BIOGRAPHY
When Jenie won the "Hope S.A." award for one of her original songs, she decided to put her acting career on hold and joined up with the number one hit singer André De Villiers. At this time she also worked as a session singer and recorded the childrens' series "Sounds Fun" with well-known Musical Director Ken Higgins.
Graham and Christine Weir offered her a part in the acapella show "The Stompneus Varkies" and then later she joined them in the hit show "Not The Midnight Mass" which toured SA and the UK to great acclaim.
Determined to pursue her recording career Jenie produced "Pilgrims", a collection of songs which didn't sell all that well at the time. Undeterred, she recorded "Blackcurrant" and "Better Than Magic" which had pretty much the same result. Jenie decided to take a new approach and recorded "Live at the Leopard Lounge" which was much more gentle and vocal orientated. This record sold out in no time at all and prompted the next and latest production "All this love" (released in December 2006).
The style of "All this love" is gentle and laid back with a view to creating a "sit back and relax with your feet up" experience. Even songs like "Fix You", which, in the Coldplay version, gets rather heavy in the refrain, has been given the light treatment but retains the deep-felt emotional pull.
To hear Jenie sing is an experience on it's own as many of her fans have commented; Her voice simply does something to one's soul. Well, these tracks are Jenie at her best. From the beautiful "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" to the light and airy "Nine Million Bicycles" the listener will be enchanted.
The original track "All This Love" (also the album's title) is a Celtic hop with all original Irish instruments including the Bodran, features Savuka's drummer Barry Van Zyl on Percussion and Duncan MacKay of Kate Bush, 10cc and Cockney Rebel fame on Keyboards.
"Just For Today" has a counterpoint melody with lyrics that are reminiscent of The Beatles "I Am The Walrus". "Just For Today" is a fascinating description of a daydream that takes place while driving in a car. Check out these enigmatic lyrics on Jenie's webpage.
"Crazy Without You" featuring American protest singer Jesse Dyen who happened to be in South Africa at the time, is a whimsical account of a rather sultry singer who has to have her own way...
Press Reviews
... "we listened to Norah Jones. Or at least I thought we were until Jenie Oliver strolled past us microphone in hand. At which point I nearly fell off the couch. She's that good .... a singer so good that a friend of mine saw fit to delay his departure in order to record with her."
-- Hotel Magazine
"Jenie has broken the mould and uses "self-taught singing techniques" to produce her very own style. Her popular repertiore includes a diverse range of genres..."
-- Argus
She has been described as "the artist about to unleash a storm of talent on the music scene".
A former member of shows such as Sixty Something and Not the Midnight Mass, her play list takes her from sweet jazz to sensuous ballads and contemporary pop.
Top Of The Times
By Jane Mayne
And then I listened to All This Love. Wow. A little Celtic twist and powerful vocals, and it passes the ultimate test: Does it make my 4 year old son want to dance around the house with me? Yes. Thanks for that. -- Stephen Abbott Project Opus USA
Now about their new music line-up. (Drum roll please) Jenie Oliver is a jewel. She has an amazing voice and an unbelievable range. Sitting in that restaurant it was hard to believe it wasn't Norah Jones performing and I know - I've been giving her CD a lot of airtime recently. -- Jeremy Abbott, Cape Town Today
I'm super impressed by this woman’s voice. Good choice of covers she made for this album.
-- Albert du Plessis, Rhythm Records,
South Africa, Cape Town, Camps Bay, Summer 2006 / 2007; She’s been described in the recent past as the ‘artist about to unleash a storm of talent on the music scene.’ Over the past three years, singer and songwriter Jenie Oliver, has become an absolute sensation at The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa’s stylish Leopard Room Bar & Lounge and now the ‘storm’ has truly been unleashed with the launch of Oliver’s CD titled ‘All this Love’ this month.
-- Ian Manley
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