The Los Angeles Times called Jennifer Knapp "a rising star;"People Magazine described her as "an uncommonly literate songwriter;" and Billboard proclaimed that "Knapp proves herself to be the cream that rises to the top." Her impressive critical praise only hints at her musical gifts, but grasping the true Jennifer Knapp experience is realized only by the empowering touch of her voice.
This Kansas-born singer-songwriter has very quietly and quickly sold over 850,000 copies of her first two label releases, 1997's KANSAS and 2000's LAY IT DOWN. Her debut is now certified gold with over half a million sold. Coupled with extensive touring, Knapp proved herself as a folk-inspired rock artist whose masterful stroke paints introspective portraits of life's bumpy road.
Song after song, she empties her soul through catchy poetic lyrics that utter the precise words so many hearts have long struggled to find. In 2001, Knapp returned with her most stirring collection of new songs for her third label release, THE WAY I AM. In 2003, through fan-driven voting, Gotee released THE COLLECTION, a collection of best-loved tracks and rarities.
From the London Symphony Orchestra to the profoundly intimate percussion, Jennifer Kanpp’s albums have consistently featured realized, full-sounding backdrops and intense lyrical impressions.
The musical dynamics draw out the emotion and passion, especially with the compelling spiritual themes that run through her songs. In fact, the struggles and inner-conflicts addressed in her music are often expressed in the form of confessional prayers. In this way, Knapp joins artists like Macy Gray, Bono, Lauren Hill, DMX, and others, who are very articulate in composing songs directly to God.
As a teenager, the classically-trained Knapp attended Pittsburgh State University on a music scholarship. Though at first it appeared her major was Freshman Partying 101, fellow students inspired her to open her mind to spiritual matters and eventually incorporate them into her music.
From there, Knapp began performing throughout the Midwest selling her two custom recordings at shows. Her second indie album, WISHING WELL, attracted the attention of Nashville label Gotee Records, who signed her the following year. With her personal songwriting and gut-rock vocal style, Knapp immediately connected with a national audience who, like herself, had known difficulty in life and was looking for genuine insight.
As an incredibly active performer, Knapp has already shared the stage with many greats, including several peers during dates she did on the last Lilith Fair tour. In the 120 shows she performed in 2001, Knapp impacted almost a million individuals. This makes it no surprise that Pollstar Magazine included her among its Top 50 touring acts of the Winter/Spring 2001 season. Now, with the 2006 release of JENNIFER KNAPP LIVE, live recordings from the 2001 tour are now available on CD to be cherished by fans of Knapp's music everywhere.
