Jenny Lewis
Jennifer Diane Lewis[1] (born January 8, 1976)[2][1] is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. She was the lead singer, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist for the indie rock band Rilo Kiley.
Jenny Lewis | |
|---|---|
Lewis performing in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jennifer Diane Lewis |
| Born | January 8, 1976 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Origin | San Fernando Valley, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Indie rock, alternative country, indie folk |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, harmonica |
| Years active | 1983–1998, 2008–present (acting) 1998–present (music) |
| Labels | Team Love, Warner Bros., Brute/Beaute, Saddle Creek, Barsuk, Third Man |
Lewis gained prominence in the 1980s as a child actress, appearing in the films Troop Beverly Hills (1989) and The Wizard (1989) and the television series Brooklyn Bridge (1991–93). In the mid-1990s, Lewis semi-retired from acting to focus on her musical career, and formed Rilo Kiley in 1998 with fellow former child actor Blake Sennett. Rilo Kiley released four albums before they disbanded in 2014.[3] Lewis has released four solo albums: Rabbit Fur Coat (2006), Acid Tongue (2008), The Voyager (2014) and On the Line (2019). In addition to Rilo Kiley and her solo career, Lewis has been a member of the Postal Service, Jenny & Johnny and Nice As Fuck.[4]
Early life
Lewis was born in Las Vegas.[1] Her mother, Linda, was a professional singer, and her father, Eddie Gordon, was a member of the Harmonica Gang.[5][6][7] Lewis is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.[8]
Acting career
Lewis made her professional debut in a Jell-O commercial. She later appeared in commercials for Mattel's Barbie[9] and Baby Skates[10] dolls, Toys "R" Us toy stores,[11] the Black & Decker Popcorn Maker,[citation needed] and Kellogg's Corn Pops,[12] among others. She was featured in the short-lived 1986 Lucille Ball sitcom Life With Lucy, where she was cast as one of Lucy's grandchildren. She also had small roles on TV shows, such as Murder She Wrote, The New Twilight Zone, Baywatch, The Golden Girls, Growing Pains, Just the Ten of Us, Roseanne, Mr. Belvedere, and Brooklyn Bridge. She appeared on a Kids' week episode of the game show Card Sharks on August 6, 1987, at age 11, and won $500 but did not win her match.[13]
Lewis appeared in over a dozen teen movies, such as Troop Beverly Hills and The Wizard in 1989. She was featured in the 1996 made-for-TV movie Talk to Me with Yasmine Bleeth, as well as the films Foxfire, Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even, and Pleasantville. She played the part of Evangeline "Eva" Saint Claire in the 1987 film version of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, and also appeared in 1988 made-for-TV film set in Vienna at the start of the Holocaust, A Friendship in Vienna. She played Beverly D'Angelo's daughter in the 1996 made-for-TV film Sweet Temptation. She continued acting until 1998, although her final movie – Don's Plum, filmed 1995–96 – went unreleased until 2001. In 2015 she appeared in the Netflix movie A Very Murray Christmas as a waitress and sang a few songs, including "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Bill Murray.
Music
Rilo Kiley
In 1998, Lewis and friends Pierre De Reeder, Dave Rock and then-boyfriend Blake Sennett formed the band Rilo Kiley. (Rock was eventually replaced by Jason Boesel.) In an interview with NPR's All Songs Considered, Lewis remarked that she wanted to name the group Love's Way (after her parents' lounge act in Las Vegas), but Sennett "didn't go for it."[14] Originally asked to sing back-up vocals by Sennett, Lewis refused to join the band unless she was able to sing lead vocals.[15]
Beginning with a country sound, Rilo Kiley gravitated toward a downbeat indie rock sound, gaining the attention of Warner Bros., who signed the band for the release (via its own imprint, Brute/Beaute Records) of their 2004 album More Adventurous, which gained the band some success. Critics such as Pitchfork attributed this to the "wise" decision to emphasize Lewis's voice and presence more so than in previous albums.[16] The song "Portions for Foxes" was a hit. Rilo Kiley's 2007 album Under the Blacklight was released directly by Warner Bros.
In 2011, Sennett hinted that Rilo Kiley had disbanded.[17] Lewis confirmed the band's split in 2014.[18]
A retrospective of Lewis's career by Jessica Roy in 2016 commented that Lewis was a style icon to music-loving young people in the 2000s. Roy commented:
For a particular brand of suburban girl who fancied herself cooler than her peers, Jenny was a fire-haired figure of worship. With her endless supply of cool sunglasses, vintage dresses, and hats ... she was a beacon of hope for introspective teens ... as a microgenerational sad-girl touchstone, many of us have our own Jenny Lewis Anecdote, our lives touched by her magnificent tweeness in different ways.[19]
Solo career
In 2004, Conor Oberst invited Lewis to record a solo record for record label Team Love. Described by Lewis as "a kind of soul record"[citation needed], Rabbit Fur Coat (released January 24, 2006) features contributions from Oberst, M. Ward, and Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie guests on a cover of The Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care." The Watson Twins provide accompaniment on the album, billed as Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins. Lewis toured with the Watson Twins in support of the album three times in 2006 and appeared with her band on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Later with Jools Holland. They also appeared on a Washington, D.C.-based children's music program called Pancake Mountain, performing the song "See Fernando". The album received positive reviews, with Entertainment Weekly writing, "Consider Lewis the Emmylou Harris of the Silverlake set"[20] and Rolling Stone commenting that "her girlishly seductive vocals are more versatile than ever".[21] The A.V. Club, Spin, and NPR music critic Meredith Ochs named it among the best albums of the year.[22][23][24]
In 2008, Lewis released a second solo album, this time without the Watson Twins, titled Acid Tongue.
On July 29, 2014, Lewis released The Voyager. The album took five years to complete and is a reflection on Rilo Kiley's break-up and the death of her father.[25] The release of the album was preceded by the single "Just One of the Guys".[26] The music video for "Just One of the Guys" was released on July 15, 2014, through GQ and stars Lewis, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, Brie Larson, and Tennessee Thomas, former drummer of The Like (now disbanded).[27] Lewis also directed the music video.
On January 23, 2019, Lewis announced the release date of her new album On the Line would be March 22, 2019.[28] The lead single "Red Bull & Hennessy" debuted with positive acclaim.[29]
Jenny and Johnny
In 2010, Lewis formed the duo Jenny and Johnny with her then-boyfriend, musician Johnathan Rice, and the pair released an album titled I'm Having Fun Now on Warner Bros. Records. In 2015, Rice and Lewis wrote the song "Cold One" for the film Ricki and the Flash.
The Voyager Tour
On July 8, 2014, Lewis began her "The Voyager" tour at the Ottawa Bluesfest in Ontario, Canada. She spent July touring the United States and released the album The Voyager on July 29. Her tour included performances at Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the 2014 ITunes Festival in London, two performances at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas.
Other projects
In 2002, Lewis was asked to contribute vocals for the band The Postal Service. Lewis performed in the video for "We Will Become Silhouettes", and toured with the band in 2013.
In 2003, Lewis contributed vocals to several tracks on the Cursive album The Ugly Organ.
In 2005, Lewis contributed to the UNICEF benefit song "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?", along with Sennett and Jimmy Tamborello.
In 2006, Lewis made a cameo in Episode 25, Season 1 of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour, and six of her songs (three with the Watson Twins and three with Rilo Kiley) were featured in various episodes of the show.
In 2007, Lewis contributed vocals to various songs on Johnathan Rice's album Further North, and she appeared in the music video for "We're All Stuck Out In The Desert (And We're Gonna Die)". She provided vocals for a track on Dntel's Dumb Luck LP.
In 2008, Lewis contributed backing vocals to several songs on the Elvis Costello and the Imposters album Momofuku.
Later that year, Lewis voiced the role of the assistant director for Walt Disney Pictures' animated film Bolt (2008), and she also provided the song "Barking at the Moon."[30]
In March and April 2009, Lewis traveled to Australia for the first time, as an act for the V Festival, as well as a supporting act for Snow Patrol and performing one solo Sydney show.
On April 18, 2009, Lewis performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.
On May 5, 2009, Lewis performed on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson[citation needed]
Lewis makes an appearance on the track "Hard Enough", taken from the 2010 album Flamingo by fellow Las Vegan Brandon Flowers.
In 2013, Lewis created the music score for Tribeca Film's feature, Very Good Girls. She provided original music and also included older music from her previous band, Rilo Kiley, such as the song, "Go Ahead".[31]
In 2014, Lewis contributed an exclusive track to HBO's Girls, in collaboration with Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij titled "Completely Not Me". The song was featured in the Season 3 premiere "Females Only". The song is the second track on Girls Volume Two: All Adventurous Women Do.[32]
In 2016, Lewis contributed to She & Him's second Christmas album, Christmas Party, appearing on the track “Winter Wonderland”.[33]
In 2016, the trio Nice As Fuck comprising Lewis, Erika Forster (of Au Revoir Simone), and Tennessee Thomas (of The Like) debuted at a Bernie Sanders benefit. The group opened on a number of tour dates for M. Ward.[34][35]
On June 25, 2019, Lewis performed "Wasted Youth" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[36]
On October 28, 2019, Lewis is featured on the fifth issue of Archie Comics' comic book series Jughead’s Time Police, was released on October 30.[37]
On November 13, 2019, it was announced Lewis would be an opening act for Harry Styles on the North American leg of his 2020 Love On Tour.[38]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown | Ruby (voice) | TV |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone segment "If She Dies" (1 Episode) | Sarah (ghost child) | TV |
| 1986 | Convicted | Shelley Forbes | TV |
| 1986 | Life with Lucy | Becky McGibbon | TV series |
| 1987 | Trading Hearts | Yvonne Rhonda Nottingham | |
| 1987 | The Golden Girls | Daisy (A Sunshine Cadet) | TV series |
| 1987 | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Evangeline 'Little Eva' St. Claire | TV |
| 1988 | Growing Pains | Judy Jones | TV |
| 1988 | A Friendship in Vienna | Inge Dournenvald | TV |
| 1988 | Baby M | Tuesday | TV |
| 1988 | My Father, My Son | Maya | TV |
| 1988 | Who Gets the Friends? | TV | |
| 1989 | Shannon's Deal | Neala Shannon | TV |
| 1989 | Just the Ten of Us | Pamela | TV |
| 1989 | Baywatch | Alex | TV – Shelter Me |
| 1989 | The Wizard | Haley Brooks | Film |
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills | Hannah Nefler | Film |
| 1990 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter | Melanie Benson | TV |
| 1991 | Brooklyn Bridge | Katie Monahan | TV series |
| 1991 | Daddy | Melissa Watson | TV |
| 1991 | Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story | Ellie | TV |
| 1991 | Runaway Father | Marcia | TV |
| 1992 | Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even | Corinne | |
| 1994 | Murder She Wrote – episode "A Murderous Muse" | Leslie Walden | TV |
| 1994 | Runaway Daughters | Laura Cahn | TV |
| 1996 | Foxfire | Rita Faldes | |
| 1996 | Sweet Temptation | Jade Larson | TV |
| 1996 | Talk to Me | Kelly Reilly | TV |
| 1997 | Little Boy Blue | Traci Connor | |
| 1998 | Pleasantville | Christin | |
| 2001 | Don's Plum | Sara | Filmed 1995–96 |
| 2008 | Bolt | Assistant Director | Voice |
| 2010 | American Dad! | Amy | Voice (Merlot Down Dirty Shame) |
| 2014 | Comedy Bang Bang | Herself | Replacement for Reggie Watts on "Zach Galifianakis Wears a One-Armed Jacket", season 3, episode 5; June 5, 2014 |
| 2015 | A Very Murray Christmas | The Waitress | TV – Netflix Original |
| 2019 | Jenny Lewis’ On the Line Online | Host | JennyLewis.com streaming special |
Discography
Rilo Kiley
- Rilo Kiley (1999)
- Take-Offs and Landings (2001)
- The Execution of All Things (2002)
- More Adventurous (2004)
- Under the Blacklight (2007)
- Rkives (2013)
Solo
- Rabbit Fur Coat (2006) (with The Watson Twins)
- Acid Tongue (2008)
- The Voyager (2014)
- On the Line (2019)
Jenny & Johnny
- I'm Having Fun Now (2010)
- Live at Third Man Records (2010)
Nice As Fuck
- Nice As Fuck (2016)[39]
Other appearances
- Bright Eyes – Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002 · Saddle Creek)
- Cursive – The Ugly Organ (2003, Saddle Creek)
- The Postal Service – Give Up (2003, Sub Pop)
- The Good Life – Album of the Year (2004, Saddle Creek)
- The Watson Twins – Southern Manners (2006)
- Dntel – Dumb Luck (2007, Sub Pop)
- Whispertown 2000 – Livin' in a Dream (2007)
- Elvis Costello and the Imposters – Momofuku (2008, Lost Highway Records)
- Whispertown 2000 – Swim (2009)
- Brandon Flowers – "Hard Enough" from Flamingo (2010, Island/Vertigo)
- Wavves – Afraid of Heights (2013)
- EZTV – Calling Out (2016)
- She & Him – Christmas Party (2016)
- Paul Shaffer – Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band (2017)
- King Tuff – The Other (2018)
- Vampire Weekend – "2021" (2019)[40]
- The Cactus Blossoms — "Everybody" (2022)
Videography
- Rilo Kiley – "The Frug" (1999, directed by Morgan J. Freeman)
- Rilo Kiley – "Wires and Waves" (2001 unreleased, 2007 released, directed by Morgan J. Freeman)
- Rilo Kiley - "Bulletproof" (2001, directed by Liam Lynch)
- The Postal Service – "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" (2003) (Backing Vocals)
- Rilo Kiley – "Portions for Foxes" (2004, directed by Brian Lazzaro)
- Rilo Kiley – "It's a Hit" (2005, directed by Andrew Bruntel, Matt Enlow)
- The Postal Service – "We Will Become Silhouettes" (2005, directed by Jared Hess)
- Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins – "Rise Up with Fists!!" (2006, directed by Autumn de Wilde)
- Rilo Kiley – "The Moneymaker" (2007, directed by Autumn de Wilde)
- Rilo Kiley – "Silver Lining" (2007, directed by Autumn de Wilde)
- Jenny Lewis – "Black Sand" (2009, directed by Justin Mitchell)
- Jenny Lewis – "See Fernando" (2009, directed by Alan Tanner)
- Jenny Lewis – "Carpetbaggers" (2009, directed by Justin Mitchell)
- Jenny and Johnny – "Big Wave" (2011, directed by Autumn de Wilde)
- The Postal Service – "A Tattered Line of String" (2013, directed by AB/CD/CD) (Backing Vocals)
- Rilo Kiley – "Let Me Back In" (2013, directed by Rilo Kiley)
- Rilo Kiley – "Emotional" (2013, directed by Austin Nagler)
- Jenny Lewis – "Just One Of The Guys" (2014, directed by Jenny Lewis)
- Jenny Lewis – "She's Not Me" (2015, directed by Jenny Lewis)
- Nice As Fuck – "Door" (2016, directed by Jenny Lewis)
- Nice As Fuck – "Guns" (2016, directed by Luke Rathborne)
- Jenny Lewis – "Red Bull & Hennessy" (2019, directed by Eric Notarnicola)
- Jenny Lewis – "Rabbit Hole" (2019, directed by Eric Notarnicola)
- Artists for Peace and Justice: Jonathan Wilson, Jenny Lewis, Sanba Zao, and Jackson Browne – "Lapé, Lanmou (Peace and Love)" (2019, directed by APJ)
- Artists for Peace and Justice: Jenny Lewis with Habib Koité – "Under the Supermoon” (2020, directed by David Belle)
- Jenny Lewis with Serengeti - “Unblu” (2020, directed by Jenny Lewis)
- Jenny Lewis with Serengeti - "Vroom Vroom" (2021, directed by Jenny Lewis)
References
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Jenny Lewis Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ "UPI Almanac for Monday, Jan. 8, 2018". United Press International. January 8, 2018. from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
…singer Jenny Lewis in 1976 (age 42)
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rilo Kiley biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew. "Jenny Lewis's Band Nice as Fuck Surprise Release New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ "Jenny Lewis Biography (1977-)". Filmreference.com. 1977-01-07. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ Ayers, Michael D. "Jenny Lewis Is Tired of Being in a Band". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (2008-10-11). "Jenny's junior showtime". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- ^ Per Malitz, David, Deputy Features Editor, The Washington Post: @malitzd (September 5, 2019). "Jenny Lewis tonight said" (Tweet). Archived from the original on December 16, 2019 – via Twitter. "...her 23andMe results confirmed she’s 90% Ashkenazi Jewish."
- ^ . 80s Commercials Forever. August 15, 2009. Archived from the original on 2017-03-08. Retrieved March 23, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Vintage 80s Baby Skates Commercial with Jenny Lewis & Emily Schulman. 80s Commercials Forever. July 30, 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved March 23, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Jenny Lewis kid Toys r us. RiloKiley77. March 15, 2006. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 23 March 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ . Youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-11. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- ^ Card Sharks – Jenny Lewis (Aug. 6, 1987)]. Chad Mosher. December 17, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17 – via YouTube.
- ^ "The Blue-Eyed Soul of Jenny Lewis". NPR. 2006-10-16. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ Saroyan, Strawberry (September 2007). Solid Gold. SPIN Magazine. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
- ^ Dahlen, Chris (August 15, 2004). "Rilo Kiley More Adventurous > Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
- ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry. "Rilo Kiley Seem to Have Broken Up". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Jenny Lewis talks breaking up the band, messaging Ryan Adams on Twitter and dealing with insomnia". National Post. Canada. 2014-07-30. Archived from the original on 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ^ Roy, Jessica. "I Like That Bitch's Life: How Jenny Lewis Was a Twee Teen's Dream". New York. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- ^ Michael Endelman (2006-01-27). "Jenny Lewis". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ^ Hiatt, Brian (February 9, 2006). . Rolling Stone. No. 993. p. 62. Archived from the original on 11 January 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2012. Posted on February 7, 2006.
- ^ Battaglia, Andy; Christopher Bahn; Jason Heller; Josh Modell; Keith Phipps; Kyle Ryan; Marc Hawthorne; Nathan Rabin; Noel Murray; Scott Gordon; Sean ONeal; Steven Hyden (2006-12-19). "Best Music Of 2006". The Onion A.V. Club. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ Ochs, Meredith (2006-12-05). "Top Ten CDs of 2006". NPR. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ . Spin. 2006-12-14. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ^ McEvers, Kelly. "Rainbow in the Dark: Jenny Lewis on staring down sadness". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ "Just One of the Guys". iTunes. 1977-01-08. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
- ^ "Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart Breakdance for Jenny Lewis Video 'Just One of the Guys'". Rolling Stone. 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- ^ "Jenny Lewis Announces On the Line Album Details, Releases "Red Bull & Hennessy"". Spin. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- ^ "Hear Jenny Lewis' Smoldering New Song 'Red Bull and Hennessy'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- ^ "Pop & Hiss goes to the movies: Jenny Lewis gets a dose of Disney optimism with 'Bolt'". Pop & Hiss. 2008-11-25. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ Choi, Sarah (2014-06-26). "Jenny Lewis Scores for the Screen in 'Very Good Girls' (Now out on VOD!)". Tribeca Film. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
- ^ "Listen: Jenny Lewis' new song "Completely Not Me", from HBO Girls' soundtrack"". Consequence.net. 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ "She & Him (M. Ward + Zooey Deschanel) Announce a New Christmas Album Featuring Jenny Lewis". Under the Radar. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- ^ "Jenny Lewis Forms New Band". Pitchfork. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "Jenny Lewis Forms New Band NAF (Nice As Fuck) With Members Of Au Revoir Simone, The Like". Stereogum. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – Season 4 Episode 171". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (October 28, 2019). "Jenny Lewis Appears in New Archie Comics Issue". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Harry Styles Announces 2020 Tour". Rolling Stone. 2019-11-13.
- ^ "Jenny Lewis's Band Nice as Fuck Surprise Release New Album". Pitchfork. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (2019-01-24). "Vampire Weekend Return After Six Years With 'Harmony Hall,' '2021'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
External links
- Official website
- Jenny Lewis at IMDb
- Jenny Lewis at NPR Music
- Strangers Almanac column on Glide Magazine
- October 2008 interview on Bob Edwards Weekend
- "The Magic of the Moment", April 2009 interview in Submerge Magazine
- Listen: Jenny Lewis’ new song “Completely Not Me”, from HBO’s Girls soundtrack by Chris Coplan, Consequence, January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.