Music

Jett Jenkins’ New Single ‘What You Want From Me’ Offers an Upbeat Take on Moving On

Music Observer Contributor

December 9, 2024

By: Jerry Buchs

It cannot be easy for a singer/songwriter to look inward and sort through an array of real emotions while moving on from a taxing relationship and then create music that listeners can move to.

But that’s exactly what indie pop artist Jett Jenkins has done with her new single, “What You Want From Me.”

Jenkins said she had been listening to a lot of music from the rock band Blondie – and that was the sound she was interested in recreating with this single.

‘What You Want From Me’ is a song about being free from burdensome friendships and relationships,” she said. “In particular, it came from one personal experience I had – and then I just collected a lot of my feelings over time and combined them into one theme.

“Oh, and I also wanted to create a vibe that makes me want to dance.”

This track was the first single from the soon-to-be-released EP “Tender Love Like a Criminal.” The EP will have six tracks and was inspired by a summer tour through Southern California, where she performed in iconic venues like Whisky a Go Go while sharing the stage with Tea Leaf Green.

Based in Brooklyn, Jenkins was inspired to pursue her musical passions after attending an electrifying Clairo concert and falling in love with the scene. She has since honed her skills through years of playing the guitar and performing in musical theater.

“I really liked the fact that it was a fairly small concert in a comfortable venue – and that everyone there seemed very supportive of the performer,” said Jenkins. “Everyone was there for the music, not for anything else. It was an atmosphere I had never experienced before – and it felt magical, in a sense. I just really fell in love with being in that environment.”

Along with Blondie and Claire, her sound echoes influences from Suki Waterhouse and Fiona Apple – creating a unique space between the ethereal and the profound, with a bit of punk added in.

Coming up next, the second single on the EP will be released, called “Springsteen.” Jenkins said it’s an idea that came from Eric Church’s song by the same name, with a little inspiration from “The Boss” himself as well.

“My dad always listened to Bruce Springsteen and Eric Church when I was growing up,” she said. “So I had this idea of someone being your ‘Springsteen,’ that one friend that you could always count on, and telling the story about it.”

So far, the songs in this debut EP have been lauded for their relatability and emotional depth, delivering “lyrics beyond her years.”

At the same time, Jenkins is branching out into the world of fragrances with the launch of her signature Eau de Parfum, named after the single “Springsteen.” Available around the same time as the song’s release, this scent aims to capture the essence of her music in a bottle.

The essence of Jenkins’ music in 2025 will be to start working on even bigger projects, like a debut album beyond the coming EP.

Connect with Jett Jenkins: