ABOUT
Biography
Jelayna Murdoch is a twenty-two-year-old singer/songwriter born and raised in North Vancouver, B.C. Jelayna fell in love with music and song writing at a young age and has passionately worked since then to hone her craft. She recorded an EP of original music in 2011 and released a music video in the summer of 2017. She is currently studying vocals and guitar at Selkirk College’s Contemporary Music & Technology program in Nelson, B.C., where she is expanding her musical knowledge and lyrical expression. Jelayna expresses her introspective and emotive personality through her creative, honest and poetic lyrics. Inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, Jelayna uses imagery and metaphor to create vividly descriptive songs. Jelayna has busked and performed at music festivals and shows in Penticton, Vancouver, New Westminster and the Sunshine Coast. She is currently planning her graduation showcase which will feature five of her original songs. The showcase will take place at the end of March, 2018, at the Shambhala Music and Performance Hall in Nelson, B.C.
Artist Statement
Ever since I was eleven years old, I have been passionate about writing vivid, imagery-dense lyrics in order to paint a picture in the listener’s mind. Drawing inspiration from the path I am following and the emotions that occur in day to day life, I offer a unique, personal and honest perspective, condensed down into short, melodic songs. I enjoy every step of the songwriting process, from carefully selecting specific words that accurately convey my emotions, to finding a melody line that gives the song the right feel or groove to make it sonically cohesive with the subject matter. Every one of my songs has been a challenge to capture all my thoughts and emotions into particular lines and a great accomplishment when the right words mesh together. By far, my greatest achievement as a songwriter has been connecting with the listener on an emotionally raw and honest level through my words and music.