Jenn Ghetto

Jenn Champion

Jenn in Mexico, 2014.
Background information
Birth name Jennifer Hays
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 1999–present
Labels Hardly Art
Website S Facebook page

Jenn Champion, formerly known as Jenn Ghetto (real name Jennifer Hays)[1] is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who performs under the name S. She was a member of the now defunct band Carissa's Wierd.

Early life

Champion grew up in Tucson, Arizona where, in the mid 1990s, she worked selling pizza with future bandmates Ben Bridwell and Mat Brooke. In 1997 the trio moved to Olympia, Washington for a year[2] before moving to Seattle.[2][3] She identifies as a lesbian and has done so since very early in her career.[4]

Carissa's Wierd

In Seattle, Champion and Brooke formed Carissa's Wierd, who released three studio albums, the first two on Bridwell's Brown Records label. The band broke up in 2003 and since then three compilation albums have been released. Carissa's Wierd reformed for a one off show in Seattle on July 9, 2010[5] to promote their "best of" album, They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003, which was released by Hardly Art Records on July 13, 2010.

In July 2010, Mat Brooke announced that he and Champion had bought the rights to Carissa's Wierd's back catalogue from Sad Robot Records. He said, “Me and Jenn have been working for a while to buy back the rights to all of our records and we finally were able to get them all back.” This should allow all of Carissa's Wierd's albums to be re-released soon.[6]

S

Jenn Ghetto performing as "S" at the EMP Pop Conference, 2015

Champion has recorded four solo albums under the name S. Her songs are usually recorded in her bedroom and feature only vocals and guitar. 2010's I'm Not As Good At It As You featured eleven songs recorded on an 8 track machine between 2006 and 2008, along with "Wait", the album's opening track, which features her former Carissa's Wierd bandmates Mat Brooke (ukulele & banjo) and Sarah Standard (violin). Champion's most recent album, Cool Choices, was produced by former Death Cab For Cutie guitarist Chris Walla and was released on Hardly Art Records in September 2014.

From "Ghetto" to "Champion"

On September 8, 2015, Champion released the following statement on her band's official Facebook page, explaining that she would no longer use, “Ghetto” as her moniker: “Okay so I am changing my name, it's time for me to stop using "Ghetto." I chose that as my name when I was a teenager and I realize now that it is not my place to be using it. As I move forward, I want to acknowledge the anti-black racism i perpetuate using the word "ghetto" and deeply apologize to those that have been hurt by my use of that word. I am changing all internets and other things related to me that I have used the word "ghetto" in. Unfortunately i am not financially able to repress records that I made under the name Jenn Ghetto. This is part of a process I am in of educating myself and challenging systemic oppression that I will continue to do! All the love, jenn t. champion”[7]

Discography

Solo albums (recorded under the name "S")

With Carissa's Wierd

References

  1. ↑ ASCAP entry for Jenn Ghetto ASCAP
  2. 1 2 Erin Franzman, "Carissa's Weird" (sic) The Stranger - From the Dec 9 – Dec 15, 1999 issue.
  3. ↑ Stephen Seigel, "Better Late Than Never" Tucson Weekly - June 22, 2006
  4. ↑ http://www.afterellen.com/people/229667-jenn-ghetto-is-s-and-cool-choices-is-her-fantastic-new-break-up-inspired-album
  5. ↑ "Save The Dates: Carissa’s Wierd at the Showbox..." soundonthesound.com - May 3, 2010
  6. ↑ Zach Stoloff, "Sleepless in Seattle" Good Times - July 13, 2010
  7. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/jtchampionmusic/posts/10153933607750329
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