There is an old saying that form follows function. However, if a form does not exist, - specifically an art form one must be invented. And so it is with profound imagination and deft candor that JEN conjures up not just the words she uses to paint stark, real emotions, but also the framework to suspend her art.
One fine day in Washington DC. The charismatic poet / lyricist JEN aka Jennifer Schwed listens to a certain track from a chill out compilation she just bought over and over again.
Inspired by the moment, JEN keeps on reading her self-penned poems to the beat of that song - and all the poetry she wrote over the years suddenly starts to make even more sense. In tune with the laid back grooves and moods of the music, her words and the sound become one: something which is bigger than the mere sum of its parts. JEN decides to call this very special something "Mellow Dramas" - and starts looking for the source of that certain track.
A few weeks and a bunch of e-mails later, on the other side of the Atlantic: Cologne/Germany based dj / producer George Solar is just as struck by the effect of his music combined with JEN's silky voice and her unique poetry. He distributes some of the poems he received from JEN by mail to dj friends and fellow producers… and, together with his Solar Moon partners, produces the track that marks JEN's first public release: "Inside Out" is included on the Solar Moon album "Guetsbook", with the video to the song on heavy rotation in german music television nightloops for months in a row.
"Poetry meets Electronica" - something is definitely happening right there. All producers hooked by George are as fascinated by JEN's intense words and her one-in-a-million voice. The rumour of a very special love poet with "that certain something" is spreading fast.
Within a year or so, quite a few transatlantic "Mellow Dramas" become reality that way: pure love poetry meets the most sensual sounds crafted by reknown producers of refined European freestyle- and club electronica. A string of prestigeous compilation contributions as well as over 20.000 Myspace-Plays later, now finally "A Taste Of Mellow Dramas" comes as a classy precursor to JEN's longplay album "Mellow Dramas".
Kieser.Velten, famous for their highly influential releases on Kruder & Dorfmeister's G-Stone label, turn "Together" into a truly soulful affair. First Call DJ / remixer CAN7 provides a lot of "Temptation & Seduction" with a jazzed up bossa feel. The Busy People, latest signing on Vienna club label Sunshine Enterprises, turn "Rain" into an urban headnodder with a pop twist. While Cologne based downtempo experts Solar Moon abduct JEN's smooth words into a dubby twilight world on the dreamy opening track "Asleep".
And so, "A Taste Of Mellow Dramas" includes "the first wave" of the deepest thoughts on love you heard in a long time, teleported through music made of love. JEN and her Mellow Dramas are here to stay - and she definitely has got something to say we should all listen to closely... This way, Love will save the day.