Warpaint’s Jenny Lee Releases Solo Album

By Emily Afre // Contributing Writer

Jenny Lee Lindberg, bassist of the indie rock band, Warpaint, has released her debut solo album: right on!. Released on Dec. 11 and under the moniker jennylee, this solo album gives clear insight to Lindberg’s contribution to Warpaint. As the writer and composer of all the songs, she has created something that is entirely her own.

Lindberg twists dream pop by implementing darker goth elements, rooted in post-punk and new wave. In the spirit of her influences, Joy Division and Siouxsie and The Banshees, bass and drums serve as a driving force for several of the tracks. Cuts like “never”, the album’s single, and “long lonely winter” are reminiscent of The Cure’s Disintegration, with similar rhythmic intros.

Lindberg’s atmospheric voice echoes, bouncing off itself – resonating restlessness,capturing the essence of the album’s dreamy and moody soundscapes. As right on! being her first outlet as a main vocalist, the unpolished nature of her voice suits the rough edged qualities of the music.

Repetition is a key aspect of the album and appears to be the only sense of structure executed well enough to even be described as hypnotic. The basslines are strong and what ultimately acts as the pulse for each song, as expected from Lindberg.

The opening track,“blind”, is hazy and clouded with a steady melody and suppressed vocals. Lyrics like “I got no sight” and “I got no view” at first sound unclear, perhaps to mimic the concept of a vision being blurred with no sense of direction, as expressed in the song. Rather than acting as a hook, it serves as a platform for the rest of the album and builds the anticipation for what is to follow.

Main themes include self-liberation and vulnerability, especially expressed in “he fresh”, an ode to her husband, where she sings of her devoted love to him and how she’s “never going to give him up.” As “he fresh”, “offerings”, and “white devil” transition to each other, there are strategic progressions in tempo that parallel the rise in aggression of each song.

The highlights of the album are: “never”, “offerings”, and “long lonely winter.” Their simplicity in lyricism complement the dynamism of the music. However, this technique is not always effective, as seen in lines such as “society is anxiety” (boom boom)  and “it’s a freaking war” (riot). These lyrics do not balance with the thoughtfulness reflected in the music itself, leaving a slightly lacklustre feeling.

The album closer, “real life”, diffuses a certain rawness as Lindberg sings phrases like “take everything back” and “I see I’m not so limber” over a single guitar. This track provides an exhale of the tension that is developed throughout the rest of the album.

Lindberg had been working on more personal music for years, making instrumentals and realizing she needed to force herself to sing on those tracks in order to have something that was entirely her own. Recording began in spring 2015; the recordings were intended to be sporadically released as demos, but were compiled to form “right on!” The album projects itself as a set of groove improvisations and jam sessions, which makes it personable and gives it an organic feel. A full run through of right on! feels very stream of consciousness, but still focused.

Lindberg’s aim was to construct an artistic vision that was unique to herself. right on! has helped her find her own voice and this creative process overall contributes to the result of a solid album, that is exclusively jennylee.

Emily is Loud Gerne Director at WRGP, listen to her live show “Blue Velvet” every Monday 4-5 pm.  To offer suggestions for Emily, send an email entertainment@fiusm.com

Photo by Denis Dubovik