Daily Inspiration: Meet Jennifer Van Meter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Van Meter. 

Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Maryland native and roots rocker, Jennifer Van Meter, has been at it for just about twenty years now as a songwriter and performer. With a catalog of songs pushing the sixty mark, Jen continues to blur the genre lines while refusing to constrict the songs from becoming what they will, as her influences span from Strand of Oaks to Lucinda Williams to Blackberry Smoke. 

The story 

My uncle had a handful of guitars in his basement, and it was he that was the first to teach me a D chord. I was 14, and I took that and ran. After teaching myself the rest of the [forever] chords, my parents saw how serious I was about playing, and they enrolled me in lessons at a local music shop, and I continued to learn through high school. Those years were a critical part of my journey, as I joined forces with singer Caitlin Fisher, who initially was just a volleyball teammate. We began performing at different events here and there and eventually found ourselves at open mics in and around Baltimore, which led to the bar gigs soon after. In 2008, Caitlin and I auditioned for CMT’s “Can You Duet?” where Caitlin went on the win the competition that year with her arranged partner, Will. I returned to Annapolis where I would meet my now husband/producer/drummer, and we began working on my first record, “Should Have Been A Weathergirl,” that I eventually released in 2009. He was a local producer and musician, and we had many mutual friends but had yet to meet until then. This is also when I began performing with none other than Ruben Dobbs of SwampCandy, and he had me singing harmony and playing mandolin. He really pushed me. There were a handful of musicians in the mix, and I continued writing and searching for my sound. In 2011, we teamed up with bassist extraordinaire Jay Turner, and I made a rock-trio record that we released, and at that time, Noel got a call to go on the road with Sting as Vinnie Colauita’s tech. 

I continued writing and performing, mainly solo at this point, which, again, I believe was pivotal for me in building the endurance to sing and perform for upwards of 4 hours at times. About this time, I began playing with Mark Ingino, a guitar player that could genuinely convey what I wish I could with a guitar. 

In between tours, Noel and I married in 2013 and managed to make yet another record, “Fossil,” that we released in 2015. The musicians that acquired for the project consisted of Larry Melton (Eva Cassidy), Warren Boes (Almighty Senators), Dan Carlisle (Rachel Yamagata), Bryan Ewald (Rachel Yamagata [in reality, just google him]), Dave Hadley (JuneStar, Caleb Stine), Jeremy Scott Ragsdale (Winner of The Voice: Budapest) and powerhouse vocalist Kristina Train. In 2016, “Roadside Flower” was chosen for American Songwriter’s Daily Discovery feature. 

Living in Annapolis, I was very fortunate to get to perform at the renowned Rams Head opening for various artists, including The Lone Bellow, [my personal favorite] Kasey Chambers, Devon Allman, Robyn Hitchcock, Scars on 45, Lissie, LoCash, and the Black Lillies. 

In 2015, I became a mother for the first time and essentially began choosing gigs a bit more wisely. Fast forward to 2018, I had baby number two. 

The move 

In 2019, we up and moved to Clayton, the [ever-growing] town outside of Raleigh. There was a bit of a hiatus at this point. One of the things I missed most was probably playing music with Mark. I was completely submerged in the motherhood haze, and Noel had left for a 3-month tour after only living in NC for 3 days. Yeah. I still don’t know how I managed that. 

And THEN. COVID. More hiatus. However, I was writing again and enjoying having Noel home, as were the kids. 

As things began to shake back open in 2021, I met Braxton Lindsay, drummer turned bassist, songwriter, and all-around talented artist, and we began playing shows together. We then joined forces with another talented artist out of Goldsboro, Tan Sanders. He joined us playing lap steel and would eventually bring along a bandmate of his, Warren Davis, who could play drums or guitar. Whatever was necessary for the gig. As time went on, Tan became busy with his own band, and here is where I insert guitar player Bruce Clark. He happened to stumble into the rooftop gig where Braxton and I were performing and wanted to know where our guitar player was. Well, before we could answer, he volunteered, and he’s an every loving TREAT to have in the band. At the same time Bruce hopped on board, we also got into cahoots with Raleigh-based bass player Jimmy Thompson who has joined us as well, on guitar. He keeps us sophisticated. Now, since Covid, Noel has continued the touring, currently out with Carrie Underwood at this point, which has forced us to find a fill-in, and we landed such a pro, Jorg Eichfuss. Just in the past few months, we’ve been performing at the occasional festival, for instance, the Wendell Festival, back in September and last month at Clayton’s Harvest Festival, and various bars and breweries in and around the area. And now, you can find us every Second Sunday of the month at Clockwork on W. North Street. 

In August, we ventured to East Nashville to Tim Holder’s studio to record my fourth full-length record that I am so eager to put out. We are anticipating to have it out by Spring 2023. 

I’ve continued to simply persist over the years and stay true to what I want, and it’s incredible the tribe that now stands beside me. And this includes the support system that I now have that not only supports my music but also helps to take care of my children: dear friends, and neighbors. I really couldn’t do this without them. I sincerely thank them for contributing to the Van Meter music mania. 

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?
By no means has it been a smooth road: There are times when I can’t dial in the sound, the room where I’m performing doesn’t necessarily have the best acoustics, I battle feedback, am I too loud? Am I not loud enough? My guitar is out of tune, is this setlist working? I can’t hear myself, or anyone for that matter. But of course, there are nights that are to the contrary, and those are the nights that I hold onto. And whatever I do, I persist. Always. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a bartender at a local bar in Clayton to make all of the ends meet. 

And I write songs and perform them, either by myself or with my band. 

I’m most proud of how far I’ve come over the years, and I appreciate the ride this journey has been. Initially, I was never really a singer. It took time, work, and dedication, and the lack of natural vocal talent really has led me to discover my own sound. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vanmetermusic.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/vanmetermusic
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/vanmeterband
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/vanmeterband
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/jennifervanmeter 

Image Credits
Sarah Price Photography
Kim Underhill
Alison Harbaugh