Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacy Penland
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Yes of course! There was always music in my house growing up, whether it was my dad playing for fun, watching a music documentary, practicing for church, or my little brother (Seth Penland, who is a phenomenal guitar player and has played at the Dallas International Guitar Festival) learning different songs on guitar by ear, or me playing guitar or writing a song in my room, or all three at the same time. Our house was never quiet, and that environment really helped me develop an appreciation for all kinds of music. I took guitar lessons when I was younger, but when I was fourteen I started playing at my church. That’s when I started to get serious about music and felt that I really had a purpose in it. Through this, I realized that music is what I wanted to do with my life. I loved being able to learn and grow both in my relationship with God and as a musician through serving in this way. In college, I fell even more in love with songwriting, recording, and producing. I met some incredible musicians and friends, and we had a great time creating together. Some of them even played on my albums, alongside myself, my dad, and my brother. My mom is a photographer and has helped me with photoshoots and album covers which has been a lot of fun as well! I’ve had a couple of songs played on the radio, performed at some really cool places, and met some great people along the way!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly not really, I was born with a birth defect called Pierre Robin and have had twenty surgeries, most of them jaw surgeries through my life starting when I was four days old and into high school. I had my last surgery when I was 16 and don’t anticipate having any more! Through it all, I saw so many people step in to help, serve, and encourage my family. They prayed for us, and from a young age, I learned what it meant to put my faith in God, even in the unknown and in circumstances I wouldn’t have chosen for myself. Over time, I’ve seen how God has used the challenges I’ve faced to strengthen my faith and allow me to encourage others.
In college I started to struggle with my mental health, especially with anxiety. It was something that I hadn’t really dealt with much before and at a level that was higher than I ever expected to experience. Thankfully, I was able to hold onto the fact that God was still in control and loved me despite my struggles. He placed many people in my life who were able to help me in that time including an amazing counselor who helped me learn how to cope with my anxiety. I don’t want to make it sound like I don’t still have anxious moments but it is a lot better now than it was.
Along with journaling, songwriting played a huge role in being an outlet for my anxiety. One thing I love about songwriting is that you can create whatever world or story you want within a song. I enjoy learning about psychology and mental health and my struggles inspired me to write about it in hopes of helping others. My last album includes a four-song series focused on different aspects of mental health.
While the road hasn’t necessarily been “smooth,” I truly believe that I serve a God who makes beauty from ashes. I’ve seen this in my own life and in the lives of others around me. By his grace, and in his image, I’ve been able to create songs that do the same thing and hopefully have been able to give hope to others through them, whether we share the same beliefs or not.
I recently read a quote by Taylor Swift that said “Songwriting is the ultimate form of being able to make anything that happens in your life productive” and I think that sums it up really well.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an independent artist, songwriter and music producer. I recently released my sophomore album, “LIKE A RECORD” which I wrote and self-produced over the last couple of years. This album is something I am really proud of. “LIKE A RECORD” is more vulnerable than anything I’d ever written before. It includes some of my favorite songs I’ve released and was intended to show not only the good (like the joy of a baby being born, finding rest and enjoyment in things like swinging and going to Whataburger with my friends), but also parts of life that are hard and some things I’ve struggled with (like different aspects of mental health, learning how to deal with anxiety, go through grief and change, and give myself grace in areas I’m still growing in). I think I was able to present these subjects in ways that hopefully everyone can relate to on some level and offer hope in these areas as well.
Songwriting is one thing I really love and what I would do if I could just pick one thing to specialize in. I love the feeling of walking into a room by myself or with others and leaving with a song which offers a new perspective on something or has the potential to help people. I also love producing music, taking a song and seeing it through to its full potential and playing around with different ways it could sound to find the best way to present the message of the song.
Something that sets me apart from others is my unique songwriting style and the mix between secular and Christian based music that I write and play. I love being able to connect with people through music no matter their background or beliefs.
I also host a weekly open mic at Firehouse Gastro Park in Grand Prairie where I get to connect with and support other local musicians which is a lot of fun. I’m currently a senior in college and will graduate with a Music Business degree in May! I plan to play a lot more live shows around DFW after graduating so be on the lookout for new show dates on my website and social media!
If there are any artists or songwriters reading this interview I’d love to write and/or produce with you! Feel free to DM me or email me!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Podcasts-
Whoa That’s Good Podcast with Sadie Robertson
Cadence Church Podcast
Song Exploder
Therapy and Theology with Lysa Terkeurst
Diary of a song- NY Times on Youtube
Books-
All You Need to Know About the Music Business Donald S Passman
The Ragamuffin Gospel Brennan Manning
The Last Supper On The Moon Levi Lusko
LIVE Sadie Robertson
Here are some albums I’ve been inspired by lately too!-
We The Kingdom (Self-Titled)
Echosmith (Self-Titled)
Crashlanded Madeline Edwards
Cover To Cover Cory Asbury
Wildflowers Tom Petty
Just Like That Bonnie Raitt
Songs Rich Mullins
Breakup Over Breakfast Avery Anna
And many more!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Jacypenland.com
- Instagram: Jacy_Pen
- Facebook: Jacy Penland Music
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacy-penland-37652a288/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacypenland
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jacypenlandmusic
Image Credits
Stacy Penland
Danielle Ortiz
Chelsea Erica Smith / Nash Bash Collective
Lexie Grammer
