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Performance
Interview with Jenna Hansard
Category: Performance
Hometown: Dover, Tennessee
What’s your full name and where are you from?
My name is Jenna Hansard, and I’m from Dover, Tennessee.
What category are you competing in (Performance, Fashion, or Film)?
I’ll be competing in the Performance category.
What inspired you to submit to Artsville LIVE this year?
I’d recently started a job in downtown Clarksville and saw a flyer while walking to work. Singing and music have always been my passion, and I thought—what do I have to lose? I decided it would be a great opportunity to showcase my art and what I do best: music!
Tell us a little bit about your piece or performance.
I play a few different instruments, but I chose to play guitar for this performance. Some of my absolute favorite songs were played on guitar, so I figured—what better way to express myself than with the instrument I love?
How long have you been practicing your craft or art form?
It all started in middle school when I joined a band class. From there, my love for music just kept growing. I began singing, and it quickly became one of my biggest passions. Music is now a core part of who I am.
Who or what influences your creative work the most?
Music has always been my way of coping through life’s hardest times. It’s there for me when I’m happy, and when I’m sad. It pushes me to be better—both in my craft and as a person. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it.
What’s something people might not know about your creative process?
My process is never planned. Most of the time, it starts with me just playing simple chord progressions. From there, something clicks. I never sit down with the intention of writing or learning something new—it just happens. Once it starts, it completely takes over my focus until it's done.
How do you hope people feel when they see your work?
I want people to feel the emotion in the music. Songs have helped me navigate my own emotions, and I hope my performance can touch others in the same way.
Where can people follow your journey or connect with you online?
I’m still fairly new to sharing my music publicly, so I don’t have any platforms just yet. But if you’d like to follow my journey, you can find me on Instagram: @j_maree123 for future updates!
If you win Artsville LIVE, how do you plan to use the $1,000 prize?
If I win, I’ll likely use the money to pay off some of my student loans and put the rest toward my music. I’ve been wanting to buy new equipment to make the writing and recording process smoother, and this prize would help me take a big step toward that goal.
