Jenny Owen Youngs

Jenny Owen Youngs (born November 22, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter.

She has released four albums and a handful of EPs both independently and via Nettwerk Records, and has toured worldwide.

Youngs' first album Batten the Hatches was recorded with borrowed equipment at SUNY-Purchase and self-released in 2005.

While at Austin's South by Southwest, Youngs met Gary Calamar, the music supervisor of Showtime's Weeds, which led to her song "Fuck Was I" appearing in Weeds' second-season premiere.

The notoriety resulted in a contract with Canadian indie label Nettwerk Records.

Nettwerk Records re-released her album Batten the Hatches on April 10, 2007, with new artwork and an additional song ("Drinking Song").

Newsweek called the album a top pick, complimenting Youngs' "simple, stripped-down guitar" and her "edgy lyrics and sweetly sung melodies".

The Sydney Morning Herald described the album as an "accomplished debut".

"Fuck Was I" was also released on Weeds: Music from the Original Series, Vol. 2.

Youngs released her second album, Transmitter Failure, on May 26, 2009.

She supported Regina Spektor in her 2009 tour promoting the album Far.

Youngs collaborated with Xian Hawkins under the moniker Bell Horses, which resulted in the album This Loves Last Time (2009).

In the fall of 2009, Youngs performed alongside Chuck Ragan, Jim Ward, Tim Barry, Joey Cape, Dave Hause, Frank Turner, and others as part of the 2009 Revival Tour.

On July 1, 2010, Youngs launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund her third album and reached her goal of $20,000 in 28 hours.

Her drummer, Elliot Jacobson, had his chest waxed as an incentive to reach the goal.

The campaign ended on August 13, 2010, with a total of $38,543 and 646 backers.

Youngs covered "Have You Forgotten" by Red House Painters for American Laundromat Records's charity CD "Sing Me To Sleep – Indie Lullabies" released in Spring 2010.

In March 2010, Youngs toured with Bess Rogers and A.W. on their 'Spring Break Forever Tour', after which she flew out to the United Kingdom to support Motion City Soundtrack on their London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow tour.

She headlined a show at "Monto Water Rats" in London in April 2010.

On February 7, 2012, the Kickstarter-backed third studio album, titled An Unwavering Band of Light was released.

In December 2012, Youngs began her Exhibit project in which she visited a New York City museum once a week, recording a song inspired by her visit within the same week.

The album was released on Bandcamp and consists of 8 tracks.

In January 2013, she was announced to rejoin The Revival Tour, where she performed alongside Chuck Ragan, Rocky Votolato, Dave Hause, Jenny O., and Tim McIlrath of Rise Against.

In 2017, her 2012 song "Wake Up" was featured over the end credits of BoJack Horseman's season 4 finale.

In 2017, a song from that album, "Wake Up", appeared over the end titles of the season Four finale of Netflix's Bojack Horseman.

The 12-track album cycles through a 24-hour period, beginning at 7am.

Each piece is designed to reflect aspects of the time it's representing, from sunrise to dusk, moonset to blue hour.

The earthy, hypnotic project features collaborators John Mark Nelson, Hrishikesh Hirway, Jess Abbott (solo as Tancred).

Youngs is also a songwriting collaborator whose cuts include the 2018 Panic! at the Disco single "High Hopes, " as well as songs with Brett Dennen, Ingrid Michaelson, Shungudzo, Pitbull, and others.

Youngs' songs have been used in TV shows such as Weeds, Grey's Anatomy, Nurse Jackie, Suburgatory, and Switched at Birth.

On March 28, 2018, it was announced that Youngs would work as the composer for Muscle Memory, a short film directed by Carly Usdin being made as a part of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.

Youngs was born in a hospital elevator.

Raised in Newton, New Jersey, Youngs grew up playing the flute, the french horn and the sousaphone in elementary school and the tuba in junior high school.

At age 14, her older step-brother told her that if she wanted to be in a band she needed to learn how to play the guitar.

She attended Kittatinny Regional High School and graduated from State University of New York at Purchase with a degree in studio composition.

On April 5, 2018, Youngs released the song "Won't Let Go of Me" which was featured in the Grey's Anatomy episode "Hold Back The River" (Season 14, Episode 18).

The song was written with Aaron Espe and Kyle Neal.

Neal produced the song while Espe was credited as a co-producer.

On March 28, 2018, it was announced that Youngs would work as the composer for Muscle Memory, a short film directed by Carly Usdin being made as a part of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.

Youngs has toured worldwide headlining and also supporting artists such as Regina Spektor, Against Me!, Frank Turner, and Streetlight Manifesto.