Jenny is the founder/president of XRAY.fm and co-founder of XRAY Records with Maryam Trocelliti where together they manage the label with the tag highlighting PNW artists with the tag ‘Distinct sounds of the Pacific Northwest’, she is also a musician who loves to go to shows and hang out with her dog Wendy when she’s not at work.

XRAY.fm from their site says: “…programming is a progressive blend of talk and music that amplifies both the sounds and the voices of our city.

Our music is delivered by 80+ of Portland’s own DJs, respected promoters and record label owners, lauded local musicians, and biggest music geeks. Shows run the gamut from indie to hip hop to metal to soul to psych and beyond, with a dual focus on curation and discovery.

We don’t rely on an algorithm to program merely what you already like — we know your smartphone can do that. We bring together a community of curators who can introduce you to stuff worth loving. Including great stuff produced right in your hometown.

Our original and talk programming features local thinkers, comedians, journalists, and commentators. That funny comic who split your side at the club. That local business leader. The community organizer you heard at the rally. The elected leader you wonder about.”

Jenny was recommended to me by recently profiled on the site Mandy Morgan of Nadine Records. Check out more below.

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

I’ve been a musician my whole life, but I never thought about running a label until I started a nonprofit radio station. A couple friends’ bands had records finished that I really liked and they couldn’t find a label to put them out. Maryam and I thought, why don’t we just do it? So we did.

What is a day in the life like?

It’s all over the place. But it usually revolves around music – listening to it, playing it, thinking about it.

What has been your favorite / the coolest thing you’ve worked on?

It’s hard to choose! I think it was the first couple records we put out – Sun Angle and Blesst Chest – when we realized that we could actually do it, we were just figuring it out as we went along.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

With respect to the label, it’s knowing how much to get involved with someone’s art. We take a very hands-off approach and pretty much give bands complete artistic control, which is awesome, but on the promotional side, it can be hard to know how to sell something so eccentric and personal.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

Find someone who’s doing something you respect and learn from them as much as you can. Also, be present and listen and try and find out what your community needs and what you’re able to provide with the skills that you have. Then just go for it.

I’m not! I’ve moved every year since I was 14, and was homeless for a bit, so I’ve never collected stuff. I appreciate it though, obviously. I like helping to make a physical manifestation of music – even if it’s just a tape, but vinyl especially, I feel like it really completes an album as a work of art to come in a physical form with artwork and all that.

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

I’m new to this industry (vinyl) so I’m still trying to learn! I’m excited that the market for vinyl doesn’t seem to be going away, despite the rest of the music industry being apparently totally fucked.

Anything else you’d like to share? If not, tell me what you’re currently listening to?

I just joined a jazz quartet so I’m trying to explore that genre more.

Find Jenny:

Instagram: @deathlisttt

XRAY Records

Instagram: @xrayrecs

Facebook: @xrayrecs

Twitter: @xray_recs

Bandcamp: https://xrayrecords.bandcamp.com/

Website: xrayrecords.org

Xray.fm: xray.fm/