Touring veteran, teen idol and representative of women in rock; Jenna McDougall makes her long awaited emergence from hiatus with her debut solo offering, Hevenshe. Australia’s hidden gem is back with her signature vocals, relatable lyrics and cathartic compositions. You know her as the beloved frontwoman of Tonight Alive, but after 3 years’ incubation , Hevenshe is singing a new tune.
The promising era begins for the Sydney-born, tour-raised artist on June 7th, with the release of debut single “No One Will Ever Love You” – produced by Wayne Connolly and released on McDougall’s budding label PREMA Records. Having first become a signed artist at the age of 18, Hevenshe is proudly the first independent project to emerge from McDougall’s illustrious inner world. After numerous major and indie record deals, 4 albums and 8 consecutive years of heavy international touring, Hevenshe reflects “I’ll be forever grateful to the people who championed my art, especially in its infancy, but I’m ready to own my work now and write my future independently.”
With former work featuring on Guitar Hero Live and The Amazing Spiderman 2 soundtrack, and collaborations with rock heavyweights such as Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Mark Hoppus (Blink 182), Benji Madden (Good Charlotte) and Parkway Drive under her belt, Hevenshe’s trajectory is an exciting one.
Known not only for her explosive performances and profound story-telling skill, but a warmth and sincerity uncommon in the entertainment arena; Hevenshe’s mission won’t be unfamiliar to her adoring supporters. From an underground subculture, McDougall has harnessed the great potential to impact audiences in deeply positive and long-lasting ways. An advocate for individualism, equality, self-empowerment and holistic health, McDougall remains in full embrace of her social responsibility as an artist with a platform.
With over 250 million streams and an audience of over one million fans across socials, and experience from the main stages of festivals such as Reading and Leeds (UK), Slamdunk (UK), The Warped Tour (USA) and Soundwave (AUS); the artist says her “hunger has never been greater” to perform. “I took for granted how much of my life was spent on stage, travelling and connecting with people.” McDougall reflects. But years in separation from the familiar, not to mention in isolation, proved prosperous, allowing a creative and personal blossoming for the unsuspecting artist.
McDougall describes the project Hevenshe as “inevitable”. “Tonight Alive is a shared dream, but Hevenshe is solely mine. I’m fortunate enough to say my dreams have come true, but it only makes me want to keep dreaming.”
Though McDougall may be an old soul in the artistic realm, the newly born Hevenshe too, is an undeniably qualified star. But what does she sound like? “Cinematic, indie rock with melodic journeys and guitars galore”. Single 1 and the tunes to follow are sure to be your brand new soundtrack to screaming into your pillow, performing a stadium show from your driver’s seat and crying in the arms of a friend at a festival. “You can take the girl out of punk, but you can’t take the punk out of the girl.” McDougall laughs. “No matter how I sing, how I move, what I say, there will always be a passion and tenacity present that was there from the very start. I am undyingly determined to create, express, inspire and unite people.”
Beloved by the punk-emo community, another glorious shade of the colourful singer’s character is revealed in Hevenshe.