Jennifer O’Connor
Interview with Jennifer O’Connor
Words: Michael Spadoni
Photos: Dennis Kleiman

REAX:  I just read that you were a part of the Bob Dylan concert in New York…
Jennifer O’Connor:  Yeah, just a couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to sing at the Bob Dylan tribute concert at Lincoln center.  I got to sing Knocking On Heavens Door with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Patti Smith so that was pretty amazing.  Patti Smith is one of my heroes. It’s surprising when things like that happen, honestly.  I’m regularly shocked at the opportunities that come my way and I am extremely grateful with the success that I’ve had. That concert helped boost awareness of my music and it also allowed me to sing with one of my idols.  I released an EP recently for eMusic with a cover of To Ramona, which is one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs.  The other three songs are originals, but we included the cover to coincide with the tribute concert.

REAX:  So, besides the new EP you’ve already put out three full-length albums? That’s pretty impressive given your relatively short career.
JO:  Yes, this is my third full-length album.  I came out with my second a little over a year ago.  My first was actually recorded in Tampa at a studio in Seminole Heights.  Carl manager of Vinyl Fever helped me a lot.  He went with me to all the sessions and told me what he thought sounded good.  I really didn’t have any idea what I was doing and he helped me make it happen.

REAX:  How is that different from working with Matador Records?
JO:  It’s completely different… you have a business working with you so there is more of a timeline to get things done, but signing to Matador gave me the opportunity to take the music farther than I could on my own.

REAX:  Having lived in Tampa for a while, what differences do you see between the Tampa Bay music scene and the Williamsburg scene?
JO:  I was really only in Tampa for a year, but when I was working at Vinyl Fever I met a lot of musicians really quickly.  New York really doesn’t have the community vibe that Tampa has.  It’s huge and there are different pockets of friends that I guess you could call “scenes”.  The media makes it appear differently than it actually is.  Tampa is a lot more laid back and easier to handle. 

REAX:  Do you think it takes a move to New York to make something happen for a band?
JO:  Not necessarily, I think it depends on the person and what they’re willing to do to make stuff happen… musically or otherwise.  I think that Tampa has a lot of really cool bands and some great places to play.  I also hear that it’s growing. I love it there. My parents live in Indian Rocks beach and my brother lives in Tampa so whenever I’m down there I always like playing a show.