Jenny Owen Youngs is, according to her blog, a “singer, songwriter, natural history enthusiast, and lady” from Montclair, New Jersey, now based in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Graphic caught up with her before her Mar. 2 San Diego show and found her to be all of those things, plus a talented and generally lovely human being. She’s currently touring her third (and best) album, “An Unwavering Band of Light,” which was preceded by “Batten the Hatches” in 2005 and “Transmitter Failure” in 2009. Read on for our chat on everything from her tours with Regina Spektor and Motion City Soundtrack to her love of Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Kate Bush, “The Great Gatsby,” and, of course, “Friday Night Lights” favorite Tim Riggins.
Sonya Singh: So, how’s it going? The new album is great.
Jenny Owen Youngs: Thank you so much.
SS: Tour going well?
JOY: It’s going well. Been having a good time, been playing a lot of the new record, having a blast.
SS: So, Jenny, what were some of the influences on the new record? Was there anything left over from “Transmitter Failure”? Or is this all new?
JOY: This is all new. We started working on the record and we basically got 17 songs that we started and arranged, and then we picked the 11 that we thought really went together and made sense together. Musically, before we started the album, I was getting super into mid-’80s Tom Waits, like “Swordfishtrombone” and “Rain Dogs.” So that’s where my head was at, and Dan Romer, who produced the album and did a lot of co-writing for it as well, was getting really, really into Harry Belafonte. I wanted the record to feel a little more live, like people in a room instead of scientists layering, which had been our previous style.
It’s looser. There’s an emphasis on drums and percussion, feeling a certain way, and I wanted things to be more natural. When we started arranging the record, Dan and I and the drummer, who is not with us tonight, but who’s been with us this whole tour and plays on the record — his name is Elliot Jacobson — we arranged things as a drums-bass-guitar trio, just to get the feel right before we started laying down anything. The writing was very different for me. I’m a lot happier, better adjusted than I was the last two times I made a record, so it’s been an interesting journey trying to find ways to be inspired that don’t also make me want to cut myself and drink all day. [Laughter] You know what I mean? So that stuff is all new and different, I guess.
SS: And what about the name, “An Unwavering Band of Light”?
JOY: The name comes from a book. Over the course of writing, especially once we got to the point where lyrics were the only thing missing from some songs, I just tried to be reading as many books at a time as possible, just to keep things moving. I was rereading an old favorite of mine, “Breakfast of Champions,” which is a Kurt Vonnegut book. And there’s this beautiful scene toward the end of the book where a character in the novel basically describes the way he sees each individual form of life, and it’s as “an unwavering band of light,” which is just beautiful. I’ve had to explain this a bunch of times because people have asked a lot, but I don’t think I’m doing a good job so I’ll just say read the book because it’s such a beautiful scene.
SS: I will. What else were you reading?
JOY: I’ve never been much of a short stories person, but I got super into Raymond Carver and Flannery O’Connor. That stuff was really heavy in my brain, and lots of other stuff, but those were really the standouts. There are a couple books that I always find myself coming back to, like “The Great Gatsby.” I mean, obviously, “The Great Gatsby” doesn’t need any more good press, but it is perfect and economical and there is not a wasted word, you know? That’s something I love to go back to because it’s just so concise but so expansive and gorgeous. And I feel a little emo saying this, but “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is something that I go back to once a year.
SS: No, don’t feel too emo. Those are some good books. This album has a lot of instrumentation. How does that translate when you’re on the road? I’m thinking “Sleep Machine” in particular here.
JOY: Yeah, tonight won’t be a great example of that, for sure. But what we did in the month before tour is, Elliot, Mike and I basically had this massive job of rearranging this whole record, which I’d just spent a year and a half arranging, for the three of us. And we had to do a lot of paring down — there are a lot of really cool lines that Dan wrote, little melodic hooks on various instruments that we had to say, “Well, these aren’t as important.” It’s all about getting down to the essential core of the song and how best to communicate it, which is a challenge, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job.
And Elliot, he’s like an octopus. And Mike is able to play multiple things. I mean, I don’t want to make him uncomfortable [since he’s sitting here], but he’s got a lot of colors in his palette … He’s very swift, swift in the fingers. Between the two of them, it’s been a lot easier than it would be with other players to get as much music out of an individual song from three people as possible.
SS: And correct me if I’m wrong, but I get the impression that you tour a lot, that you tour your albums quite a bit, that you’re very hard working. Is that the way you like it? Do you like being on the road?
JOY: I think balance is really important but I think it’s a very difficult thing to achieve. I like to work. I really feel guilty if I’m not doing everything that I can. I mean, if I went back in time there were probably some tours I would pick and choose to not have done, you know? But my impulse is always to be like, “Well, gotta get out.” The Internet is awesome, but I think there will always be something really special about seeing live music, and getting to support people whose audiences will probably be totally unaware of me is an awesome way to get in front of a bunch of people every night and try to prove to them that you’re worth their time. So there will probably be bunch more touring after this tour, which has basically been from the beginning of February and will go till the end of March.
SS: Right. So on a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you love being on tour?
JOY: Well, it’s like 1 and 10, you know? I love playing shows and I love getting to see parts of the world. But I also love being home. Who doesn’t love being home? I feel really lucky to get to do both.
SS: You were talking about the Internet a minute ago. And you do have a pretty big Internet presence. That being important is such a modern thing. Do you think that things are changing in that direction? Do you have to have an Internet presence to make it these days?
JOY: I think it depends, to an extent, on what kind of music you’re making. But I think across all genres, the Internet is becoming more important all the time. So, it’s a weird thing, and we’ve got nothing to compare it to, really, because nothing like it has ever existed before. So, I don’t know. It’s f—ing weird. [Laughter] It’s simultaneously the most nonhuman thing you can do, but you can also get closer to people, to musicians, than has ever been a possibility.
SS: I think you’re right. But it was through TV placement, rather, that you got your first sort of break, right? Through “Weeds”? How’d that happen?
JOY: I was just starting to build a team. I was talking to Nettwerk, which is the label I ended up releasing a couple records with, talking to a publisher called Chrysalis, working with a licensing company called Secret Road. The reason that Gary Calamar, the music supervisor [of “Weeds”], had the CD was because he was a DJ at KCRW and my manager at the time had sent him the record. So, that’s how we got it, and then some, if not all, of those people in all of those companies we’re like “Hey, Gary,” “Hey, Gary,” “Hey, Gary,” because I guess that’s how things work in LA. [Laughter] It’s pretty weird, but it happened, and it’s awesome. Right around that time I got a really nice from feature from Perez Hilton 
at the time when EVERYBODY was reading Perez Hilton. Between those two things, they really kicked off a lot of stuff. “Weeds” is great because it’s the gift that keeps on giving. People are still getting into that show and just getting to that episode where they’re like, “Oh my God, this song!” So people are still coming to shows and saying “Hey, I just discovered you” from that, which is really cool.
SS: So cool. Do you watch “Weeds”?
JOY: I didn’t at the time, and then I started watching it after. And now I don’t watch it. But I don’t really watch any TV, with the exception of “Archer.”
SS: I have a friend who’s obsessed with “Archer” and tells me to watch it. I haven’t yet.
JOY: Only watch it if you like things that are perfect.
SS: I mean, I can make some room for perfect.
JOY: Cool. You should.
SS: I guess I don’t need another show to keep up with. I don’t really watch TV on TV either. I try to catch up online, but, you know, it’s hard.
JOY: It’s a f—ing commitment.
SS: And it’s long term.
JOY: It is; it is.
SS: It’s all been easier — and worse? — since LOST went off the air. I know you were a LOST person; you’ve talked about it from stage before. What do you do without Sawyer in your life?
JOY: Don’t know. Still don’t know.
SS: That void is still being filled?
JOY: Yeah, that void will NEVER be filled. Oh, wait. Have you ever checked out “Friday Night Lights”?
SS: I’ve been meaning to. You’re not the first person to recommend it.
JOY: If you’ve got a void from Sawyer, get ready for Tim Riggins.
SS: So I’ve heard!
JOY: He’s going to change your life.
SS: OK, I’m holding you to that. Actually, come to think of it, I remember you talking about LOST when you did a show in London, at Monto Water Rats in 2010. I happened to be in London at the time and came down for that.
JOY: [whispering] Wow!
SS: A small band called Pocket Satellite opened for you, remember?
JOY: [still whispering] They’re so small! [Laughter] The smallest band.
SS: Aren’t they the sweetest thing you’ve ever met?
JOY: Yes. The very sweetest thing.
SS: They’re so great. I saw them again this summer, and I was talking to Maya [Pocket Satellite vocalist and guitarist] afterwards and that show came up. She was still raving about you and how great you are.
JOY: They are f—ing awesome. I hope that they come to America.
SS: I hope so too. I feel like we all need to send our piggy banks to them so that they can come all that way. So when you were in the UK then, you were opening for Regina Spektor, right? Or was that before?
JOY: That was actually in November and December, and then when I was there at Monto Water Rats, that was March or early April. I had just done two and a half weeks with Motion City Soundtrack.
SS: Yeah, that’s right. What was it like touring with them?
JOY: Oh, they were great. They’re great guys. Actually, Tony Thaxton, who was drumming with us last night [is from Motion City Soundtrack] … All of those guys are really sweet and they’re awesome to watch. I f—ing love their music. I love their records. So, it was super cool to get to spend a lot of time with them.
SS: That’s cool. What was it like opening for Regina Spektor? What’s she like?
JOY: Mind-blowing. We’re friends from college, but even when we were both in the same program, it was still, like [sigh], how do you DO things? She’s just one of those really, really special, really rare, incredible writers and amazing performers. Her melodies, her lyrics, everything she does is incredible. Aside from that European tour, I did some stuff way back in 2006 or something with her in the Northeast, and her audiences are just so f—ing awesome to play for because they’re just really ready. They’re there because they want to feel stuff and they want to be in the moment with you, so opening for her has been pretty much the best opening I’ve ever gotten to do because the audiences are so excited about life. [Laughs] So, you know, they’re just ready to get rocked.
SS: And that’s perfect for you.
JOY: Totally! [Laughter]
SS: OK, switching gears a little bit. You talked about this a bit earlier, but how do you think you’ve grown since “Batten the Hatches” and those days?
JOY: Well, leading up to “Batten the Hatches,” I was in school for music, so I was thinking about music sort of seriously, but a lot of the songs I was writing were just sort of reflexive and just crawling around on a fret board until I figured something out. And now I feel like I have a lot more purpose and I feel like I have a better foundation for what I think makes a song great, you know? I feel like I’m a little more on my own back about it, about making sure I’m writing for a reason and not just for myself.
SS: Sure. And you said you were happier.
JOY: Also, I’m happier. Weird. [Laughter]
SS: Let’s see, is there anything you like to do pre-show or post-show? Any sort of rituals on the road?
JOY: Not really, just a lot of uvular trills. [Laughter] Warming up…
SS: So, CRAZY stuff.
JOY: Yeah, gettin’ wild. [Laughter] No, I used to get drunk, but not anymore. That’s no longer my pre-show ritual. [Laughter]
SS: What are some of your favorite songs to perform? They could be yours or someone else’s.
JOY: This tour has been really f—ing fun because we’ve been playing a lot of faster songs, getting loud. So, playing songs like “Sleep Machine” and “Born to Lose” from the new record, as well as “Wake Up” and “Love for Long” has been super, super fun. I just really like playing songs, which is lucky for me, I guess. We’ve been bringing back the “Hot in Herre” Nelly cover. We’ve been doing this Neil Young song I really like called “Tell Me Why” from the “After the Goldrush” album. I’ve lately been playing a Neutral Milk Hotel song called “The King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1.”
SS: You also did a “Ring of Fire” cover, right?
JOY: Oh yeah. That’s another song that I f—ing love to play.
SS: It’s amazing. So you love Johnny Cash, then?
JOY: Of course. Love Johnny Cash.
SS: Who doesn’t?
JOY: Only a–holes.
SS: Exactly. What other people can’t you live without?
JOY: The most important people to me at this moment in time are Tom Waits, Kate Bush, Jack White, Johnny Cash, Harry Belafonte. The Dixie Chicks?
SS: Didn’t see that one coming.
JOY: I know. We just picked up “Fly” the other day, which I had never heard when it was really out in real time, and it has not left the CD player in five days. We’re all just listening to it every day, in total awe, because it is so out of control. The musicianship, the writing, the singing. I can’t f—ing deal with it. It’s so unbelievably good.
SS: I’ll have to give it a listen. And do you like the new Kate Bush? “50 Words for Snow”? That’s pretty recent.
JOY: I haven’t logged the hours I need to spend with it. She’s incredible and that album deserves more of my time. “The Dreaming” and “Hounds of Love” are basically my source of life. [Laughter] I don’t think that I will ever get over those records.
SS: No. And if I could dance like her, my life would be great.
JOY: Her f—ing dancing!
SS: Switching gears again: Your love of natural history creeps into your songs.
JOY: Totally.
SS: If you weren’t in love with music, would you be doing something with that?
JOY: The stuff that I thought about doing before I started thinking about doing creative stuff — starting with writing and ending with songs — was, well, I wanted to be a vet, I wanted to be an astronaut, and I wanted to be a marine biologist. I wasn’t that great at science, so I don’t know if I would’ve been able to do any of those things in real life, [laughter] but that’s the stuff that really peaked my interest as a kid. You know, I went to space camp.
SS: Excellent.
JOY: Ugh, natural f—ing history. What’s not to love?
SS: True. What’s your least favorite interview question? I admit that this one’s probably more for me than for you.
JOY: “What comes first, music or lyrics?”
SS: I bet every musician ever must get that question.
JOY: I understand why, but it’s just — that’s the one. [Laughter]
SS: Well, I don’t have that one down [holds up notebook]. You can check.
JOY: Thank you!
SS: Wouldn’t the answer always be “it depends”?
JOY: Exactly.
SS: OK, I guess this is just the lightning round. Questions that don’t really fit anywhere. Favorite new albums? Besides the newly found Dixie Chicks being in your CD player.
JOY: I’m really behind on things. I’m really excited about the Soft Pack record, which came out in 2010. [Laughter] The new Tom Waits is awesome. What else is new?
SS: Leonard Cohen has a new album, right? I haven’t heard it yet.
JOY: I’ve heard a song, and it was great, of course. It’s Leonard Cohen.
SS: Favorite guitar pedal?
JOY: Right now, I’m super into this new overdrive pedal made by Maxon. They’re the company who makes the chips Ibanez uses for their Tube Screamer, so it’s in the Tube Screamer family. I’ve been super psyched about that pedal since I switched to it. And that’s my final answer.
SS: Very nice. We got my older brother a Tube Screamer for Christmas and we lost him for hours. [Laughter]
JOY: Nice.
SS: Your biggest vice?
JOY: Self-loathing.
SS: Favorite Beatles album?
JOY: “Revolver.”
SS: Me too!
[Fist bump]
JOY: Right? It’s great. “Eleanor Rigby”? Please.
SS: “Tomorrow Never Knows”? Come on now.
JOY: I can’t. I just can’t.
SS: Nice. I totally approve of that answer. Do you have a favorite Beatle?
JOY: I feel like the cool thing to say is George. I feel like the overdone thing is to say John. Ringo? Come on. I have a sneaking suspicion that —well, I don’t have an intimate knowledge of who was responsible for what — but I have a terrible feeling that Paul McCartney has written a lot of things, a lot of things I really like. I feel like his melodies, and also his bass playing, is really special. My favorite Beatle is, [pause] the Beatles. You know?
SS: You know, that’s not an answer I’ve ever heard before, but I really like it. What about a guilty musical pleasure? We’ve all got ’em.
JOY: The guiltiest? It might be Katy Perry. I think that’s the one I like the most and am the most embarrassed of. Some things I have no shame about, but that’s embarrassing, kind of. I don’t want anyone to see me listening to her, but I want to listen to her a lot.
SS: Celebrity crush? The real hard-hitting journalism now.
JOY: Oh, Tim Riggins. Let’s see, who else is good to look at?
SS: There are a lot of people who are going to be really happy with that answer.
JOY: I mean, that is kind of the end all, be all. Yeah, I’ll leave it at Tim Riggins. Who is really Taylor Kitsch, if anyone thinks that I don’t know that. Oh, I know that.
SS: You know that. That, and probably much, much more.
JOY: Actually, no. [Laughter] I don’t know anything else except that I like looking at him.
SS: Fair enough. All right, I don’t want to take any more of your time, but this was fun. Thanks!
JOY: No, thank you so much for doing it.
Jenny Owen Youngs’ latest album, An Unwavering Band of Light, was released on Feb. 7, 2012. Get it on iTunes by clicking here or on Amazon by clicking here.
