Jorena Faulkner - Vocalist/Lyricist
Jorena Faulkner belts out powerfully emotional songs covering nearly five decades of music, engaging the audience with vocal talent ranging from deep, soulful melodies, to razors edge performances of rock, blues, dance and original material. From Louisville to Ontario, Canada fans have witnessed the exuberant confidence, style and definitive talent she carries.
"Dream the dream. With that, anything is possible."
Inspired by her mother's death from breast cancer in 2001, Jorena set out to make her mark. Having started her career in music later than most, she went full speed ahead performing in every type of venue from television appearances (Fox 41 in the Morning and The New Day Show), casinos, and the main stages of her hometown, Louisville, to benefits and small stage acoustic shows. From the funky blues, dance, Disco, and rock, to R & B, soul, folk, and most notably, her original music, Jorena has developed a unique style that creates a musical melting pot. On leads or intricate back-up harmonies, her soulful, edgy sound permeates.
In 2003, her talents as an original lyrical artist were recognized when she was awarded the highly esteemed Art Meets Activism Grant by The Kentucky Foundation for Women to assist in the creation, compilation and recording of her original material. Gaining momentum throughout the years, she has written more than 150 songs and has collaborated with many of Kentucky's finest bands/musicians. In 2004, Jorena realized another milestone with a first place win in the Women Who Write Poetry and Short Prose Contest for her entry, Wearing Mom. Since that time, Jorena has published more than 20 works in both poetry and prose and has illlustrated a children's book.
In 2006, she was appointed chair of the first Kentucky Women's Book Festival and selected to facilitate a songwriting workshop during the two-day event. Jorena was subsequently appointed associate director of Women Who Write that same year. Her short story, The Closet Adventure, (a catalyst to the writing of the title track "She Stands Alone") was chosen by Until the Violence Stops: Kentucky in 2007 to be performed as a marquee' event during its two week festival at University of Kentucky to raise national awareness on violence against women and girls. She was also a selected artist in the 2008 Via Colori: Bardstown, an annual street painting festival which raises money for non-profit organizations throughout Kentucky.
In January 2009, she was the recipient of eight Kentucky Press Association Awards (KPA) for her writing, design, and photography as an assistant editor and staff reporter of a weekly Kentucky newspaper, in addition to contributing to two staff awards including a first place win in the General Excellence category of the 2008 Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers competition.
In 2010, Jorena and Dave took their original material out on the street with amazing results, prompting the duo to begin writing material to complete a full-length recording. Jorena also found herself branching out to collaborate with several regional musical acts, working with a local non profit to write a theme song to raise funding for a Kentucky children's organization, and lending her lyrics and vocal talents to local recording projects, to include co-writing two songs (and singing a duet) for the upcoming CheKane CD, and working with members of the all-girl rock band Dangerous Liaison to develop original material.
While Jorena is currently busy in the community supporting many worthwhile organizations, her feet are firmly planted in her musical roots, her unyielding support of feminist artists, and the Kentuckiana music scene. Jorena has been hyper-focused on her collaboration with long-time friend and Jaida Blue bassist, David Hasinfelt, in anticipation of the recording of the groups first full-length CD of original material slated to begin in the fall of 2011, while continuing to incorporate her music, art, poetry and writing as inspiration for other women who aspire to live their dreams.
"It is never too late ..."