[Jenevieve opening at the concert]
DARASIMI BANKOLE: At Subterranean in Chicago, November 6th marked a night of firsts. Jenevieve, an R&B artist who went viral for her hit single Baby Powder in 2021, is now stepping onto a stage with her own name on the ticket. This is her first headlining show for her latest album, Crysalis.
[“Baby powder” live from the concert]
JENEVIEVE: I was scared to get on stage and sing at first, when I opened up for Giveon, that’s why I would wear like shades and stuff but now it’s like a lot of things happened in my life where it just gives me a lot of fuel to keep doing it.
DB: Her Pianist, Wendell Phipps, says what matters most isn’t talent…but persistence.
[Phipps playing the piano during the concert]
WENDELL PHIPPS: Not quitting is the key, that’s really the key, I don’t think there’s a lot of separators when it comes to talent whatever that may mean to you. I mean talent is important of course but nothing outweighs the work that you’re willing to put out.
DB: Phipps also says there’s something distinct about the music they make together.
PHIPPS: I also love the sound, I think Jenevieve has a unique sound and that means a lot to me to be able to produce music with her that is not necessarily exactly like everybody else, you know what I mean, it’s unique to her.
DB: Music is just as important to those close to her like her manager, Arman Sani, who’s worked with her for more than three years.
ARMAN SANI: It’s everything, like music’s so important. It’s really about the artist, you know, like Jenevieve is a really really special talent and it’s like an honor and a privilege to work with her.
DB: For longtime fans like Maria Escalante, Jenevieve’s music speaks to her on every level.
MARIA ESCALENTE: It might have been her lyrics that got me super super attached to her, I’ve been a fan for about three years — lyrics, beats, honestly just immediately caught my attention. She’s truly a great artist in my opinion.
[Cheers and claps from the audience]
DB: That sense of community also resonated with first-time listener Veronica Pletsch who discovered Jenevieve just a few days before the concert.
VERONICA PLETSCH: I really like the fact that her fans are open and considerate to new people. I think that her community is very diverse and I think that the people that listen to her music, they — I really appreciate the fact that they’re both diverse in the terms of class and gender and also sexuality. I feel like I’ve met so many people — so many intersectional people.
DB: Everyone in the room had their own reason to be there. For Jenevieve specifically, this night meant something incredibly deep.
JENEVIEVE: Just seeing how people enjoy the music, it’s just honestly that’s the best gift that I can receive and I just love making music.
[The audience chanting Jenevieve]
DB: With a voice once hidden behind sunglasses, Jenevieve now stands boldly and proudly on her own.
[Closing remarks from Jenvieve at the concert]
For WNUR News, I’m Darasimi Bankole.
