Jennifer Kreisberg sings and writes music.  What this award-winning artist conveys through her breathtaking vocals, interestingly, reveals a great deal about who she is personally as well as creatively. 

For Jennifer Kreisberg’s music is fearless.  Just like she is.  

She has been singing for as long as she can remember; her mother studied  opera, her father a musician and music educator. It’s clearly in the gene pool—a voice that’s a gift from the angels.   
                                                                                               “I’ve always sang everything. All of it. Whatever my parents liked, I sang. When I was growing up, whenever my mother’s family got together, whether it was for funerals or holidays or whatever, we all would sing together in harmony.” 

By the time this mixed-blood Tuscarora reached her teens, it became clear her voice was her calling.  At 17, she joined the A capella trio Ulali  which includes her cousin, Pura Fe and Soni Moreno.   

Since the late 1980’s, the trio has performed worldwide at venues including the Tonight Show, 2002 Olympics, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center.  With their edgy messages and distinctive harmonies, Ulali  has contributed to productions from Smoke Signals  to the Showtime series, The L-word,  and has worked with the best in the biz including Robbie Robertson, Buffy Sainte Marie, the Indigo Girls, and Neville Brothers. (They’ve even shared the stage with Sting…but we’ll forgive the ladies for that one.) 

While continuing to perform with Ulali,  Jennifer is also growing as a solo artist. Several years ago, she appeared in Sherman Alexie’s film, The Business of Fancydancing and in February her song Have Hope  from Unnatural and Accidental  earned a GENIE Award, Canada’s top film honor.  If you listen to the song (which we have streamed below,) you can understand why. The preternatural vocal contrasted with the heartbeat drumming provides a much-needed transcendence to the murdered women portrayed in the film.

“These women were real people,” she says.  “I wanted the song to give a sense of healing.”  Indeed, you don’t have to see the film to feel how the song empowers these faceless victims. These women mattered.  In less than five minutes, Have Hope expresses that sentiment more effectively than the doleful film did in nearly two hours.  

Fresh from her GENIE win, Jennifer’s first solo album, She Mixed It  is scheduled for a summer release.  Stretching herself artistically, her album will incorporate the eclectic blend of music she’s been singing throughout her life. 

“I’m calling the album She Mixed It  because it represents all the music that’s in my head, which isn’t just one kind,” she explains. “Of course, I’ll be including traditional and contemporary Native music, but also hip-hop, neosoul, even some folk. I have so many different ideas and I’ve decide to release myself from worrying about putting a label on it.” 

Even the CD’s artwork on will convey where she's at as a woman and performer. She’s commissioned renowned Creek/Seminole/Cherokee artist Dana Tiger to create a portrait of her “as a real woman. Not somebody who looks like Barbie.” 

Meanwhile, she’s remains refreshingly candid about her priorities. First and foremost, her family—being a mom to her three-year-old son. Then, her music. 

“I get it  now. Your insecurities will be the death of you. You have to be fearless, but you also have to be clear. That’s why at this point, I want to do more mom stuff and less business,” she concludes. “I made this child and he’s for me to raise. I’m not going to sacrifice my son for an award or the music business. I can’t. I’m just not wired that way.” 

How refreshing, especially today, to find an artist not enchanted by the alluring sirens of the entertainment world. But don’t get the wrong idea and assume she’s about to take the safe and easy road. No way. 

For Jennifer Kreisberg’s music is, and will continue to be, fearless.  Just like she is.  

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Jennifer at her fearless best…
"Have Hope" from the film, "Unnatural and Accidental"   

"Deer Song" from the Aboriginal Women's Voices project

For more information, please visit:
www.jenniferkreisberg.com
www.ulali.com