Soul Songwriter Jenn Howard Delivers Funky Self-Empowered New Single ‘Microphone’ Ft. Ivan Neville

New Orleans born and bred singer-songwriter Jenn Howard is a staple in the iconic Big Easy music scene. 

At 16, Howard co-founded, co-wrote, and sang alongside three future members of The National in Project NIM. The band released three albums together over the course of five years. 

Her own debut album, Up at Night, dropped in 2009. Howard’s aesthetic draws from the scintillating swagger of her beloved hometown’s brass and funk band heritages, along with the storytelling traditions of country and folk artists that came before her, which is evident on this album.

And now, 14 years later, Howard is preparing to release her anticipated sophomore album, Valiant Women, this coming March.

In preparation for the debut, Howard released her newest and first single off the album, “Microphone,” today January 30th. 

“Microphone” features NOLA icon Ivan Neville, and it immediately captures the greater message of the album, which Howard has described as a collection of her “most intimate songs to date.” 

A chronicle of her journey in self re-discovery, Howard reels listeners in with the catchy hook “To each his own / I got this microphone,” backed by bold, brassy instrumentals. Her bluesy wailing welcomes you into her inner world of hopes and dreams, and her vulnerability dances atop the soulful track as she shares her outlook on this life of “fun and games.” 

The breakdown of “I got yous” serves as a message to her listeners and to Howard herself as she reclaims her artistic autonomy. The song oozes NOLA soul and charm, and it’s easy to picture it emanating from from the clubs and down the streets of The French Quarter and beyond. The instrumentation gets the blood flowing and the feet moving, and her vocals paired with Neville’s stick with you.

Regarding the upcoming 10-track album, Valiant Women, Howard says, “This body of work showcases what it was like for me to be a woman searching to discover myself again after losing footing in my hopes and dreams.”

Inspired by the likes of Janis Joplin, Patsy Cline, Bonnie Raitt, and Aretha Franklin among others, Howard’s powerhouse vocals in “Microphone” leaves listeners in eager anticipation of her upcoming record.