OrientOccidental.com

Start with super-concentrated talent , add a dash of Sarah McLachlan, a touch of Enya, a little  of Norah Jones, a bit of Simon and Garfunkel and a liberal portion of originality and you get Jennifer Grassman.

Jennifer’s angelic voice makes it easy for her songs to touch the soul and transport the listener to a different place and time. An unusual but superb feature of her music is the infusion of slightly heavy, overdriven, and very melodic guitar riffs. The overall effect is simply magic.

Jennifer Grassman “Pretty Girls” Music Video from W. Ross Wells on Vimeo

Jennifer’s heart is as golden as her voice. She has organized a fundraiser concert in Houston, Texas this upcoming June to benefit Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN). Jennifer’s MySpace page provides a glimpse to her cool personality:

In addition to Jennifer’s strong classical influences, she also holds an affinity for U2, the Irish rebel band headed by social activist, Bono.

“I was obsessed with Boy, War, and Unforgettable Fire when I was in my early teens,” Jennifer reminisced smiling. “Besides the fact that they were my first introduction to rock music, I was enthralled by their passion for a cause. There was always something just nauseating about the millions of pop songs revolving around boyfriends and cattiness. I wasn’t interested in that sort of thing. I needed something to latch onto and believe in. I had no idea of the cultural or historical background behind U2’s convictions, but I got the anti-violence message loud and clear. I’ve always believed that it is important for us as individual human beings to have a cause. We need something worth dieing for. Otherwise, merely living is so hollow.”