Jenny Lewis

Jenny Lewis is a US singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress from Las Vegas, Nevada. Born in 1976, she is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Rilo Kiley. Her work spans indie rock, rock, folk and indie pop, and she records for Loves Way.

Career

In 1995, Lewis forms Rilo Kiley with Pierre De Reeder, Blake Sennett and Dave Rock, who is later replaced by Jason Boesel. The band starts with a country-influenced sound and later moves towards a downbeat indie rock style. Their 2004 album More Adventurous brings wider success, with Lewis fronting most of the songs. The track Portions for Foxes becomes one of the band’s best-known songs, and in 2005 the group moves to Warner Bros., their first major label. That same year they support Coldplay on their US tour.

Solo work and collaborations

Lewis releases five solo albums: Rabbit Fur Coat, made with The Watson Twins; Acid Tongue; The Voyager; On The Line; and Joy’All. Conor Oberst invites her to record a solo album for Team Love, and Rabbit Fur Coat appears there as a 2006 release under the name Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins. The album features contributions from Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine and Ben Gibbard, including a cover of The Traveling Wilburys’ Handle With Care. Lewis tours with The Watson Twins in support of the album. She also contributes vocals to The Postal Service, including on the album Give Up and in the video for We Will Become Silhouettes, and she tours with the group. She adds vocals to several tracks on Cursive’s 2004 album The Ugly Organ, and also works with The Elected and Johnathan Rice.

Acting and other work

Before focusing on music, Lewis works as a child actress. She begins in a Jell-O commercial and appears in films during the 1980s. Her screen credits include Troop Beverly Hills, The Wizard, Pleasantville and the 1996 television film Talk To Me, and she has small roles in Baywatch, Golden Girls, Growing Pains, Roseanne, Mr. Belvedere and Brooklyn Bridge. She continues acting until 2001.

Recognition and influences

Lewis receives an Esquire Esky award for Best Temperature Raiser in 2006. She is also known for her distinctive clothing and red hair. In an article on the music that shapes her, she names late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop as a major influence on her development, citing artists and groups including N.W.A., De La Soul, Beastie Boys, Too Short, Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep, Souls of Mischief and Freestyle Fellowship. She also says she is an Easy-E fan and recalls being singled out by Aceyalone at a club in Los Angeles.