Meet Jenna Kohut

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenna Kohut. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenna below.

Jenna, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I find the more often I write, the more my creativity breathes. Writing a little poem as part of my morning routine starts my day off in that creative mindset, so I’m able to find inspiration as I go about my day — whether it be in a turn of phrase during a conversation, an image I stumble upon, or a passing feeling. A college professor of mine always said, “Crap makes the best fertilizer.” I think one of the most difficult parts of being a writer is battling with that inner editor. So, when I sit down to write a song, I light candles, relax & open my senses, & begin by releasing the expectations & quality standards I hold for my music. If I just write down whatever comes to mind at first, eventually a concept or line that I love always grows from the “bad” — the “dirt.” Simply put, I just write. It doesn’t have to be “good,” & it may not be until suddenly, it is. I continue to stay curious about language & explore ways of putting new twists on old concepts. & finally, a little tip — I also keep a “good line graveyard” of unused golden lyrics that I reference whenever I’m running low on ideas.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a singer/songwriter with degrees in both Songwriting & Performance Poetry from Berklee College of Music. I find it incredibly special to be able to resonate with empaths around the world through fusing an infectious dark pop sound with emotionally raw lyrics. I’ve written hundreds of songs throughout my life, but there are a few I credit as career highlights. These are my two original songs, “Space” & “Think About You” — the former being my first song to hit a million streams, & the latter being a finalist in the highly competitive USA Songwriting Competition. Additionally, in August 2023, I was commissioned to co-write & perform the EVO 2023 Tekken championship song, which debuted to over 100,000 people via the Michelob Ultra Arena in Mandalay Bay Las Vegas & livestream. It also charted globally on iTunes! A few other exciting milestones happened recently, including signing numerous songs with music licensing company Glow Music Group & releasing my debut EP — “Attriage” — a collection of four songs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

There are many qualities & skills that can be attributed to one’s success, but there are a few that consistently continue to contribute to my personal career growth. Regarding songwriting, I believe that always surrounding myself with new literature & language is crucial to keeping inspiration fresh. Continuing to build knowledge around my craft is vital to my future success. If I am to name a quality related to navigating the music industry itself, I am inclined to say that being authentic & genuine when building relationships is truly essential. Show appreciation for the work of others, give congratulations on their successes, be clear & courteous with your intentions, & stay connected to your artistic visions. Finally, having a diligent work ethic & choosing not to give up when rejection hits is imperative. My advice is to keep learning & become as well-rounded as you can in all areas of your craft. When networking, do your research, recognize their achievements, & show interest in making a genuine connection. & during it all, commit to yourself & your dreams, no matter how long they may take.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I can’t even count how many nights I’ve spent doubting myself & feeling tempted to give up on my dreams. Becoming my own ecosystem has been crucial to my survival in a creative career. Having the ability to comfort my own mind & not give up on my soul is the reason I’m able to continue forward. Regardless of how much outward support you have, if you stop believing in yourself, your dreams will fall by the wayside. The most important person to have in your corner is you, so build an authentic relationship with yourself that sticks with you through it all, despite. I continue to do so, & whenever difficult situations happen & I feel overwhelmed, I let go of control & let the universe take over. I’ve learned it’s important to focus on the happy moments — reaching a million streams on a song, receiving heartfelt messages from fans, charting globally — to help navigate me through the nights when I feel scared of the future & am full of self-doubt. Instead of comparing myself to others, I try to compare my present self to my past self & reflect on all the milestones I’ve achieved that initially felt like pipe dreams. My advice is to bookmark in your mind fulfilling moments that give you the courage to keep going so you can refer back to them whenever you need comfort. Also, continue to chase new avenues! Creating your own luck is easier when you’re building numerous possible paths to success. Even if an opportunity doesn’t present itself in exactly the way you imagined, try to stay open to it. You never know where a road can lead… it might just be to everything you’ve ever dreamed.

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