3, 2011, I will have accomplished this goal in the broadest since. The big question on people’s mind is “will I make any money” off of this endeavor. This album is a large investment of my time and money. And, to be honest, I don’t actually know. I’ve never done this for the money. Just pursuing it has been rewarding on its own. A labor of love..the love of music and expression. I have no idea if my music will be adopted or if people will buy it. I don’t know if I will find the means to get enough press and PR to get a large number of people buying and listening. But….I am certainly going to try and give everything that I have to it.
A friend of mine said it was inspiring to watch me take my album this far on my own. I asked her, “Don’t I have to actually be successful with it to inspire people?” And she said, “No. Jennie. Just the pursuit is inspiring all on its own.” Nice.
Jennie Walker
www.jenniewalker.com
@msjenniewalker
