Jenna G

Jenna G

Jenna G is a drum and bass and breakbeat vocalist from Manchester, United Kingdom. She grows up in a musical household, with both of her parents in bands, and begins working in music at an early age through pirate radio. At 14, she starts presenting and DJing on pirate radio, where she becomes interested in underground sounds.

Early career

She joins the Raggabeats Crew, a group of MCs and DJs, which later becomes the hip hop group Subliminal Darkness. After four years in that group, she leaves and takes a residency at Eardrum at DryBar, which helps establish her as a vocalist and MC. Performing with bands at underground gigs leads her to Darren and 2D of Future Cut, a drum and bass DJ and producer duo who are looking for a singer.

Un-Cut

With Future Cut, Jenna G forms Un-Cut in 2000. A track called Borderline appears on a Future Cut EP on Renegade Hardware and draws strong attention. The project then goes through a three-year period of experimentation. Un-Cut’s first white label, Midnight, sells out of its 10,000-copy run within weeks. In 2001 the group signs to EMI publishing, then later that year signs to Warner’s M Records. The group’s debut album is released in July 2003, with Midnight re-released as its first single.

Solo work and broadcasting

After Un-Cut splits, Jenna G continues writing and singing for EMI publishing, working with artists including JD from So Solid, Danni Minogue and Aleesha Dixon. In London she is picked up by BBC 1Xtra. She first visits the station with Uncut in 2003, then returns in 2004 as a DJ for a month on the Xtra Talent slot. Later, she and Twin B share a Saturday afternoon show on 1Xtra. She also presents a weekend morning show focused on black music, entertainment and listener requests, and hosts the film feature Lights Camera Action, which features interviews and premiere coverage.

Albums and collaborations

Jenna G’s first solo album, For Lost Friends, is released on Bingo Beats in 2006. The album is rooted in drum and bass and features production from Nu:tone, Kabuki, Friction, D Bridge, D KAY and TC1. She is also the official vocalist for The Shapeshifters, appearing on their first album as a songwriter and backing vocalist. She contributes songwriting and vocals to their album Do Not Disturb, which includes the releases Pusher and New Day.

She is known for her vocal and writing work across underground tracks, particularly in drum and bass.