Just looking at her you’d expect her
to be a huge success, she’s got the
Looks and the musical ability but
It’s been a different story
By Emma Murphy

Jenny Hudson isn’t known to many in the music industry, and at the age of 19 and the release of a debut album which flopped peaking at 34 in the USA album charts, she remains however unusually optimistic. December will bring one of the toughest challenges she could possibly face in her career, fronting the 4th Street Band as a replacement for the ever loved Max Armstrong and despite the lack of attention she still see’s a future as a recording artist. Rolling Stone caught up with her for a quick chat and here‘s how it went.

How do you feel about your debut album and the songs that accompanied it?
I’m happy with it, there was always gonna be some difficulties like there is in any part of life, the fact that I’m on a label with Brittany Knox, Saburban Sunrise and Book Of Love puts quite a bit of pressure on me, they’re all big names in their own right and are known by almost everyone in the music industry and I guess my songs just didn’t as much airplay and promotion as the others, I don’t think it’s a particularly bad record, yeah it’s short, only 8 songs on it but it’s what I was aiming for, a short but sweet record, it didn’t happen but that’s just the way things go.

There was almost no media coverage of the album, was that one of the main reasons why it failed?
I guess, I really don’t know how the music industry works. All I can do is sit with a guitar and a piece of paper and write music. It’s all I know really, there’s no electronics on it, it’s just purely acoustic and I dunno if people maybe prefer some beautiful pop princess who mimes her way through live performances and uses all of this bizarre technology but that’s just not me.

What are you, what is your thread?
Basically just my voice I guess. I’m influenced by country artists. I’d much prefer to stand on stage with a guitar and a microphone rather than have dance routines and low cut dresses. I guess I’m pretty basic.

Your first single from your debut album Dreamland will be released later this evening is this to draw more attention to the record?
No, The albums been available since September and I just thought it was about time to release a single from it. I called my record label and I told them I wanted to release a single and they asked which one so I decided Fallen Grace. There’s no real reason behind it, I’m just happy to be able to do this.

How has your label helped you to develop?
I guess the fact that they’ve just let me get on with things have helped, when I signed there was no pressure for me to start working on the album and when I did start recording there was no label representatives visiting me to check up on it. I guess the most help came from my producers, Jake Wilson, Mikki Moo and Kate Kairiri they helped ease the process along very well and helped me get the best I could out of what little material I had.

Is it tough writing songs for a debut album?
I had the majority of the songs already, I started writing when I was 15-16 so they’re songs I’ve become so familiar with, they’re a part of me now and I’ve always thought they were really good songs.

Did the lack of interest ever get you down?
No because I wasn’t expecting much interest, I’m a basic singer-songwriter making her debut, it happened fairly quietly and it’s a developmental process, hopefully I’ll improve as a performer and as a songwriter and I’m confident that I’ll have some sort of success with this.

Your fronting the 4th Street Band in December for 5 gigs, are you worried?
It’s a scary prospect and I have some huge shoes to fill. Obviously in an ideal world I’d be playing guitar and doing backing vocals while Max fronts the band but I’m sure Max and Lucy would have wanted the band to continue and I’d like to think that he’d be watching down on us during the shows. I can only try my best and we’ll see what happens, but I do feel like I have to clarify that I’m not here to replace what Max and Lucy have done with the band, I’m just here to try and build on it.

And finally you’ve been spending time in the UK with Jack Straw from Fathers Of Fury, how’s that going?
It’s going very well, he’s an absolute gentleman and we’re having a lot of fun together, I’ve fallen in love with the UK and I kinda don’t wanna leave, but there’s a lot I need to do over in the USA so for now I’m gonna have to leave but I hope I’ll be back in the UK.