We spoke with singer Jennifer Lynn Christie about her new poetic album called Jennifer-Lynn Christie’s Psyche Weard or “Pretty, Ugly, Raw & Free.” This poem album represents the power of arts and poetry of ordinary life and Jennifer discusses her inspiration in making and sharing it.
1. What’s the title of your upcoming album, and can you tell us about it?
“The title of the album is “Pretty, Ugly, Raw & Free.” It feels poetic to me because it represents the truth about what music is really meant to be: messy, emotional, and alive. It’s about stripping away the filters and just being. I’ve learned that waiting for perfection is a luxury I can’t really afford emotionally or creatively. I always feel like I am running out of time and it can feel quite exhausting. Surviving. Music has always been therapeutic for me. Of course, making money from it would be great, I’d be lying if I denied it – and honestly… I still can’t even find a part-time job in my own city – acting jobs are uncertain and pay varies from 2 weeks to 45 days – that frustration becomes my fuel. I don’t have any other choice but to create and transmute. I have high standards, but I can’t wait for the perfect conditions to create. I’m tired of perfectionism. I am tired of people acting like they don’t struggle. I’m not a pro producer; I’m just learning and letting the art evolve. That’s what this album represents – honesty over perfection. The best part? I can re-record the songs once I make more money.”
2. What has been the most challenging part of making this album?
“Perfectionism. Not always being able to fully translate what I hear in my head into the actual sound. Patience. I can spend 8 hours working on a song just to end up deleting the entire file. Finance. My mic cable also started hissing out of nowhere and I can’t afford to replace it right now, since I can barely afford my own groceries at times.”
3. Tell us about the world you’ve built with this album. What do you want listeners to experience?
“The album opens with a – I hate that I used to know the title and had it written somewhere but forgot – Russian sample I found inside a snow globe in a Portland thrift store back in 2020. I was feeling depressed that day, and it reminded me of my grandmother, who used to collect angels. It felt like a little wink from the universe – something haunting but beautiful. I wanted the album to feel like that. Entering a memory. A dream. You can’t tell what’s real or not. That’s how life feels to me sometimes. I want to be rejected for being myself to allow whatever is meant for me… to stay. From there, the record becomes a journey inward of what I call my “Psyche Weard.” It’s a play on words: “psyche,” meaning my inner world, and “weard,” as in something guarded. I am a 12h stellium so I dream constantly whether I am awake or asleep. My mind is its own world, and people often project their version of me onto me. There is a lot of depth to me, I just don’t always feel safe to show it. This album lets me reclaim that space. It’s me showing the parts of myself I’ve always hidden: the flaws, the depth, the softness, the chaos. The art of letting go… At its core, it’s about self-love & self-deprecation. Acceptance. Rejection. I’ve always wanted to be loved in this all-consuming, electric way… so I started learning to love myself that way instead. The songs are little doorways into that process of shedding shame, trauma, and perfectionism, and just creating without limits. The Psyche Weard & dreams elements allow me to be infinite. I want people to feel any and all emotions. Even if it’s discontent. At least they’re feeling something.”
4. What inspired the songs themselves?
“Hmmm. Well. Considering it has a lot to do with the ” Psyche Weard ” and dreams… I am a very introspective person. I spend all of my time overthinking. I don’t sleep. It’s hard for me to rest/relax. I am anxious, eager. I don’t know. There’s so much of the world I have yet seen and felt. Parts of myself I haven’t discovered yet. There is always so much going on in my mind and my thoughts are quicker than I can even process sometimes. In a general sense of inspiration… Let’s say I started learning the guitar in 2019, self-taught, same for piano, etc. It was always there but never allowed. My life from 2017 to recently was… feels like 6 novels. Or a movie. The amount of people who are shocked when I tell them stories that I have experienced… I guess I am just trying to make sense of it all… Putting myself in other people’s shoes, not only mine. Some songs aren’t from my own perspective, but they always tie back to me, for obvious reasons. Since we’re all each other’s mirrors and flames… Music is how I translate the chaos and beauty of living. It’s all a play on duality. I guess. Sometimes inspired by books I read, the words will fall out the pages and make me run to the guitar. I read a lot. I’ve read over 60 books this year so far. I read about 156 last year. I told you, I can’t sleep.”
5. What’s the best advice you’ve received about songwriting or creativity?
- Sing for yourself. Don’t filter for approval. Don’t overthink it.
- Ask questions, don’t preach. Curiosity resonates.
- Rest is part of creation. Even in urgency, silence matters. (ironic, I know)
- Touch grass. Literally.
- Let go. You’re a phoenix.
“These aren’t just tips, they’re sort of… mantras that I carry when the noise gets too loud.”
6. Which famous musicians do you admire?
“I feel like it puts people on pedestals and I don’t want to do that. It’s unfair for everyone. However, I definitely feel connected to certain artists. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Aidan Bissett – maybe a little too much, actually ahahah. I saw him live in Montreal for just $26, which honestly shocked me because the ticket was so cheap. I’m not sure if he counts as “famous” yet, but I love that he mostly sings about love and failed relationships. He’s witty, genuine, and super kind. I really hope he gets to play in big stadiums soon! He deserves it. Such a great performer, I really love his voice. You can tell he cares. That new Rosalia song ” Berghain ” is one of the best songs to come out of 2025. So exciting. I love classical music. The obvious answer I always would give is Colson Baker (known as MGK) and his producer Brandon Allen (aka SlimXX). I feel deeply connected to him (Colson). I know to everyone who doesn’t get it – it probably sounds super parasocial, but honestly, I don’t care about sounding “crazy” or “lame”. Caring is cool. Wanting something is cool. I’m a really passionate person, my feelings consume me. That’s all. I just kind of felt in my heart when we first met that we would collaborate one day or become really great and long lasting friends. We’re basically yin and yang – he’s me, but the guy version. I swear! And I noticed that we kind of write about similar things sometimes, and there’s a lot of synchronicities, it kind of freaks me out. I always wonder what he thinks about it all. If he also felt the same way from our brief encounters. Maybe I am just crazy. I’m okay with that too, lol. One thing I know is that he sees everything online, and I know he remembers me. I am hard to forget. I can’t skip these icons: Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Elizabeth Cotten, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and all the indie/alt/rock bands that shaped my youth: The Strokes, The Kooks, Keane, Paramore, Imogen Heap, Good Charlotte, Green Day, Michelle Branch, Fefe Dobson, Ashley Simpson and Avril Lavigne … such a long list.”
7. What’s next for you after the album?
“Well, I’ve been nominated alongside Lena Headey in a sci-fi short film category at the Utah FilmQuest Festival (Solipsis by Massimo Russo). Still processing that one! After winning over ten awards for Best Lead Actress (Not A Love Story and other titles), I’m really hoping for a lead role in an amazing TV show or film. Acting is my home. Honestly, I get depressed watching movies I’m not in… that’s how much I love it. A musical role would be a dream come true. Performing live or on set gives me this euphoric sense of purpose. I got signed to Mike from Ritter Talent Agency for acting and dropped my music management to gain creative freedom. I’d also love to collaborate more! Maybe with Canadian artists like Theo Day, who just released his debut EP Homegrown. He’s a Pisces, so we’d probably make something magical. I am going to be taking photographs for his show, November 14th. Of course, I’d love to collaborate with Colson Baker, either in acting or music, or anything creative, really. Ultimately, I’d love to build a band, go on tour, open for someone I love – or do it solo if I have to. Of course I would love to play a live show with Albe Pass, who I recorded in studio with for Spiderweb and currently working on Bright Side which are more alternative rock, grunge…inspired – with Geoffrey D. Lang on the drums. If the music sounds good stripped down to just me and my guitar, then it’s real enough and good enough for me. When you really want to do something, nothing can stop you from achieving it. I am stubborn when it comes to my dreams. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when. It’s happening whether people like it or not.”
8. Anything else you want to share?
“Yes! PRETTY, UGLY, RAW & FREE, my first self-written and self produced album is out as of November 21st 2025! It’s the deadline I have given to myself. Perfect or not… If I have finished all the songs I wanted or not – it will be set to come out that day! This way I have a fire under me and don’t have the choice but to be proactive in my creation! I am sweating just thinking about it. I hope that people all around the world can connect to some of the songs. It would be my dream to shoot a music video in Japan with a local artist. I really want to learn how to speak Italian & Japanese. I am currently trying to learn Chinese – on my 176+ day of duolingo, lol – it’s not easy – but at least I know how to fluently order an iced coffee and iced water so I am okay, I’ve got my essentials.”