Find out more about Jenn Cristy Here: Links, Website, Zip Code - Live & Work Locally; Connect Across The World.

In honor of Mother’s Day, April kicks off a whole month of Mom Rock performances around the country that run through June 15th.  MAMAPALOOZA will feature hundreds of mom-made music at large-scale Festival events. In this interview Joy Rose talks to Jenn Cristy who performed on the road with John Mellencamp before kicking off her own rockin' solo career. Jenn appears on the MAMAPALOOZA stage at the Indy Baby Expo in Indianapolis on April 25th and 26th.

Joy: Jenn, for someone so young, you’ve already got a long track record of success. What’s your latest and greatest project.

Jenn: I’m looking at local studios in Indianapolis for October. I produced my last record, and I want to find a great engineer who will work with me, but let me keep control of the project.  

Joy: What are you calling this project?

Jenn: Tentative title , “Hotel Confessions”.

Joy: That’s provocative!

Jenn: Yeah, but its just a lyric I love.

Joy: Not an indication of marital issues?

Jenn: No way.

Joy: So what’s the next step?

Jenn:  I’m ready to move away from being John Mellencamp’s backup singer to become my own power babe. My influences are Ben Folds and Billy Joel. They’re power players. I’m pretty intense too. I guess I like to think of myself as a strong player - a rocker! A mom-rocker!

Joy: Lots of head tossing and leg kicking?

Jenn: Absolutely!

Joy: What makes you a Mom Rocker?

Jenn: I found out I was pregnant when I was on tour with John Mellencamp. My husband is a 3rd grade teacher, and totally responsible for my contemporary music education. I adore him. My daughter and husband are the hugest part of my life and my biggest fans. I want my daughter to grow up and be really proud of who her mom is.  Also, the Indy Star recently recognized me as a Mom Rocker. So, I juggle all the many things I have to deal with and somehow make it all work.

Joy: Give me a brief herstory of your career.

Jenn: I started playing at 4yrs old, picking out songs from the radio. My parents got me classical lessons and I was writing my own holiday songs throughout my childhood. Later I trained as a swimmer – with a scholarship to Indiana U.

Joy: What do you love about where you live?

Jenn: Bloomington is amazing, diverse, went to college there, married a townie, people are friendly, it’s a college town. Come visit! It’s affordable, but more expensive that people expect. When you come, make sure to visit every restaurant possible. One of my favorites is the Irish Lion.

Joy: Are you eco-conscious?

Jenn: Yes - always trying to make the world a better place for my daughter and the next generation.

Joy: What’s your passion?

Jenn:  Music: Writing. Singing. Playing.  Can't imagine doing any other job that would make me as happy as performing does.  I feel very fortunate that I make a living by doing what I love and am able to reach people on a different level than most do at the same time.  Doesn't really get better than that.

Joy: Tell me about your biggest dream.

Jenn: My biggest dream is to play in front of 10,000 people and drop out for a second and hear them sing the words back to me.  That's when I will know on a large scale that I have made an impact in today's industry.

Joy: Where can people hear more of your music?

Jenn: www.jenncristy.com

Joy: Can you leave us with some words of wisdom?

Jenn: "Dance like no one is watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like no one is listening, and live like it's heaven on earth"